Oldonyo Sabuk National Park is incredibly features as a thick forested mountain and to the Kikuyuas, this park is best described as the mountain of the buffalo and to the Maasai it is known as the big mountain. There is one route that takes visitors to its summits that provide the most spectacular views of the Athi River, the pineapple fields Thika and the snow capped peaks of both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro.
It lies at proximity to Nairobi making it one of the best protected areas for visitors to explore within a day. Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is situated approximately 85 kilometers northeast of Nairobi in Machakos district of Eastern province. Its ecosystem comprises of a mountain that is wholly covered with thick montane forest apart from its small area on the summit. This park was founded in 1967 and it is located approximately 65 north of Nairobi. Its mountain features the highest peak and covers an area of 20.7 square kilometers and attracts mostly hikers and families that are interested in freedom and exercise away from their cars.
Attractions in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
This national park mainly refuges buffaloes, bushbucks, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Kirk’s dik-dik, Sykes monkeys, leopards, reedbucks, rock hyrax, duikers, bush pigs, tree and ground squirrel, aardvark, mongoose, python and monitor lizard, bush babies, porcupine and many more. This park offers refuge to about 45 bird species and for keen birders, you can sight at grey headed sparrow weaver, African pied wagtail, mourning dove, white browed sparrow weaver, African hawk eagle, purple breasted sunbird, augur buzzard, Mackinnon grey shrike, superb starling, bateleur, great sparrow hawk, helmeted guinea fowl, black headed oriole, grey tit, yellow vented bulbul, speckled mouse bird and many more. For visitors who are planning to have their Kenya safari to Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, you are encouraged to come along with enough drinking water, picnic gear, camera, hat, sunscreen, binoculars, sunglasses, insect repellent, guidebook and many more.
Getting to Ol Donyo National Park
The park’s one route takes visitors to the top of flat open glade marked by a huge survey beacon and this needs you to use a 4 wheel drive safari car. This park is located 85 kilometers northeast of Nairobi and from Thika town, you can drive for 22 kilometers through Garissa route to Makutano junction. At Makutano you can take the Kenya Wildlife Service sign and then turn your right, continue for about 3 kilometers along all weather murram routes to Donyo town. At Donyo you turn on your right and continue about 2 kilometers up to the main gate.
The summit rewards visitors with spectacular views of the surrounding area mostly between December and January. The other route leads visitors to the grave site of Sir William Northrup McMillan, a wealthy American farmer whose burial site on the summit had to be left out when the clutches of the car accompanying his hearse burned out on the steep slope. The area also has his wife, her maid and the family dog. Visitors to Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park can engage in walking safaris to the summit. Other attractions at this park include fourteen falls, montane landscape and others.
Where to stay in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
The notable accommodation facilities at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park include Sabuk Guesthouse and campsites like Rock hyrax, Turaco public campsite, summit campsite.
In conclusion, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is one of Kenya’s most beautiful national parks with remarkable attractions for you to enjoy while on your safari in Kenya. The park serves best for visitors who are interested in weekend getaways or day trips while in Nairobi.
