The Ark

Noah’s Ark saved the animals two by two during the floods while The Ark in awe-inspiring Aberdare National Park, Kenya, is an iconic and quirky safari hotel made for visitors who want to see the animals in herds in dry rolling grasslands. The Ark safari lodge resembles that large wooden ship in the Bible with a touch of humour but it is also well-loved and luxury accommodation in one of Kenya’s prime game reserves.

Find the Ark on a floodlit waterhole where wildlife gathers frequently, especially Black Rhino, elephants, leopards, bushbuck and lions attracted by the salt lick. Not only is there a convenient hide at the waterhole level, but so too can keen game viewers stand on one of the three open and large decks also offering lounges with great vantage points to take in such astonishing vistas. Walk slowly along the attractive elevated boardwalk to get different vantage points of the wild animals, the splendid sunrises and mesmerising sunsets. How convenient to have a buzzer in your room to herald the arrival of a big 5 species at the waterhole!

Make yourself at home in the log-cabin style bar area, dining room and two plush lounges inviting a comfortable relaxing time with a drink or a book or meet fellow guests over a cup of tea. Delicious buffet or a la carte breakfasts and dinners are part of your accommodation package here at the Ark and fresh lunches are served at the Aberdare Country Club nearby. Your room is one of 60 luxury suites spread out over the three levels on either side of the main living areas, in an attractive style of wood, colourful décor and ensuite showers. 

Choose from single cabins for couples, king cabins with king-size beds, queen, twin and family suites – which are spacious and offer two single beds and one king-size bed. Comfy, homely and clean these suites keep you happy between game viewing on 4×4 safaris, walking safaris, birding and trips to the moorlands to be blown away by the magnificent waterfalls of River Magura, River Karuru and River Chania. Throw a line to catch a fresh trout in the Chania river within the Aberdare National Park, a beautiful conservation area known for its high altitudes and many water courses.

Book a four-day safari out to visit the Solio sanctuary, the home of the white and the black rhino, preserved from poaching and on your return, enjoy a swim, horse ride or exercise in the gym at Aberdare Country Club. All-day outings include fishing, mountain climbing and game driving into breath-taking parts of the park for bush picnics and plentiful wildlife opportunities. Explore Kenya’s Great Rift Vally in its entirety with Voyage2Africa on a tour you will never forget.

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Overview

Check into an unusual, quirky, and rangy hotel centred on your game-viewing experience in the sensational Aberdare National park in Kenya. The Ark certainly resembles the ark in the Bible which saved all the animals from the floods – here you save the animals onto film for later viewing at home! So many vantage points from which to observe animals at the watering hole – the hide below deck, the three open viewing decks and the lovely, raised timber boardwalk linking guests’ rooms with the main lounge, library, dining room and bar areas.

Three stories of rooms take your breath away, decorated in tasteful reds and pastels to relax mind and body – neat and clean with ensuite showers and a choice of bed types for differing guest needs: single beds, king size beds and queen beds, plus family suites with a choice of two single beds and a king bed. 

We love the rooms for their log cabin effect and undulating views over the natural landscape, the watering hole taking the first place of course. Every time a big 5 species visits the watering hole, the buzzer sounds in your room so you can dash out at all hours of the day to see what is going on! Floodlights highlight sightings for guests to get the best photographs too so chill out in the lounge with a drink and simply observe. 

The Ark is an eccentric accommodation venue for safari enthusiasts who want an easy way to see the Big 5 yet who can still get out into Aberdare National Park and appreciate its beauty.  This Kenyan park is revered for its captivating mountains and rivers, trout fishing and mountain climbing adding to the adventures you can explore as a guest at the Ark. 

Guided bush walks reveal herds of elephants and the black rhino protected here in a special sanctuary while the landscape continues to enthral and stun as you drive past the riverine thickets and lush open waters. Chat to Voyage2Africa about a tour in the Great Rift Valley then off to the Laikipia Highlands for more game viewing and local culture.