The Ark

Opened in November 1969 The Ark overlooks the Yasabara waterhole, perhaps the largest salt-lick in the Aberdare Mountains and the haunt of a variety of forest game unequalled in Africa. This tree-lodge is uniquely shaped to resemble the actual Ark, designed with decks from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for viewing the animals visiting the salt-lick and waterhole. A ground-level bunker provides excellent photographic opportunities, and the Yasabara waterhole is floodlit by night to enable all-night viewing of game. A "Resident Hunter" is always on hand to elucidate on the wildlife and landscape.

Access to vehicles is limited to conserve and protect the environment which host’s wildlife such as elephant, rhino, buffalo, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, Sykes monkey, leopard, and bongo. After lunch at The Aberdare Country Club guests take a 45-minute game drive within the National Park arriving at The Ark in time for afternoon tea.

The 60 guest rooms are all en-suite. All cabins have bedside lamps and carpeted floors to ward off the evening and morning chill, small luggage racks and views of the forest or waterhole revealing game in the proximity. There is a buzzer alarm in each cabin, which is sounded by the game-spotter on duty to alert guests when an interesting animal appears or something unusual happens. If guests do not wish to be disturbed, the buzzer can be turned off. Also located on ‘C' Deck, the Lounge has a fireplace lit from the afternoon to late at night. Comfortable leather settees surround the fireplace and the glass walls, while the bar sports leather-padded stools. Above the fireplace in the lounge hangs the preserved head of a black rhino, the creature having been trampled to death by an irked elephant at the waterhole.