One in three Kenyan's livelihood is dependent in some way upon the rainfall, rivers, forest and wildlife in the Aberdares.

Four out of Kenya's seven largest rivers flow north, west, east and south providing hydro power and water to millions of farmers and seven of Kenya's twelve major towns.

The people of the nation's capital, Nairobi - over 2 million - are entirely dependent on water from the Aberdares.

Over 30% of the nation's tea production and 70% of its coffee is grown on its foothills and high slopes.

Over four million farmers living on its lower slopes depend upon its rich soils and rainfall.

It is one of the largest indigenous forests in East Africa.

Its wildlife is profuse. It is the home of several thousand elephant and buffalo, the rare giant forest hog, leopard, forest antelope and the illusive bongo. It has over 270 species of birds.

It is one of the surviving strongholds of the Black Rhino. It was for the sake of the rhino that the Aberdare game fence was started by Rhino Ark in 1988.

The Aberdare National Park within the 2,000 square kilometres of the Aberdare Conservation Area is one of Kenya's prime national parks. It is the place where Britain's Queen Elizabeth stayed on the night she became a monarch.

Two world renowned game lodges - Treetops and The Ark enable thousands annually to see Black Rhino and hosts of other wild animals in this natural habitat and at very close quarters.