Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya Safari Guide

A Guide To Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

“The Mountain of the Buffalo”
A rugged hump-backed outcrop of ancient rock jutting high above the Athi plains and hazily visible from Nairobi, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is densely forested mountain known to the local Kikuyu as” the mountain of the buffalo” and to the Maasai as ‘The big mountain”.
Just one road leads to its summit, which offers magnificent 360’ panoramas over the Athi River, The pineapple ﬁelds Thika and the snow-capped peaks of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Within easy reach of Nairobi, the lush vegetation and cool air of this compact and scenic National Park make for an ideal day trip or camping weekend.
The Ol Donyo Sabuk national park is located about 85km north-east of Nairobi in Machakos district of Eastern province. The ecosystem constitutes a mountain which is entirely covered with dense montane forest except for a small area at the top.

Facts About Oldonyo Sabuk National Park

Established in 1967
Ol Donyo Sabuk, means large mountain in Maasai language.
It is situated 65 km (40 mi) north of Nairobi
The mountain is the highest peak in the park, covering 20.7 km2 (8.0 sq mi).
It is particularly attractive for hikers or families wanting some freedom and exercise, outside their vehicles.

What To See At Oldonyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

Buffalo are the dominant animals in the ecosystem. Other wildlife include bushbuck, leopard, olive baboon, colobus monkey, vervet monkey, Sykes’ monkey, Kirk’s dik-dik, bush pig, common duiker, reedbuck, rock hyrax, bush-baby, tree and ground squirrel, aardvark, porcupine, mongoose, python and monitor lizard.
The park is home to 45 species of birds and the easily spotted ones include; white-browed sparrow weaver, grey- headed sparrow weaver, African pied wagtail, mourning dove, augur buzzard, African hawk eagle, purple-breasted sunbird, yellow-vented bulbul, speckled mousebird, helmeted guinea fowl, black-headed oriole, grey tit, ring-necked dove, bateleur, great sparrow- hawk, bronze sunbird, superb starling and Mackinnon grey shrike.

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – A Montane Landscape

The park is essentially comprised of the mountain’s slope and ravines and is entirely forested except for a small area at the top within the halo of primal forest at the summit you may also ﬁnd some of the giant plants more commonly associated with the Afro- alpine zone of Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon (particularly giant lobelia)

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – Driving to the summit

The Park’s one road leads directly to the summit (4WD required all year round) a ﬂat open glade marked by a large survey beacon. The summit is the focus of the park and offers breathtaking views, especially in December and January when the air is particularly clear.

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – An unusual burial site

Along the road the summit lies the grave of Sir William Northrup McMillan, a wealthy American farmer whose intended burial place on the summit had to be abandoned when the clutches of vehicles accompanying his hearse burned out on the steep slope. Here also rests his wife, her maid and the family dog.

What To Do At Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – Walking to the summit

Long prohibited for security reasons, the 9 km walk from the main gate (2WD vehicles may be left) to the summit is now possible so long as you take an armed KWS ranger with you. The walk to the summit will take around 3 hours KWS rangers must be booked through the warden and a small fee is payable for this services.

Wildlife Watching at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

As the name would suggest, buffalo are dominant animals in the park (the salt lick below the summit often attracts them), bush buck are also easily spotted.
Leopards and porcupine are also in residence, but may prove more difﬁcult to spot in the thick bush.

Abundant forest birds at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

Easily spotted species include: white-browed sparrow weaver, grey-headed sparrow weaver, African pied wagtail, mourning dove, augur buzzard, African hawk eagle, purple-breasted sunbird, yellow-vented bulbul, speckled mousebird,helmeted guinea fowl, black headed oriole, grey tit, ring-necked dove, bateleur, great sparrow-hawk, bronze sunbird, superb starling, red-necked cordon bleu and Mackinnon grey shrike.

Butterﬂy kingdom at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

At certain times of the year, usually after the start of the rains, there is a colourful showing of butterﬂies on the mountain, particularly of the swallowtails and charaxes species. (the relatively rare (haraxes nandina is sometimes commonly seen within the park)

Geology of Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is a remnant of Africa’s oldest erosion surface, generally regarded as late Jurassic. Residual hump of metamorphic rock, the mountain is surrounded by the monotonous lava plateau of the Athi plains, which formed around the mountain when lava (molten rock) escaped from ﬁssures in the earth’s crust, gradually ﬁlling the valleys and smoothing the contours of the original landscape.
The ‘Fourteen Falls’: while en route to the park take time to admire thika famous ‘ Fourteen Falls’. These are located half—way between Makutano and Donyo. The falls are sign posted to the leftjust before the bridge crossing the Athi River, and lie 1km, down a track.

Main Atrractions At Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

Montane landscape
An unusual burial site, McMillan grave
Wildlife Watching
Abundant forest birds
Fourteen Falls
Scenic views of Mt.Kenya from the summit

Accommodation and hotels in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

WS Self Catering

Sabuk Guest House

Campsites in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

Turacco Public Campsite
Rock Hyrax
Summit Campsite

Self—catering accommodation
Sabuk House. This is KWS self-catering GuestHouse. It is fully furnished with a living room area, dining area and a well equipped kitchen and conference room.The facility accomodates upto 10 persons. Reservations can be made through the Warden or KWS Headquaters, Nairobi.
Tel: +254(20)6000800, 6002345. Email: marketing@kws.go.ke.
Website:www.kws.go.ke.
Turracco Public Campsite
Visitors can camp at the public campsite near the main gate. Facilities include picnic benches, water, latrines and showers.
Picnic Area
Visitor can picnic at the picnic site near the main gate or at lookout point which is at the mountain. At the point clients have an exellent view of Athi plains, Nairobi City, Thika industrial town, Ngong Hills and the expansive Kapiti plains of Kajiado District while enojoying the rest of the park.

How to get to Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

By Road: 85 km north-east of Nairobi. From Thika town proceed 22 km along the main Garissa road to Makutano junction. At Makutano follow the KWS sign and turn right, proceeding 3 km on an all-weather murram road to Donyo town. At Donyo turn right and proceed a further 2 km to the main gate.

A Map to Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park

When to visit Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

All year round. After heavy rain 4WD may be required on the road leading to the main gate.

What to take with you to Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

Drinking water and picnic items (and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight). Also useful are: camera, binoculars, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant and guidebook.

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Entrance Fees and Charges

Citizen
Adults KSH: 350
Child KSH: 200
Resident
Adults KSH: 700
Child KSH: 350
Non – Resident
Adults USD:30
Child USD:20

Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Contacts

Attraction Type: Wildlife
Category: National Park
Region: South Rift
City / Town: Thika
Road / Street: Off Garissa Road
Telephone: 254 20 206 2503
Email: oldonyo@kws.go.ke
Website: http://www.kws.org/parks/parks_reserves/OSNP.html
Entrance Fee: Yes

Watch a tour video of Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park Kenya

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Bernie Taupin’s Net Worth, Biography, Career, Awards, Fact and Life Story

splits: 16What is Bernie Taupin’s Net Worth?Bernie Taupin is a prolific English singer, songwriter, poet and lyricist. Bernie Taupin has a net worth of $200 million. Taupin is best known for his multi-decade collaboration with Elton John, for whom he wrote numerous songs. Most of Elton John’s most memorable hits were written by Bernie. His connection with John was first established in 1967 when both men answered an ad seeking new songwriters.They two made a good team. Elton John was capable of writing excellent music, but his songwriting abilities were lacking. Taupin was the complete opposite. Together, they realized that they could achieve great things. After a long and successful career together, both Taupin and John were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.Bernie has been described as the lyrical translator of Elton’s moods, memories and fantasies. Despite not being a gay man himself, Bernie has been able to tap into a wide range of Elton’s emotions over the decades when he was both in and out of the closet. Bernie famously HATES the song “Don’t Go Breakin My Heart”, which he wrote. And then the song became the biggest single the duo ever had in Europe. For “Your Song” Bernie wrote some lyrics down on a piece of paper then went to brush his teeth. By the time he came back, Elton had written the melody to what would become their first big hit in the United States. Bernie calls his decades-long relationship with Elton a “non sexual love affair”.Early LifeBernard John Taupin was born on May 22nd of 1950 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. Raised in a farmhouse with no electricty by a family with French roots, Bernie eventually relocated with his parents to another farmhouse which did have access to electricity. Taupin grew up alongside two brothers and soon proved that he was not as academically gifted as his siblings. However, he showed a talent for creative writing at a young age.At the age of 15, he worked as a trainee at a local newspaper. However, he quickly left this job and started hitchhiking around the country with his friends. He drank heavily, attended dances, and played snooker. After scraping together an income from various part-time jobs, he answered a fateful advertivsement in a newspaper…CareerThe advertisement was for an audition with Liberty Records, which was seeking new talent. Bernie failed the audition, as did a completely unknown artist at the time named Elton John. After being rejected, John was able to see the poems written by Bernie. After becoming anamored with Taupin’s writing, John connected with the lyricist. The pair immediately began making music together.Over the years, Taupin and John collaborated on more than 30 albums. In 1977, John and Taupin parted ways briefly, allowing Bernie to work with a range of other artists. These included Alice Cooper. By 1980, the pair had started working together once again. Taupin is also known for writing the lyrics for a number of films, including “Aida,” 1994’s “The Lion King,” and “Billy Elliot.” He also wrote the screenplay for “Rocketman,” the Elton John biopic.In total, Taupin wrote almost too many Elton John hits to list. These include well-knwon songs like “Rocket Man,””Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Hits continued throughout the 80s and the 90s, including “Sad Songs,” “Simple Life,” and “Believe.”In 1991, the documentary “Two Rooms” highlighted the collaboration style between the two artists. Taupin wrote the lyrics and gave them to John, who composed music to the words. There was no further interaction between the two artists, especially during the early days oftheir collaboration. However, Elton and Bernie collaborated more closely as the years went by. Another film entitled “Rocketman” also highlighted the relationship between John and Taupin, and the pair won an Academy Award for the movie’s song, “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”In addition to music, Bernie and Elton have collaborated on a number of Broadway musicals.Throughout the years, Bernie has worked with a vast number of other artists. He is especially well known for his work with bands like Starship and Heart. Taupin is also a producer, having produced the album “American Gothic” for David Ackles. This album was later hailed as the “Sgt. Pepper of Folk Music.”As a solo artist, Taupin first recorded spoken-word albums such as “Taupin” in the early 70s. He then released his first album as a singer, entitled “He Who Rides the Tiger.” In 1996, Bernie created his own band called Farm Dogs. In addition, Bernie is an accomplished visual artist who has been displaying his artwork since 2010. His artwork has been displayed across the United States and Canada.RelationshipsBernie Taupin has been married a total of four times throughout his life. His first wife was Maxine Feibelman, whom he married in 1971. Taupin’s relationship with Feibelman, which eventually ended in divorce by 1976, influenced many of Elton John’s songs. By 1979, Bernie had remarried Toni Lynn Russo, the sister of well-known actress Rene Russo. That marriage also ended in divorce by 1991.By 1993, Taupin remarried for a third time, this time to Stephanie Haymes Roven, the daughter of well-known entertainers Dick Haymes and Fran Jeffries. This third marriage ended in divorce after five years, in 1998. In 2004, he married Heather Kidd. Kidd and Taupin have two children together, and the family lives in Santa Barbara County, California.Real EstateIn 2017, it was reported that Taupin was selling a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley with a listed price of $4.7 million. The 30-acre ranch was originally purchased decades ago, and Bernie attempted to sell it for $5.95 million in 2016. After attracting no potential buyers, he cut the price and re-listed the ranch. The main house features five bedrooms, and there are separate spaces for a studio and an office. Bernie is famously fond of horses, and the residence features a “cavernous equestrian center” with an arena and stables.Despite his love of horses, reports later stated that Taupin “no longer rides horses,” and this was part of the reason he chose to sell. Additional highlights include a pizza oven, a pool, a pond, and outdoor riding rings.