A Treetops lodge package for residents gives you a night above a floodlit waterhole in the Aberdare forest, priced in KES. You watch elephants, buffalo and sometimes a leopard from your own deck.
- FromKES 24,500per person sharing, 2 days, citizen rate, 4 travellers
- Duration2 days, 1 night
- StartsNairobi
- Best forWeekend wildlife, night game viewing, couples
- StyleCouples, families and friends
Rated 4.9 on Google from 47 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Title sponsorAlumni Golf Challenge
We are the title sponsor this year.
Golf is part of who we are, so we put our name behind the Alumni Golf Challenge. Want more golf after the day? Tell us when you are free. We book your tee time at Karen, Muthaiga or Vipingo Ridge and sort the transfers and the stay.
Treetops and The Ark are the two classic Aberdare lodges. Both sit on stilts above a salt lick. You reach each one by a guided transfer from the lodge base near Nyeri. You sleep, wake for the animals and drive home the next day.
This page explains how a Treetops lodge package for residents works, what it costs for citizens and residents. You will also find the best time to go and what to wear, because the Aberdares are cold.
Highlights
- Overnight at Treetops or The Ark with floodlit waterhole viewing
- Citizen and resident KES prices with park fees shown clearly
- Transfers from Nairobi in a private vehicle with a driver
- Lunch and dinner included, with a wake up bell for rare sightings
- Easy add on to Ol Pejeta or Nanyuki for a 3 day trip
- Ideal for a quiet weekend, an anniversary or a family treat
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Nairobi to the Aberdares
Leave Nairobi at about 8am and drive north through Thika and Nyeri, about 3 hours. Arrive at the lodge base for lunch and a briefing. In the afternoon a guided vehicle takes you into the forest to your lodge. Settle in, watch the waterhole and enjoy a hot dinner. Staff ring a bell if a leopard or rhino appears.
- Day 2
Dawn animals and the drive home
Wake early for the best light on the waterhole. Elephants and buffalo often come at first light. After breakfast you return to the base and meet your driver. Drive back to Nairobi, with a stop at Nyeri or Karatina for coffee and curios. You are home by late afternoon.
Treetops lodge package for residents 2026, per person sharing, KES
| Option | Citizen | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdare overnight, 2 days | KES 24,500 | KES 27,500 |
| Aberdare and Ol Pejeta, 3 days | KES 41,000 | KES 45,500 |
| Aberdare and Nanyuki weekend | KES 36,000 | KES 40,000 |
| Extra night in Nanyuki | KES 8,500 | KES 9,500 |
- Guide price per person sharing for 4 travellers, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment.
- The overnight price includes lodge full board, transfers, park fee and a Nairobi vehicle share.
- Treetops and The Ark rates differ by season. Weekend nights cost more than weekday nights. We show the exact rate in your written quote.
- Single travellers pay a supplement, usually about 30 percent more.
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Lodge stay on full board for the nights stated
- Private vehicle from Nairobi with driver
- Aberdare park fee at citizen or resident rate
- Guided transfer from the lodge base to the lodge
- Hot lunch and dinner and breakfast
Not included
- Drinks and tips
- Travel insurance
- Optional Ol Pejeta game drives (quoted separately)
- Warm clothing hire
Treetops lodge package for residents explained
A Treetops lodge package for residents is a short, easy escape from Nairobi. You drive up in the morning, spend the afternoon at the lodge and watch the waterhole into the night.
Residents and citizens pay lower rates than visitors. That makes this one of the best value wildlife nights in Kenya. We add a fair margin for our time and the vehicle. Nothing else is added.
This Treetops lodge package for residents suits a first wildlife night, a birthday or a quiet couples weekend. Many guests take it as a Friday to Saturday escape and skip the long weekend crowds in the Mara. Others save it for an anniversary, since a night above a waterhole beats a restaurant table. You can also give it as a gift. We issue a written quote for the buyer. It is also a gentle introduction for children and grandparents, since there is no early game drive on rough roads.
Treetops or The Ark: which suits you
Both lodges offer the same core experience, a night above a waterhole. The difference is feel and size. Treetops is the older name, with a history tied to royal visits. The Ark is built like a ship, with long viewing decks and a bar.
The Ark has more space for a bigger group, with long decks that let everyone find a seat at the glass. Treetops feels smaller and quieter. If you want the story, pick Treetops. If you want more space to move around, pick The Ark. We quote both when you ask for a Treetops lodge package for residents. Rooms at either lodge are small and simple, with bunk style beds in some cases. You come for the animals, not the decor, so travel light and keep your expectations on the waterhole.
How much is a Treetops or Ark overnight for residents
Our guide price for a Treetops lodge package for residents starts at KES 24,500 per person for citizens and KES 27,500 for residents. That is a 2 day trip from Nairobi for 4 travellers sharing.
The price covers lodge full board, transfers, the park fee and your vehicle share. Rates for a Treetops lodge package for residents move with the season and with how many of you travel. We confirm the exact amount in writing on WhatsApp before you pay anything.
For comparison, resident ground packages at other Kenyan safari lodges in 2026 run from about KES 29,500 to 43,800 for the first night, full board, park fees excluded. The Aberdare overnight sits at the lower end because the forest lodges are compact and simple.
Citizen and resident park fees in the Aberdares
Kenya has three fee levels. Citizens pay the lowest KES rate, residents pay a higher KES rate and non residents pay in USD. See our Kenya park entry fees guide for current rates.
Treetops and The Ark fees often cover the lodge but not the park gate. We list the park fee as its own line, so you see exactly what a Treetops lodge package for residents includes. Children usually pay a reduced fee. Age rules differ by park, so ask when you book and tell us the ages of your kids.
What you will see from the deck
Elephants are the main stars at the Aberdare waterholes. You will often see buffalo, bushbuck and warthog as well. Rarer visitors include giant forest hog, bongo, black rhino and leopard.
Nothing is guaranteed on any Treetops lodge package for residents, because this is wild forest. Patience pays. Bring a jacket, a thermos and a small torch, then settle in and wait for the bell.
Photographers do well here. The floodlights are soft and the animals stay close to the water. Use a high ISO, keep the flash off and hold your phone still against the railing. Most guests also sleep in their clothes, ready to jump up when the bell rings.
What to wear and bring
The Aberdares sit high, so nights are cold and damp. Pack a warm jacket, a hat, gloves and thick socks. Wear dark, quiet colours and avoid perfume.
Bring binoculars and a camera for your Treetops lodge package for residents with a good low light setting. Our what to pack guide has a full checklist that works for any highland trip.
Leave valuables at home or in the car. The lodge is remote, so there is little shopping and patchy network. Download maps, music and your book before you leave Nyeri and carry any medicines you need in your daybag.
Add Ol Pejeta or Nanyuki to the trip
The Aberdares and Ol Pejeta pair well on a longer Treetops lodge package for residents. After your night in the forest, drive on to Nanyuki for rhinos, chimpanzees and open plains. See our Nanyuki packages for residents for the prices.
Prefer a ready made plan? Look at our 3 day Aberdare and Ol Pejeta safari for visitor rates, or our Ol Pejeta day trip if you only want one day.
A longer trip can reach the Mara too. Our 6 day Aberdare Ol Pejeta Mara safari shows how the three areas link and we can price the same route at resident rates.
Proof of residency for resident rates
You need an original document at the gate. Citizens show a national ID or passport. Residents show an alien ID card, a work permit or a passport with a valid residence permit.
Send us a photo of the document when you book and we confirm the rate in writing. This keeps your Treetops lodge package for residents free of surprises at check in.
Alien ID holders should check that the card is valid for the travel date. Work permit holders should carry the original, not a photo, because some gates insist on seeing it. If your document is expiring, tell us early so we can plan around it.
Best time for a Treetops lodge package for residents
Animals visit the salt lick all year. The dry months, January to March and July to October, bring clearer skies and firmer roads. The wet months, April, May and November, make the forest greener but muddier.
Weekends and school holidays sell out early. Book your Treetops lodge package for residents at least 4 weeks ahead and 8 weeks for August or December.
Cloud often hides the peaks in the morning, yet the waterhole views stay good. A clear night also means a colder one, so layers matter more than the month you pick.
Booking your Treetops lodge package for residents
Message us on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957 with your dates, group size and ID status. We send a written quote in KES the same day. A deposit holds your dates and the balance can be paid in instalments before travel.
Pay by Mpesa, bank or card on our secure Pesapal checkout. Browse the Kenya residents hub for other deals, or use Book and pay when you are ready.
Group bookings of 6 or more can ask for a private vehicle with a driver guide who stays with you from Nairobi. Tell us if anyone has mobility needs, because the lodge access involves steps and a short walk. We can also arrange an early return to Nairobi if you have a flight or a meeting the next day, though that shortens your time at the waterhole.
Optional add on
Add a round of golf to this trip
Windsor sits on the north side of Nairobi, the easy side for a trip up to Mount Kenya country. Play the morning you leave.
Windsor Golf HotelGreen fee from KES 7,500 on a weekdayAbout the course
Where would you like to stay?
- Green fee and caddie
- Clubhouse lunch
- Private car and driver
- Tee time booked for you
Guide price for a weekday round. Weekend rounds, buggies, club hire and more golfers are all in the planner. We confirm every line in writing before you pay.
How to book your treetops lodge package for residents
Booking your treetops lodge package for residents with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every treetops lodge package for residents plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good treetops lodge package for residents into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 4.9 from 47 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How much is a Treetops or Ark overnight for residents?
A Treetops lodge package for residents starts at KES 24,500 per person for citizens and KES 27,500 for residents, 2 days from Nairobi, 4 sharing. It includes lodge full board, transfers and park fee. We confirm exact rates in writing.
What is the difference between citizen and resident park fees in Kenya?
Citizens pay the lowest KES fee. Foreign residents with valid Kenyan status pay a higher KES fee. Non residents pay in USD. Gate staff check your document, so carry the original ID, permit or residence stamp.
What proof of residency do I need to get resident rates?
Bring an alien ID card, a work permit or a passport with a valid residence permit. Citizens bring a national ID or passport. Send us a photo when you book and we confirm the rate before payment.
Are park fees included in resident packages?
In our Treetops lodge package for residents, the Aberdare park fee is included at the citizen or resident rate and shown as its own line. Add ons such as Ol Pejeta drives are quoted separately.
What is the cheapest month to travel locally in Kenya?
April, May and November are usually cheapest because of the rains and lodge rates dip. January to March and July to October are drier and costlier. Check the long weekend dates before you pick a month.
Is Treetops suitable for children?
Yes for most children from about 8 years on a Treetops lodge package for residents, since the night is quiet and the deck is safe. Younger children may tire early. Tell us the ages when you ask for a Treetops lodge package for residents and we check the lodge rules.
Can I do the Aberdares in one day?
You can drive up for lunch, but a day trip misses the point of the Treetops lodge package for residents, which is the night at the waterhole. A 2 day trip is the minimum we recommend. For a longer trip, add Ol Pejeta or Nanyuki.
Official information: Kenya Wildlife Service, official park information.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
Chat on WhatsAppYou may also like
Kenya Holiday Packages for Residents and Citizens (KES)2 to 5 days, most tripsFrom KES 11,000
Nanyuki Getaway Packages (Ol Pejeta and Mount Kenya, KES)2 to 4 days, flexibleFrom KES 13,500
3 Day Aberdare and Ol Pejeta Safari (Treetops or The Ark)3 days, 2 nightsFrom USD 950
Ol Pejeta Day Trip from Nairobi1 day, no overnight, about 10 to 12 hours totalFrom USD 260
Weekend Getaways Nairobi2 days, 1 nightFrom KES 6,500Kenya National Park Entry Fees 2026 (KWS, Mara, Samburu, Ol Pejeta)Read time 10 minFrom USD 50
3 Day Masai MaraFrom USD 850
Mara group joiningFrom USD 395
5 Day Kenya SafariFrom USD 1,180
Uganda gorilla trekFrom USD 1,260