It was established in May 1950. Aberdare National Game Park was established to protect the Aberdare Mountains and the surrounding wildlife by establishing a National park. Rather than just being a park, it is a place where nature and history meet. The park was initially called Nyandarua (the drying hide), it was regarded as one of the home Ngai (Gods) by the Kikuyu and is believed to be the one who provides the home to Ngai (Gods). In 1884, the explorer Joseph Thompson renamed the range in honor of Lord Aderdare.

In addition to being dubbed the ‘White Highlands’ because of the large number of European workers who settled there in the early part of the 20th century, the area also gained notoriety because of the decadent antics of the ‘Happy Valley set’ in the Wanjohi valley during that period.

In the 1950’s as well, the dense forests and the bamboo thickets were often the scene of much of the fighting between British forces and the Mau freedom fighters.

Its most famous visitor is Queen Elizabeth II, who found out about her father’s passing while staying in the reserve in 1952.

One of the most well-known sites in the area is the headquarters of Dedan Kimathi, the leader of the Mau uprising in the 1950s. During her safari in Kenya- the Aberdare National Park, Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom during her time in Kenya. Additionally, this park was also the spot where Hunter J.A. killed the rogue elephant of the Aberdare Forest that was roaming the area.