Treetops Kenya at a glance
Treetops Kenya is a lodge inside Aberdare National Park with a famous royal link. Princess Elizabeth stayed there on 5 and 6 February 1952. Her father, George VI, died that year, and Treetops has been tied to the moment she became queen ever since. The lodge opened in 1932, and it reopened in August 2024 after a pause that began in 2021.
The Ark is a second lodge inside the park, at an illuminated waterhole and salt lick. This page is not a booking page. Check dates and rules with the operators, and see park fees for the entry costs that apply on top. For a day trip that does not involve a stay, look at the Aberdare safari tours.
Our picks: tours with a night in a tree lodge
All three include a night at a lodge with a view of a waterhole, which is the tree-lodge experience this page is about. The private two-day safari and the overnight trip with a private Land Cruiser have the park entry in the price, and the third trip leaves it extra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Overnight Aberdare trip with waterhole watching
- Park fees and entries
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
- All meals included
Two days with a night at a lodge where you can watch a waterhole, as the itinerary describes it. A private Land Cruiser with a driver-guide takes you there and back.
Check availability →
Two-day private safari with a tree lodge night
- Private 4x4 vehicle
- Park entry included
- All three meals
Two days in a private 4x4 with a morning game drive and one night in a tree lodge or similar, as the itinerary describes it.
Check availability →
Overnight trip with a waterhole lodge
- Overnight stay included
- Nairobi transfers
- Morning game drive
Day one ends at a lodge with a view of a waterhole, and day two starts with a morning game drive before the drive back. The park entry is extra.
Check availability →Aberdare tours near Treetops and The Ark
Safaris and day trips into the Aberdare forest, with live prices and availability. Check what each one includes.
Queen Elizabeth at Treetops in 1952
Elizabeth was a princess when she stayed at Treetops on 5 and 6 February 1952. In 1952 her father George VI died, and she became queen. She heard the news either at Treetops or at Sagana Lodge near Kiganjo, and the place is not settled. The stay at Treetops is the historical link, and Treetops is not the place where she was crowned.
That is why people search for Queen Elizabeth Treetops. Keep the facts separate: where she stayed, where the news reached her and where the coronation took place are three different things.
Treetops Hotel today
Treetops reopened in August 2024, and the operator takes reservations and sets special access rules. Availability for a given night has to be confirmed directly with the operator.
The most important rule concerns the Rhino Sanctuary. The operator does not allow night movements or late entry without prior KWS clearance. If you will arrive late, tell the operator no later than 16:30 on the day of arrival. Without clearance, entry can be refused. The gate to use is Treetops Gate, one of eight gates in the park.
The Ark Lodge
The Ark is a lodge inside the park at an illuminated waterhole and salt lick, with viewing areas for guests. Whether a room is free on a given date is something to confirm with the operator. The Ark has its own gate, Ark Gate.
Neither Treetops nor The Ark is the only lodge in the park. For other stays, including public camps, see where to stay.
Treetops and The Ark compared
What each is known for and what to check.
| Treetops | The Ark | |
|---|---|---|
| Known for | Elizabeth's stay in 1952 | An illuminated waterhole and salt lick |
| Gate | Treetops Gate | Ark Gate |
| Status | Reopened in 2024 | Operating; confirm dates |
| Check first | Rhino Sanctuary access and late-arrival rule | Dates and access with the operator |
For most visitors the choice comes down to royal history at Treetops or waterhole viewing at The Ark. Confirm access, dates and arrival times with the operator before you plan around either one.
Questions to ask before you plan a visit
Treetops and The Ark are lodges with their own operators, so the answers come from them and not from this site. A short list helps:
- Is a room available on your dates, and what does the price include?
- Are park entry and the vehicle fee included, or paid separately? See the tables on park fees.
- Which gate should you use: Treetops Gate or Ark Gate?
- What are the rules for arrival time, especially late arrivals and access to the Rhino Sanctuary?
- Is there a transfer, and what does it cost?
Gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00 and overnight guests have an exception. The park is about 150 km from Nairobi, and the town of Nyeri is the usual base on the east side. Treetops is also part of a wider story: the Mau Mau Emergency began in October 1952, a few months after the royal stay, and you can read about it in the Mau Mau history.
Treetops and The Ark: frequently asked questions
Is Treetops open?
Treetops reopened in August 2024, and the operator takes reservations and sets access rules. Availability for your date has to be confirmed with the operator.
Where was Elizabeth when she became queen?
She stayed at Treetops on 5 and 6 February 1952. The place where she heard the news is not settled: it was either Treetops or Sagana Lodge near Kiganjo.
Why is entry to the Rhino Sanctuary restricted?
The operator does not allow night movements and late entry without prior KWS clearance. Late arrivals should notify the operator by 16:30 on the day of arrival, or entry can be refused.
Can I visit Treetops for the day?
Ask the operator directly about day visits, rates, age limits and transfers. Park entry also applies, with the fees on the park fees page.
Is The Ark the only lodge in Aberdare National Park?
No. There are other lodges, public and special campsites and fishing lodges. See where to stay for the categories.