This is Africa's second highest mountain. The combination of its altitude and its position astride the Equator results in the formation of vegetation like water holding cabbage, ostrich plume plant, and giant groundsel that exists only here and at very few other lofty points in East Africa. In this park roam the Giant Forest Hog, Tree Hyrax, White Tailed Mongoose, Elephant, Suni, Duiker, Leopard, Mount Kenya Mouse Shrews, Common Mole Rats and the very rare Golden Cat. This includes the moorlands and part of the forest of the Aberdare Mountains. Animals commonly seen include Elephant and Rhino who frequent the water holes and salt licks as well as the Giant Forest Hog, Colobus Monkey, and above all, the Leopard.
Bird life is also abundant and varied, the most conspicuous being the sunbirds.