Mount Kenya National Park was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya, the wildlife and surrounding environment which forms the wild animal’s habitat as well as act as a water catchment area that supplies Kenya’s water.

The national park has an area of 715 square kilometres (276 sq mi), most of which is above the 3,000-metre (9,800 ft) contour line.[2][4] The forest reserve has an area of 705 square kilometres (272 sq mi). Combined this makes the area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 1,420 square kilometres (548 sq mi). A small portion of this park’s borders near heavy populations have electrified fences to keep the elephants out of the surrounding farmland. Volcanic sediment in the surrounding region’s soil and the huge volume of fresh water coming down the slopes makes the area particularly favorable for agriculture. At lower altitudes Black-and-white colobus, other monkeys and Cape Buffalo are prevalent.