The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true montane forest begins at 2,000 m is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500 m begins a dense belt of bamboo forest which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees, interspersed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude lichen.

These forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. Game to view includes: Black and White Colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, rock hyrax, buffalo, elephant and lower down olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, black fronted duikers, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope. A number of other rarer species are found more infrequently: Suni antelope, Mt. Kenya mole rat, skinks, montane viper and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings have been recorded of albino zebra.