A highlight of our visit to Kenya was an exhilarating hike to Mount Longonot, an iconic crater mountain nestled in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches some 6,000 kilometres north to south in the east of the country; it´s the centrepiece of 52-square-kilometre (20-sq.-mile) Mount Longonot National Park,
Our adventure commenced from Nairobi on a chilly Tuesday morning. Just over an hour later, as we drove past the Rift Valley Escarpment the dramatic cliffs surrounding the valley), excitement filled the air, and by 8 am we reached the foot of Longonot, ready to conquer its magnificent heights.
The Hike
Just the facts:
Total Distance: 6.2km up and back, 13.5km including rim hike (my app recorded 15 Kms)
Duration: Three to six hours (we took four hours)
Difficulty Level: Moderate to advanced (some points are a bit tough but with an okay fitness level you should be able to hack them easily).
Location: Naivasha
Entry fees: Kenya citizens and residents 250 KSH; non-resident adults $26 USD, non-resident children $15 USD
Opening Times: 6AM-6PM every day
On the hike:
Just a few metres from the gate we encounter these beautiful impalas grazing.
After an hour and a half of hiking, we finally reached the first peak, but I must admit, I felt utterly exhausted. It had been a year since my last hike, and this one definitely took a toll on me.
Another sighting; this time a Masai giraffe from a distance. We were also able to see a herd of buffalos and giraffes but from a great distance and out of our cameras´ reach. (Other wildlife visitors may spot include black rhinos, colobus monkeys, elephants, leopards, olive baboons, spotted hyenas, and warthogs.)
A Mini crater observable as we enbark on a wark around the crater.
The mountain´s Kilele Ngamia summit was shrouded in fog that day.
Made it to the peak in three hours
At this point still we dont have a clear view of crater as it is foggy.
The Fog clears and I am able to get clear shot of the crater
W descend to the starting point at 12.30 PM have lunch and later return back to Nairobi
For Mt Longonot Hike Check out full details on our website Mt Longonot Hike | Starting from $120 per person (africavacationsafaris.com)
Or email us directly via info@africavacationsafaris.com | Whatsapp +254723315919
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