Hike Up Mt. Longonot

In the Great Rift Valley approximately 90km from Nairobi stands a mountain. This is Mt. Longonot, a mountain that has spurs and ridges with its sides having beautifully v-shaped valleys. Access to this dormant strato volcano that is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s is by tarmac road along a fairly busy Mai Mahiu road.

The sight of the mountain gives the impression that it is an easy climb however this is quiet deception. By the time you are done with this mountain, you’ll be as fit as a fiddle or at least in need of a massage.

This mountain is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service as part of the Mt. Longonot National Park. The park covers 52 sq Km most of it being occupied by the mountain a young volcano rising to 2776 metres above sea level. This park unlike the rest of Kenya’s parks is very different and usually dubbed as an activity park.

The Hike

From the gate, the slope upwards is fairly noticeable. As climbers start an exciting venture of mountain climbing. Due to the nature of the terrain, Mt. Longonot has no roads and visitors hike onto the top and rim of the crater. As people begin to climb so does the earlier attitude of dismissing this mountain as an easy going now change. The terrain suddenly changes and you begin to feel the strain in your muscles.

Perhaps a little background on mountain climbing; ascending mountains is most commonly done as a recreational activity. This activity is popular worldwide whenever hills raise high enough to provide a challenge.

Its rewards include the physical exertion it requires, the satisfaction of overcoming difficulty while working with others, the thrill of reaching a summit and the unobstructed view from the mountain top. Other reasons for climbing maybe for exploration and research.

In most cases, recreation through exertion, conquering heights and team building are major reasons for climbing Longonot. The beauty of this mountain is that anyone can hike and scramble up to the crater.

As the going gets tougher and your muscles cry out for respite, a resting point almost halfway is set up along the route. Stop to recharge and a look back to where you have come from is an encouragement well deserved and morale booster for the remaining climb.

Finally the Summit

On the top lies a trail that goes round the loop encircling the crater. A forest of small trees covers the crater floor and small steam vents are found spaced around the walls of the crater.

Activities at the top include jogging round the crater for those still with enough energy left after the climb or you can also relax and listen to the sounds of the whistling thorns as you sooth your aching muscles. The air is refreshing, calm and the area around can be seen within miles no end including Lake Naivasha.

After a good time at the summit the scramble down is much easier and an adrenaline filled jog. Be careful not to run fast though, as you might spin over.

Other activities within the park include biking which is fun and challenging at the same time. Mountain biking at the Longonot is one sport that would challenge you to the very core as you try to maneuver hair raising bends and steep slopes. But who wouldn’t want to dare the challenge away from the normal cares of life.