HIKING IN KENYA

At 5,199 m, Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and is an ancientextinct volcano. There are 12 remnant glaciers on the mountain, all receding rapidly, and four secondary peaks that sit at the head of the U-shaped glacial valleys.

Mount Kenya National Park, established in 1949, protects the region surrounding the mountain. Currently the national park is within the forest reserve which encircles it. In April 1978 the area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The national park and the forest reserve, combined, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997

Mount Longonot is a stratovolcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, Africa. It is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s

Just an hour away from Nairobi, Mt. Longonot is perfect for a day trip. With its last eruption in the 1800s, this dormant volcano is now among the best hiking trails in Kenya. The trail starts close to the main gate and ascends gradually past the forested area. From there the climb continues all the way to the top at 2,276 m (7,500 ft) above the sea level. The journey up and down takes approximately 4 hours. Going around the crater at the summit takes an additional 2 hours.

Hell’s Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, north west of Nairobi. Hell’s Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley

Hell’s Gate has one of the best hiking landscapes in Kenya. The imposing Rift Valley cliff face forms the exterior of the park and attracts seasoned and novice rock climbers alike. The Ol Njorowa Gorge, on the other hand, meanders a distance of 24km (15 mi), forming one of the best hiking trails. The stretch, filled with hot water springs that supply water to a small stream at the floor of the gorge, can take between 3-6 hours to trek. The breathtaking scenery can also be relished while cycling alongside wildlife like giraffes.

The Nairobi Safari Walk is a nature trail set inside Nairobi National Park. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the walk. A winding boardwalk covers three major habitats. The first is a wetland area where crocodiles idle, the second a savanna grassland where you can spot wildlife including an albino zebra, leopards and the rare bongo. The third habitat is a woodland area exhibiting indigenous plants, labelled with their traditional uses.