Hiking in Kenya is a popular pastime for both tourists and locals. Kenya has a range of hiking trails which range from onerous mountain hikes to easier walking trails.
Ngong Hills
Ngong Hills is close to Nairobi and easily accessed by car. Hiking starts on the northern side, which is about 6400ft above sea level. The first part of the hike goes through village and then past a farm with the last section being radio repeater stations.
The trail continues with climbing through a series of rolling hills. The end of the trail is at the southern part known as Kona Baridi. The hike will take around 4 to 5 hours to complete, leaving you plenty of time to play at a casino no deposit on your phone or desktop when you’re done!
Nairobi Arboretum
Located next to the State House this piece of land is 74 acres and was used by the government in 1907 to cultivate exotic trees that were to be used for the construction of the Mombasa to Kampala railway.
There are around 350 exotic and indigenous trees and the Arboretum has paved footpaths, which make for an easy yet beautiful walk.
Nairobi National Park
The Nairobi Safari Walk takes about two hours to complete and is a beautiful trail. The winding path includes three different habitats, a wetland, savannah grassland and a woodland area.
This area is known for its wildlife such as crocodiles, albino zebras, and leopards, and every now and again a bongo is spotted. The woodland area has indigenous plants of which all are labelled and what their traditional uses are.
Mount Longonot
Located an hour outside of Nairobi, Mount Longonot is great for a day trip. This is a dormant volcano that last erupted during the 1800s. The hiking trail starts near the main entrance and goes up gradually past a forest.
From the forested area hikers climb to the top of the mount, which is about 7500ft above sea level. It takes about four hours to complete the hike and for adventurous hikers who want to hike up to the summit it will take an extra two hours.
Hell’s Gate National Park
Close to Nairobi this is a popular area to visit. Visitors here can enjoy not only hiking, but also cycling and motorcycling. There are three campsites as well as lodges around Naivasha Lake, which is a popular area for water sports as well as game and bird viewing.
The Rift Valley cliff is great for both professional and beginner climbers. In this area is the Ol Njorowa Gorge, which is an excellent trail that covers 24km and has hot water springs that provide a stream at the bottom of the gorge. This walk can take around three to six hours. This area is beautiful and has an abundance of wildlife such as giraffes.
Menengai Crater
This is the largest Caldera in Kenya and from the Viewpoint, which is the highest point is found 8km from Nakuru Town.
The views from here are spectacular. There is a trail down to the floor of the caldera with the highest point of the wall being 1640ft from the floor.
