Mount Longonot: Kenya’s Volcanic Crater Hike Near Naivasha
Mount Longonot is a cool place to hike. When you are driving from Nairobi, you will see the ground drop away on your side. Then you will see Mount Longonot rising up from the floor of the Rift Valley. It is grey and green. Has a lot of scars. The top of Mount Longonot looks close. It is still a long walk away. This is what makes people want to hike Mount Longonot. It is 90 kilometers from Nairobi, so it is not too far.
When you hike Mount Longonot, you get to climb up and see the wild crater floor below you. You can also see Lake Naivasha. It looks really beautiful when the sun shines on it. This hike is not super hard, so you do not need to train for months to do it. Most people can finish the hike in three to four hours. It is not easy either because you have to walk up a lot of hills and the sun can be very hot.
If you plan your hike well, you will get to see a lot of things. Mount Longonot is a kind of volcano called a stratovolcano. It last erupted a long time ago in 1863. The name Mount Longonot comes from the Maasai language. It means “mountain of many spurs or steep ridges”. This is the name because Mount Longonot has a lot of steep hills. The volcano is inside a park, which is run by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The Story Behind the Mountain
The crater on Mount Longonot is really big, 2.5 kilometers across. The top of the crater is 2,776 meters above sea level. Inside the crater, there is a lot of forest and bush. It is still warm from the volcano. You can see animals like buffalo, giraffe, and zebra inside the crater. You are not allowed to go down into the crater because it is not safe. The plants are very thick. The ground is uneven. The animals inside the crater are also very wild, so you should not try to go near them.
If you want to hike Mount Longonot, it is not hard to get. You can drive from Nairobi. It will take about an hour and a half. You can also take a matatu, which’s a kind of bus, and it will drop you off near the park gate. From there you can. Take a boda boda, which is a kind of motorcycle taxi.
Some people like to hire a tour guide to take them to Mount Longonot. This can be an idea because the tour guide will know the way and can show you all the cool things to see. It is also cheaper to do it on your own. If you are not from Kenya, it will cost you about 30 US dollars to get into the park. If you are from Kenya, it will cost you less.
You should try to get to Mount Longonot in the morning around 8 or 9. The gate will be open, and it will be cooler so you can hike without getting too hot. If you wait until midday, it will be very hot. There will not be much shade.
What Makes Mount Longonot: Kenya’s Volcanic Crater Hike Near Naivasha Worth the Climb
The hike is divided into two parts. First, you have to climb from the gate to the crater rim. This part is steep. It is not very long. It takes people about 45 minutes to an hour to finish this part. The path has lots of turns. It goes through bushes and small trees. You will gain height quickly. Your legs will feel tired, especially if you are not used to hiking or if you came from a place that’s at sea level.
When you reach the top, the second part of the hike starts. This is the part that makes the hike so famous. You can walk around the crater edge, which is about 7 kilometers long. This part takes two to three hours to finish, depending on how fast you walk and how many times you stop to take pictures. The path goes up and down over hills with the crater on one side and the Rift Valley on the other. On a clear day, you can see Lake Naivasha to the north, the town of Mai Mahiu to the south, and Mount Suswa in the distance.
Some people do not walk the way around the crater. They climb to the viewpoint, look at the crater and the valley, and then go back down. This shorter hike takes two hours, and you still get to see the main things. If you have time and you are not too tired, walking the whole way around the crater is worth it. The view changes all the time as you walk. You get to see the crater floor from different angles.
You should bring a lot of water, at least two liters per person. There is no place to get water on the hike. You should wear hiking shoes, not sneakers, because the ground can be slippery. You should also wear a hat and use sunscreen because the sun can be strong on the crater rim.
Best Time to Go
The time to go is during the dry seasons from June to October and from January to March. The views are clear. The ground is stable. During the season from April to May, the path can be muddy, and you cannot see very far. If you go right after it rains, the valley can look very green and beautiful.
It is better to go on weekdays because weekends are busier with hiking groups and school trips. If you want to have the crater to yourself, you should go on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
A Few Practical Notes
You should bring cash to pay at the park gate because they do not always accept cards. You should also bring food because there are no shops inside the park. You might find some drinks near the gate. That is all. Your phone may not work well on the hike, so you should tell someone your plan before you go. You should not rely on your phone to navigate the hike.
You can hire a guide at the gate for a fee. This is an idea because guides know the area and can show you the best views and the safest path. They can also tell you which parts to avoid if the weather is bad.
Why This Hike Stays With You
There is something about standing on the edge of a volcano looking down into the crater. It makes you think about your life and how small you’re. The wind blows strongly on the ridge. You can hear the animals moving below. The valley stretches out in all directions. You have to work to get to the top, but the view is worth it.
Mount Longonot: Kenya’s Volcanic Crater Hike Near Naivasha is a hike for anyone willing to start early and take the climb seriously. It is close to Nairobi, so you can do it in one day. It is tough. It feels good to finish it. It is so beautiful that you will want to tell other people to go.