Elephant Hill Bamboo & Alpine Hike

Elephant Hill bamboo & Alpine hike blends high altitude and a test for resilience. Elephant Hill lies at the southern end of the Aberdare ranges. The trail here is one of the tough but also the most rewarding. The hike begins at Aberdares Njabini Gate and follows through the forest to the forest gate. It then follows deep inside the bamboo gate, where the steep trail begins. This trail takes you through the tall bamboo trees to the deceiving point of despair (Desperado). This is where you have shed your first flow of sweat, and thinking it is the summit, fine-lined vegetation welcomes you to yet another steep ascent to the elephant’s tail. You can see Mount Kenya in the North East and Sasumua Dam to the South West when clear. The bamboo region ends after a short stretch past the Desperado, where the rainforest begins, and the exposed rocky region shows. At the tail, the views begin to be more stunning and satisfying. The trek past the tail is gentler across some valleys and the rocky region towards Elephant Hill summit. So far, you have dusted the Elephant Hill challenge.

Elephant Hill Bamboo & Alpine Hike Stats

Approximate Distance: 19Km

Approximate Time: 10 Hours

Highest Elevation: 3658m (At Elephant Hill Summit)

Difficulty: Hard (Advancing Hikers)

What to Wear During the Elephant Hill Bamboo & Alpine Hike

1. Fleece Marvin/hat or a baseball cap.
2. Proper hiking clothes (polyester t-shirt, wind jacket, hiking pants, fleece jacket).
3. Comfortable hiking boots (should be at least one size bigger than your standard shoe size).
4. Sunscreen.

In the Elephant Hill Bamboo & Alpine Hike Backpack, Have

1. At least 2 liters of water (use a water bladder or a reusable bottle). Disposable plastic bottles are not allowed inside parks.
2. Snacks such as biscuits, nuts, fruits, crisps, etc.
3. A valid identification document.
4. A hiking pole.
5. A raincoat/poncho.

It is Also Advisable to Have

1. A set of clothes to change into after the hike (sometimes, the good hiking gear also fails, and weather changes are unexpected).

See more details on how to prepare for this hike and the steps to take after the hike to ease the after-hike effects here.

Ticket

• East Africa Community Citizens/Kenyan Residents (EA)- Kes. 3700
• Rest of Africa Citizens (RA)- Kes. 7370
• International Visitors (IV)- Kes.11570

See what the tickets mean and what they include here.

Booking Elephant Hill Bamboo & Alpine Hike

Reserve a slot by paying at least Kes.2000 using Mpesa and clear the balance before departure. Hikers Arena ticket Cancellation and refund policy applies.

• Paybill No: 522533
• Account No: 7848929

Trip Itinerary

Meeting point: Kencom, Nairobi CBD (Opposite the city clock).

• 4.30 am: Boarding opens
• 4.45 am: Departure for South Kinangop forest station gate
• 7.00 am: Arrival at South Kinangop forest station gate
• 7.20 am: Hike starts
• 5.00 pm: Departure for Nairobi

N/B: The departure time back to Nairobi is subject to the day’s team and could be earlier or later than estimated.

Inquiries and Updates

For inquiries and updates, click here. We also recommend you join the Hikers Arena Community Whatsapp group (Click here to join) to keep up to date with our activities and upcoming events.