A Mt. Longonot day hike is a great way to kick off your journey to the mountains It is an ideal hike for all levels of hikers, as the mountain offers the option of turning back at the crater or going around it depending on your fitness level. Mount Longonot is a stratovolcano located in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, about 90 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. It stands at an elevation of 2,776 meters (9,098 feet) above sea level and is a popular destination for hiking and mountain climbing.
The hike starts at the KWS park gate and past the public campsite to Buffalo Point before you hit the staircase to the resting hut. past the hut, we take the inline to the crater rim. after taking in some views here, we will take an anticlockwise walk around the crater as we take the views on the mini-crater after the diversion, lake Naivasha and Nakuru at the summit. We will then proceed to the other side until we meet the start of the anticlockwise turn. This will be the start of our descent to the Gate and back to the car for our journey back to Nairobi.
Mt. Longonot Day Hike Stats
Approximate Distance: 13.5km
Approximate Time: 9 Hours
Maximum Elevation: 2780m (At Mt. Longonot Summit)
Difficulty: No previous hiking experience but short routine fitness activities will ease your strain.
What to Wear During the Hike
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- Fleece hat or a baseball cap.
- Proper hiking clothes (polyester t-shirt, wind jacket, hiking pants or gym wear).
- Comfortable hiking boots (should be at least one size bigger than your standard shoe size. A sports shoe can do, but watch your grip due to the loose sand on this trail).
- Sunscreen or Arimis petroleum jelly.
In Your Backpack, Have
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- At least 2(if possible 3) liters of water (use a water bladder or a reusable bottle). Disposable plastic bottles are not allowed inside parks.
- Snacks such as biscuits, nuts, fruits, crisps, etc.
- A hiking pole.
- A raincoat/poncho.
It is Also Advisable to Have
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- A set of clothes to change into after the hike (sometimes, too much sweating could make you uncomfortable, and weather changes are unexpected).
Ticket & Booking Mt. Longonot Hike
Citizens/Residents: KES 3000 (Scroll to the “Book Event” section for tickets)
Non-Residents: USD 55 (Click Here to Pay in USD)
Residents can alternatively reserve a slot by paying at least Kes.1500 using these instructions and clearing the balance before departure. Hikers Arena Refund Policy applies.
Click here to see the ticket inclusions & definitions.
Trip Itinerary
Meeting point: Opposite outside International House Kencom (Nairobi CBD)
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- 5.15 am: Boarding opens
- 5.30 am: Departure for Mount Longonot
- 6.45 am: Arrival at Mount Longonot & Registrations
- 7.00 am: Hike starts
- 4.00 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.
