Private Mount Longonot Crater Rim Guided Hike

Overview

This private Mount Longonot hike takes you from Nairobi to the top of a dormant Rift Valley volcano and around the rim of its forested crater. We pick you up at your Nairobi hotel or NBO airport at 06:00 in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide and climb while the air is cool. The ascent to the rim takes around one and a half to two hours; the full crater loop adds two to three more, with views over Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate the whole way. Afterwards there is time for an optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha. Private vehicle and guide mean the pace is yours: a good day for fit families, couples and friends.

Highlights

• Your own vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide from Nairobi, no other travellers
• Climb a dormant Rift Valley volcano to the crater rim at about 2,776 metres
• The full crater-rim loop with views over Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate and Mount Suswa
• Zebra, giraffe, buffalo and antelope sometimes seen on the lower slopes
• The Great Rift Valley viewpoint on the escarpment road
• Optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha among hippos and fish eagles after the hike
• Pickup and drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or NBO airport and bottled water included
• Flexible pace: stop at the rim or complete the loop, as you prefer

Itinerary

1. 06:00 Pickup in Nairobi or at NBO airportOur driver-guide collects you in a private vehicle and heads north-west out of the city, with a photo stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint.
2. Mount Longonot gateArrival around 07:30; entry fees are paid at the gate and the climb begins after a short briefing.
3. Climb to the crater rimAbout one and a half to two hours of steady ascent across grassland and the steeper ash path, with rests as you need them.
4. Crater-rim loop and summit (optional)Two to three hours around the rim to Kilele Ngamia and back, or rest at the rim and turn back; your choice on the day.
5. Descent and lunch stopAbout one hour down to the gate, then a lunch stop at a restaurant near Lake Naivasha at your own expense.
6. Optional Lake Naivasha boat rideAbout one hour on the water among hippos and fish eagles, paid on the spot.
7. Return to NairobiDrive back up the escarpment and drop-off at your hotel in the late afternoon.

What's included

• Pickup and drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or NBO airport
• Transport in a private vehicle
• English-speaking driver-guide
• Guided hike to the Mount Longonot crater rim
• Bottled water

Not suitable for

• Guests with reduced mobility or heart or respiratory conditions
• Young children who cannot walk several hours on steep ground

Meeting point

We pick you up at 06:00 at your hotel, apartment or residence in Nairobi, or at NBO airport. Please be ready a few minutes early with your passport, hiking shoes and a daypack, and share your address or flight details when booking.

Important information

• Mount Longonot park entry fees are not included and are paid at the gate; bring your passport for registration
• Wear proper hiking shoes with grip; the ash path is dusty and loose, and slippery after rain
• Bring a daypack with sunscreen, a hat, a light jacket for the early start and snacks; bottled water is provided and extra is advised
• Hiking poles are useful on the steep sections; the rim loop has several sharp ups and downs along a narrow ridge
• The climb reaches about 2,776 metres; take it slowly and tell your guide if you feel unwell
• Lunch and the Lake Naivasha boat ride are not included and are paid on the spot
• Start early and avoid the midday sun; there is little shade on the mountain
• Wildlife is sometimes seen on the lower slopes; stay with your guide and do not approach animals