Hiking Mount Longonot

Summary Starting Point - Mt Longonot Park Gate Ending point - Mt Longonot Park Gate Walking Duration - 4 hours Terrain - Fine dust, with loose gravel in some areas. Difficulty - Moderate, with some steep climbing.

Background

Longonot is dormant volcano estimated to have last erupted in the mid 1800s, and standing at an estimated 750m above the floor of the Great Rift Valley and 2776m above sea level, this colossus dominates the surrounding landscape, with lava canyons on its steep slopes, and a circular caldera over a kilometer in diameter.  A number of viewpoints on the highway have become popular stopovers for motorists drawn by the splendor of this magnificent view.

The whole mountain is a National Park under the jurisdiction of Kenya Wildlife Services. It is home to several wild animals including buffalos, antelopes and leopards, most of which live in the thick forest covering the crater floor. Spotting them is not guaranteed.

Route Description

A hike on this mountain takes about 2hr from the Park Gate to the rim of the crater and back , while for those going round the crater as well, the hike takes about 4hr for the round trip.the terrain is fine dust, with loose gravel in some areas. The path up the slope is pretty steep and slippery at some points, so you need to be reasonably fit to do this hike. The views from the crater rim however make every painful step worth the effort.