1 Day Mount Longonot Safari

1 Day Trip Mount Longonot Trekking 1 Day Safari, 1 Day Mount Longonot Tour, 1 Day Mount Longonot Safari

Situated on the floor of the world-famous Great Rift Valley, Mount Longonot is a dormant volcano that last erupted in the 1800s. Located just 90km from Nairobi, it is the perfect location for an adventurous day trip out of the Kenyan capital.

Hiking the top of the Great Rift Valley Mt Longonot gives you the chance to experience the freedom and awesome wilderness of East Africa.

Mt Longonot is about 2780m (9100ft) above sea level with a tree-filled interior and a lonesome steam vent to the northeast. A climb to Mount Longonot is an ideal day trip from Nairobi, Nakuru or from Naivasha.

Mount Longonot is a dormant stratavolcano (a tall conical volcano built up from many layers of hardened lava) which is believed to have last erupted during the 1860s. The name Mount Longonot is derived from the Masai word Longonot which means a mountain of many spurs or steep ridges. Mount Longonot National Park is only 52 square km, and most of it covered by the mountain.

Safari Highlights:

- Enjoy the view of the Great Rift valley
- Enjoy a thrilling mountaineering adventure in Kenya.
- View the wide crater at the top with small green trees and volcanic spaced steam
- Bird watching
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Detailed Itinerary

The trip departs Nairobi at 7:30am and the journey takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Your start the ascent at 2150m from the gate and like all good uphill hikes, it will lull you into a false sense of security with a slow gentle rise to the first hill. This gives you a chance to get your lungs and limbs freed up for the second section which, in our opinion, is most awesome. At the end of each section there is a rest point for the preparation of the next part of your journey.

You start the hike from the main gate of the National Park, hiking vertically up the dormant volcano, rising over 630 meters to the rim of the crater at 2776 meters above sea level. The walk is very steep and craggy in parts and a trek encircling the rim and back to the gate is around nine kilometers. This day trek is a good warm up to experience the conditions of a mountain trek and test your stamina for a longer trek, like Mount Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro.

Despite setting off early to avoid the heat of the sun, by the time you reach the end of the second section you will have surely generated your own heat. This hike is not an easy hike but is achievable by people of reasonably good fitness. Once you have finished the second section, you are on the rim of the crater.

There is another respite of slightly less demanding terrain, before making the final climb on the fourth section. This again is a demanding section. As you heave yourself over the rim of the crater you are rewarded with the awesome sight of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley and a feeling that it was all worthwhile.

7:00am: Leave Nairobi for mt Longonot national park

8:30am: Start the hike up the mountain

10:30am: Reach the Mt Longonot crater rim and go around the crater.

12:30pm: Descend to the base and depart for lake Naivasha.

1:00pm: Enjoy a lunch at the fisherman camp

2:00pm: Optional boat ride in the lake Naivasha

3:30pm: Depart for Nairobi

5:30pm: Drop off in town or hotel. End of Mt Longonot national park Tour.

Mount Longonot Day Trip Hiking Tour Requirements:

- Good pair of walking boots (broken-in)
- Walking stick. An adjustable spring-loaded stick is best
- Camera, sun cream, plus your sweater that will be removed during the climb
- Pair of woollen socks as recommended by the boots manufacturer/salesman
- All of this hike is over rough ground and has all the hazards of hiking up steep inclines
- Do not underestimate dehydration. Drink water at the end of each section, and as required.
- Rucksack. Large enough to carry 2 x ½ litter of water plus few sandwiches to eat at the top
- The ranger’s advice on all matters including your rate of progress should always be listened to
- Animals – There are numerous animals in the area; the most commonly seen is the giraffe or dik-dik.
- The crater can be circumnavigated; this takes another 4 hours via a narrow path. In some places, this path has steep slopes on both sides and is not without danger.