Mt Longonot Park Hike
After a whole weeks excitement, and the d-day arrived on Sunday morning of 26th August 2012,the group arrived and off we we're in a branded KWS bus,via the tarmac road 60 kilometers Northwest of Nairobi. It was an hour's drive from Nairobi.We we're briefed about the hike, and we started hiking.With a ranger accompanying us we knew we we're safe.
After a whole weeks excitement, and the d-day arrived on Sunday morning of 26th August 2012,the group arrived and off we we're in a branded KWS bus,via the tarmac road 60 kilometers Northwest of Nairobi. It was an hour's drive from Nairobi.We we're briefed about the hike, and we started hiking.With a ranger accompanying us we knew we we're safe.
The park
Mount Longonot is a stratovolcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, Africa. It is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s. Its name is derived from the Maasai word oloonong'ot, meaning "mountains of many spurs" or "steep ridges".
Mount Longonot is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service as part of Mount Longonot National Park.
A trail runs from the park entrance up to the crater rim, and continues
in a loop encircling the crater. The whole tour is only about 8–9 km
long but very steep, so that the round trip of park gate - Longonot Peak
- park gate takes around 5 hrs hiking. The gate is around 2150 m asl
and the peak at 2780 m asl but following the jagged rim involves
substantially more than the 630 m vertical difference.
A forest of small trees covers the crater floor, and small steam
vents are found spaced around the walls of the crater. The mountain is
home to various species of wildlife, notably zebra and giraffe and buffaloes (droppings on the rim) and hartebeest. Leopards have also been reported but are extremely difficult to spot.
Mount Longonot is 60 kilometres northwest of Nairobi and may be reached from there by a tarmac road. The road was re-done by the EU and is now excellent, reducing travel time from Nairobi to around an hour. A nearby town is also named Longonot. The Longonot satellite earth station is located south of the mountain.
We started the assent at 6000 ft.Before making this climb we had to be acclimatize at 6000 feet.To the top of the Great Rift Valley slowly being in the tortoise team we rose to the first peak.
My lungs and limbs we're not freed up for the second section, which sounded most awesome. At the end of each section there was a rest point where we could prepare our selves for the next part of your journey.
The hike is not an easy hike but we achieved it. Here an indication of the fitness required.
I had a glance of the beautiful crater where i had a view of an awesome sight of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley and you know that it was all worthwhile.
The rangers we're armed and acted as guides,for us the tortoise team we're very lucky to be with Alex Mathenge Kws staff. The whole tour is only about 8–9 km long but very steep,i could not reach the summit because i was exhausted. I managed to reach the gate that is around 2150 metres and the peak at 2780 metres but following the jagged rim involves substantially more than the 630 metres vertical difference.
This gave me the chance to experience the freedom and awesome wildness of East Africa.
This park can be visited through our the year.
Price:
Great trip book with us :
Non residents rates USD 350 per person only it is a days trip.
Residents Kshs 18,000
Notes
* Mt Longonot National Park opening hours: Daily 0600 Hours -1800 Hours
* Children Between 3 Years to 17 Years pay 50% of the adult price
Mount Longonot Day Trip hiking Safari includes:
* Price per person
* Car entry Fees into the Park
* All Guests entry fees, service charge and taxes
* Meals as stated in the respective itineraries
* Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to your hotel
* Professional English speaking guides/ Game Ranger/Community Guide. All are experts in the African wildlife, culture and tour guiding
Mount Longonot Day Trip hiking Safari does not include:
* Tips or gratuity, drinks; travelers insurance
* Any other optional activities not mentioned in the inclusive list
* Laundry, communication charges, visas, international airfares and airport taxes
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)
Mount Longonot Day Trip Hiking Safari Requires:
• Good pair of walking boots (broken-in)
• Walking stick. An adjustable sprung loaded stick is best
• Camera, sun cream, plus your sweater that will be removed during the climb
• Pair of woolen socks as recommended by the boots manufacturer/sales man
• All of this hike is over rough ground and has all the hazards of hiking up steep inclines
• Don't under estimate 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.
Other upcoming activities:
****Bicycle ride
*** They will build stairs
****A rope to go down
Booking & Reservations for Mount Longonot Day Trip Hiking Safari from Nairobi:
Richest Tourism and Travel.
Booking Office Tel:+254780004246
Mobile : +254723247777 (Safaricom) - Kenya
Email:nadelletours@aol.com
email :info@nadelletoursandtravel.co.ke
