Mount Longonot Experience

90 KM from the great capital city of Kenya, Nairobi, stands a stratovolcano. I know you are probably asking yourself “what is a stratovolcano?” Leaving all the geographical terms aside, let’s fast see what stratovolcano means in a layman's language. It is simply a conical volcano made-up by many layers of hardened lava and tephra forming a very steep profile due to lava that cool and harden before flowing far as a result of its high viscosity. The mountain is characterized by a periodic interval of explosive eruptions and cooling down of the lava. The large 8×12 kilometer caldera found on mount Longonot was formed by vast eruption of trachytic lava about 21000 years ago and this gives us the approximate age of mount Longonot.

With all that said and clearly knowing the Geological origin of this great landmark we’ll now get to details of the historical background of this place. On your way from Nairobi to Naivasha there is a feature rising from the floor of the Great Rift Valley like a monolith and this is the great extinct volcano of mount Longonot .It is located south east of lake Naivasha in the great Rift Valley of Kenya in Africa. The name Longonot is derived from the Maasai word oloong’ot which means mountain of many spurs or steep ridges. It is only after visiting this place that you will ascertain if this meaning truly depict the picture of Longonot, that is a decision left for you to make.

Mount Longonot lies on the mount Longonot National Park which is a place secured by Kenya wildlife services. The park is accessible by tarmac Rd from Nairobi hence you can drive to the park without any difficulties. There is enough parking spaces that can accommodate a huge fleet of cars. The park has a gate where you do the payments if you want to visit the mountain or even camp in the campsite that is located inside the park. The whole hike from the gate to the rim and back is approximately 13.6 kilometres.

 The distance from the gate to the start of the rim is 3.1 kilometres where by the fast path running from the gate to the start of inclination is 2150 metres above sea level and going up to the rim is 2776 metres above sea level. Going up the mountain you will have to cover the 3.1 kilometres twice since you have to go up and come back down through the same route. The distance around the rim is the longest which is 7.2 kilometres and it is around the rim that you will have the best experience of visiting this place. It is from above the rim that you see some of the beautiful scenic landscape. The great Rift Valley is clearly visible while you're up the rim and the escarpments are breath-taking from this point.

The rich flora and fauna life is nothing short of magical. The elevation on the rim to the highest point is over 630 metres above sea level. From above the rim you will see forest of small trees standing below the crater floor and from the walls of the crater there are small steam vents on the spaces around it.

While visiting this place seeing big animals is not very easy and not impossible but it is easy to spot several birds around the park and the mountain. Some of the animals that are common to this place include plain zebra, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle, Buffalo and Impala. The list is not strictly locked to these but they are some of the common animals that you will spot on mount Longonot National Park while hiking around the rim. The total time taken to go the entire hike is four to five hours with some allowance of resting time. The hike is highly favorable for beginners and intermediates.

The summit of mount Longonot is at Kilele Ngamia. This is 2780 meters above sea level and from this side you can have a clear view of Lake Naivasha. The difficulty level of getting to this point is medium meaning it is suitable for all ages including kids. While going to mount Longonot there are some key recommendations that you are advised to consider especially on what to pack.

The recommendation includes clothing, footwear, rainwear, health and hygiene and personal items.

With the unpredictable weather in this place you are advised to carry a windbreaker to prevent the effect of strong and very cold breeze that is prone to this area. You should also have a boot or shoe suitable for this place and sunglasses. A sun hat is also good and comes in handy. You should also have a long sleeved shirt to prevent the sunburn or apply sunscreen before starting your hike. For those planning to camp you should have a campsite reservation.  National Identification Card should be carried especially at the gate so as to prove your citizenship or a student identification card.

Cash payment is not allowed at this point and you should prepare accordingly. You should have rainwear ready in case of the rain that might come anytime. During rainy season the terrain is very slippery and it is advised that you wear hiking boots that is suitable for both dry and rainy terrains to prevent sliding while walking. If you follow the above guidelines be sure that you will have a comfortable hike in this destination.

1.     What stands out

 First of all being that it is a mountain the monolith like extinct volcano arising from the floor of Rift Valley is the key attraction at this area and it offers many activities to do on it. This comes with the scenic landscape that is as a result of this feature, mount Longonot. The forest of small trees found on the create floor also provides an epic scene. The park is also found on the Great Rift Valley which is a feature that stands out from anywhere around the park. The escarpments provide an additional scenic view which adds up to the uniqueness of this place. The green vegetation around this place and the birds of different species makes this place one-of-a-kind and worth to add on your bucket list. The large caldera also provides a feature that is one-of-a-kind in Kenya and Africa in general.

2.     How to get there and charges

 There are several ways that you can used to get to mount Longonot but four are the most easiest ways and affordable to get there. The first one is through self drive. There is a direct route from Nairobi through mae mahio on Naivasha route. This is one of the easiest ways since it prevents inconvenience. Self drive cars are available for hire around Nairobi. The entire journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

 The second way to get there is via bus and taxi. First of all you take a matatu or bus from Nairobi to Naivasha which will will take you approximately 3 hour 30 minutes. After getting to Naivasha you will take a taxi to Longonot and this will take 2 hours

 The third and the last way to get there is through taxi. This will offer direct journey from Nairobi to Longonot National Park gate. This will take you approximately 2 hour 30 minutes .

The fourth way, You can use Tuzuru wellness and fitness consultants to organize you the entire trip or book a slot with them through <tuzuruconsultants@gmail.com>. with them you can be sure to have the best experience of your life as the old cliché phrase it "a day to remember." After getting to the parks there are different rates for park entry fee that is categorized under citizen, residents, and non residents. The list further categorized people into two groups which is adults and children.

use Tuzuru wellness and fitness consultants to organize you the entire trip or book a slot with them through <tuzuruconsultants@gmail.com>

3.      what to see and do

At the park there are several things that you can engage in buy either seeing or doing. Some of the things that you can engage in include; biking, game viewing, rock climbing, viewing Lake Naivasha, hiking etc. The things that you can see in this place are limitless. They include the forest of small trees on the crater floor, small steam vent on the space around the walls of the crater, plain zebra, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle, buffaloes, Impala, lake Naivasha view, birds, extinct volcano, scenic landscape, Rift Valley etc

 This is just but a tip of the iceberg of the activity to do and what to see in this area. Seldom you can go and discover something new that the person who visited there last never saw. Surprises are inevitable at this area and everyone always come with a new story on what they have seen. It is now your turn to visit and tell your version.

4.     Where to eat and sleep

There is a small town around mount Longonot called Longonot here you can have your meal in case of a day trip. The other option of a place to eat and sleep is Naivasha town where there are several hotels that provide accommodation and food some of these include lake Naivasha Country Club, Fadhili house, El sweno homestead etc. There are also several campsites that offer place for cooking and camping this include oloongonot campsite Which is located in the park, Fish eagle inn Etc.