Highlands & Valleys in Kenya!
Enjoy pure and unspoilt landscapes on the highlands and valleys of Kenya. Spectacular views of the green upcountry and a whim of nature cascades across the meandering hills. Hikers and mountain climbers find satisfaction in exploring these opportunities for adventure in Kenya, so join in.
Mount Kenya
Mt. Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak is regarded as the realm of Ngai, god of the local Kikuyu people. Traditionally, all Kikuyu home were built to face this sacred peak. They call it Kirinyaga, or place of light.
The mountain is an awe-inspiring sight. Its ragged series of peaks are crowned with snow, and its slopes are thick with forest. The mountain is best seen at dawn, when the days early light silhouettes its impressive summit high over the surrounding plains.
While the 5199 meter summit is a difficult technical climb, the lesser peak of Point Lenana (4985m) can be easily reached by any fit trekker. This trek takes between 3 and 5 days, through a fascinating world of forests, wildlife, and unique montane vegetation including pod carpus and groundsel, and finally one of the world’s rarest sights, equatorial snow.
For those who don’t want to climb the Mountain, now is a good time to learn about exercises for climbers for this expedition. The cool highlands that surround its base are well worth a visit. The forests are ideal for game viewing, and there are crystal clear mountain streams that abound with Trout….
Getting there – Main road access to Mount Kenya is via Nanyuki or Naro Moru, both easily accessed from Nairobi by bus/matatu or private transport. Some trekkers and climbers access the mountain from Chogoria. There is an airstrip in Nanyuki with both scheduled and charter flights available. Many trekking companies can organize transfers from Nairobi to Mt. Kenya. See the Trekking, Mountain Climbing and Safaris and Tours sections for details.
Getting around – Hotels in Nanyuki and Naro Moru can organize transfers to the gates of Mt. Kenya National Park.
Climbing Gear- Mount Kenya is a fascinating place to visit. But you do need the right gear to assist you in the climb. For instance, you need the best shoes to climb through the harsh terrain as you approach the peak. You also need to have proper clothing, jackets for the cold, etc.
Western Highlands
This truly spectacular region is one of Kenya’s best kept secrets. The highlands and escarpment of the North Rift Valley provide some of the country’s most awe-inspiring views, across the broad and beautiful Kerio Valley.
The scenic vistas around the Elgeyo escarpment are truly stunning, especially from the ‘World’s End’ viewpoint at Nyaru. Waterfalls flow down the face of these escapements, and at Chebloch, on the valley floor water runs through a deep and narrow gorge with sheer rock walls.
The highlands are an excellent place to explore, and there is plenty to discover among the many hills and ranges. From the high Tugen Hills, there are excellent views across arid rift valley floor to Lake Baringo. The lush green hills around Kericho are home to Kenya’s tea industry, and the nearby Kisii Community is world renowned for their beautiful soapstone carving.
Unlike most of Kenya’s mountains and ranges, the rolling Cherangani Hills are not volcanic in origin. The hills are centered upon a forested escarpment and surrounded on three sides by sheer cliff faces. They are crisscrossed by walking paths, and ease of direction and undemanding slopes make this excellent country for relaxing hill walking. The paths cross open farmland, pass through sheltered valleys and wind their way up to forested peaks. This is a birding mecca, and whether you are a serious ornithologist or a hobby birder, you should not miss the Cheranganis. There are excellent bird guides available locally.
Wildlife enthusiasts can also visit the nearby Saiwa Swamp National Park. This is one of the few parks that permits walking, and is an ideal place for a day’s hike. This wild country is home to many and varied species, the best known being the very rare Sitatunga. This semi-amphibious antelope lives in the depths of these swamps. Rimoi National Reserve, in the Kerio Valley, is an important area for elephant migration.
The Western Highlands have become a major draw for sporting tourists. This is the home of many of Kenya’s world famous runners. This is probably the finest place on earth for high altitude athletic training, and many international athletes visit training camps around Iten and Kaptagat.
But the real beauty of these Highlands lies in the solitude, peace, and isolation to be found in the hills.
Getting Around – The central travel hub of this region is Eldoret, which is serviced by both bus and air traffic. Kenya’s third international airport is located in Eldoret, with frequent domestic services. There are several airstrips throughout the region, including a large public air strip at Kericho. Other major towns in this region with good road access include Kericho, Kitale, Kaptagat and Kabaranet. Some trekking companies can organize transfers from Nairobi to the Cherangani Hills. There is a very good road network throughout the entire Western Highlands. There are good bus and matatu connections among most towns and villages.
This destination is an ideal walking, trekking and cycling country (although there are many steep hills), even within Saiwa Swamp National Park. It is possible to take an organized safari into this area.
Menengai Crater
Located on the northern side of Nakuru is the single largest surviving volcanic crater in the world. The Menengai Crater is an extinct volcano that offers striking views of Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria and the crater itself.
It is believed that the crater is a historic ground for a battle between different clans from the Maasai community who fought for grazing land and pastures on the slopes of the Rift Valley. For photography lovers, 8 km to the top of the crater, beautiful pink and blue colors of Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria become clearer and can make excellent pictures under a brisk sunset.
Activities: Hiking, trekking, biking, camping, picnicking at strategic campsites, and photography.
Rift Valley
Originally named the ‘Great Rift Valley’ by British Explorer John Walter Gregory, the Rift Valley is a geographic stretch extending 6000km across the Middle East and Africa from Jordan to Mozambique. The valley encapsulates tremendous changes in topographic diversity with its scarps and volcanoes, lakes, ancient granitic hills, flat desert landscapes and coral reefs and islets. The astounding view, as you approach from Nairobi, Kenya is quite unbelievable. To show you just how expansive the rift is, the ground unexpectedly disappears from under you, extending thousands of kilometers in either direction. An excellent starter to the Kenyan Rift Valley, it may appear, the most amazing part of this experience is sinking deeper to explore the Lake System of the Rift.
Activities: Hiking, trekking, game viewing, photography, guided walks around the crater lakes, picnic lunch, bird watching, golfing and community visits.
