Hiking in Kenya
On a safari, you’ll spend a lot of time in a vehicle, but in certain areas, you can step out of the vehicle to explore on foot.
In Kenya, hiking experiences range from one to multi-day treks to short walking safaris in conservancies as part of a private safari. Since hiking in Kenya usually takes place in protected areas, you will be accompanied by a ranger or a local guide, ensuring your safety and keeping a respectful distance from the wildlife. There is usually also a conservation fee to be paid.
If your hiking trip is part of a longer itinerary with us, we will take you to the starting point of your hike and collect you on your return to continue your journey.
Contact one of our country experts for a no-obligation conversation, and they will help you discover where to go hiking in Kenya according to your preferences and fitness level.
Where can you go hiking in Kenya?
Here are some of the best places for hiking in Kenya:
Walking safaris
Walking safaris in private reserves and conservancies offer incredible experiences. Expert guides lead unforgettable walks through the bush, interpreting signs of wildlife and local flora. Walking safaris in national parks are very restricted. Therefore, most walking safaris take place in private conservancies.
Superb destinations include Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and private conservancies in the Masai Mara ecosystem, for example Naboisho Conservancy.
Most walking safaris take place in the vicinity of your camp and take one to three hours, depending on your fitness level and circumstances on the ground.
However, you can also do multi-day walking safaris. These very special experiences take you to remote areas where you cover longer distances across Kenya’s wild spaces on foot. You overnight in fly-camps in the middle of nature. Your luggage is carried by camels or a supply vehicle. An unforgettable trip!
Find out more on our dedicated walking safaris page.
Easy short hikes
Two easy hikes include:
- Crescent Island, on the southern edge of Lake Naivasha, is named for its shape. It is home to numerous birds and animals, including water bucks, zebras, giraffes, and even bat-eared foxes. After a short boat trip from the mainland, you can enjoy a one-to-two-hour walk among the wildlife while taking in the stunning views of the lake. This is a mix between an easy hike and a walking safari. A magical experience.
- The Crater Lake Game Sanctuary is located on the western shore of Lake Naivasha, 90 km north of Nairobi. It’s home to 170 bird species, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, jackals, hyenas, and even leopards. Guided walks up to and around the crater’s rim provide fantastic views. You can walk around the Crater Lake (known as Sonachi), at the base of the crater when the water level is low.
One-day treks:
Good physical fitness is required for single-day treks.
- Hell’s Gate National Park, 15km south of Lake Naivasha, features a stunning gorge with dramatic rock faces, extinct volcanoes, and diverse wildlife. Visitors can explore on foot, by bike, or through rock climbing. Although the classic walk-through of Ol Njorowa Gorge to the hot springs is closed, you can start at Elsa Gate and follow the 14km Buffalo Circuit or the 9km Twiga Circuit to cycle amidst the wildlife.
- Mount Longonot is a dormant stratovolcano overlooking nearby Lake Naivasha. The 3.1 km trek to the crater rim at 2776m starts at 2150m at the park entrance and is steep in stages. You can return at this point, making it a 6.2 km roundtrip or continue the 7.2 km loop around the rim before returning down the same path. The entire trek is 13.5 km long and takes five hours. We definitely recommend adding the loop around the rim for its stunning views.
- Aberdare National Park has a beautiful 17.2 km hike to Mount Satima (4001m), Kenya’s third-highest mountain. The hike begins 12 km beyond Rhino Gate and takes you through scrubland and moorland. Before reaching the summit, you’ll pass Giant Lobelia and the Dragon’s Teeth rock formation. The descent takes about 2 hours, and the hike lasts 5 hours, depending on your fitness level and breaks.
- Mount Kenya National Park offers a multi-hour hike to Lake Ellis, starting at the Chogoria Gate (2950m). It is a gentle hike past marshes, streams, forests, and open landscapes. You may see buffalo and elephants – usually though their tracks only. If you feel energetic, you can detour to Nithi Waterfall. Depending on your itinerary, we recommend staying close-by overnight. Mt Kenya is one of the best places to go hiking in Kenya.
Kenya trekking tours
Trekking in Kenya offers the chance to climb relatively remote mountains and enjoy Kenya’s scenic landscapes in solitude. Two incredible one-day mountain treks include Mount Longonot near Naivasha and Mount Satima in the Aberdares region.
However, the ultimate mountain trek is a multi-day journey through the stunning landscapes of Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most visitors on a Mt Kenya climb will summit Point Lenana. At 4,985m (16,355 feet) it is the third highest point on Mt Kenya. It is also the highest point you can reach if you don’t have technical climbing experience. Mt Kenya trekking tours are about enjoying the experience more so than reaching the highest point.
Where can you go mountain climbing in Kenya?
Climbing Mt Kenya
Join us on a climb up Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, and hike along some of the most beautiful trekking routes in the world. Our Mt Kenya climbs are operated by our trusted partner of many years. They have the necessary equipment and a tried and tested network of mountain guides, porters and cooks who will take you to the top and safely back down again.
The mountain’s diverse landscapes and many endemic plants make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its snow-covered peaks consist of Batian (5,199m), Nelion (5,188m), and Point Lenana (4,985 m).
Those eager to reach Batian or Nelion Peak require technical mountaineering experience to climb these routes. However, you can do a Kenya trekking tour to Point Lenana, the third-highest peak. Our favourite routes are the Naro Moru, Sirimon Route, and Chogoria Route, which you can mix and match.
You should plan a minimum number of three nights to trek to Point Lenana. However, most trekkers will do it in four to five nights to acclimatise to the altitude. To learn more, read our trekking guide for Mount Kenya.
Despite its easy accessibility and gentle hiking routes up to Point Lenana at 4985m, mass tourism has spared this paradise. This gives you a sense of privacy and seclusion on the mountain and helps connect you with nature.
You will hike through dense, lush mountain forests, open grassland dotted with giant lobelias and past gurgling mountain streams. Zebras and antelopes live on the mountain’s lower slopes, so keep your eyes peeled and try not to spook the soft-footed wildlife behind the next bush.
This extinct volcano’s rugged cliffs and glaciers will amaze you when you realise you are near the equator, which experiences a tropical climate. If the weather permits, you may even build a snowman in Africa. Come and join us for Kenya trekking tours on an unforgettable climb of this stunning mountain.
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