CONQUERING HEIGHTS

MT. LONGONOT ADVENTURE

Introduction

Nestled in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya lies a geological wonder waiting to be explored – Mt. Longonot. With its majestic crater and breathtaking views, Mt. Longonot offers an unforgettable hiking experience for adventurers seeking to commune with nature and challenge themselves physically and mentally. Strap on your hiking boots, pack your water bottle, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as we delve into the journey of conquering Mt. Longonot. 

JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAIN

On the morning of 24th March 2024, a 5-seater vehicle was packed full of hiking materials, food, a lot of water and 5 team players of the Heritage Horizon Alliance – International organization headed for Mt. Longonot.  We arrived at the location at around 8.30 am after leaving Nairobi at 6.20 a.m. The drive was not so long, especially with the views along the Rift Valley. It had rained the night before, so the breeze was exhilarating. As we approached the gate, all of our cameras were recording mother nature’s wonders as every angle was a breathtaking update to our social media posts. We paid the entrance fees, and for the three of us who did not have trekking poles, we paid a further small fee for walking sticks provided at the gate. The officials discouraged us from entering Mt. Longonot National Park with plastic water bottles which are disposable, to prevent pollution of the environment. We had our refill of meals, some wonderful chicken and bread, and went to the washrooms to relieve ourselves before the hike. Then the real journey began.

The Climb

The trailhead of Mt. Longonot greets hikers with a promising start, surrounded by lush vegetation and the distant call of wildlife and birds chirping. As you begin your trail, the path gradually unfolds before you, revealing the diverse flora and fauna that call this mountain home.

We walked on flat land towards the mountain for a few hundred meters before seeing a giraffe crossing the road towards the left side of the park, and a herd of zebras grazing on the right side of the park. We walked past a campsite known as Oloongonot campsite, and then the ascent began. 

The Ascent

As you ascend higher, the terrain becomes more challenging, testing your endurance and determination. The trail winds its way up the slopes of the dormant volcano, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape with each step. But the views of the Great Rift Valley become clearer the higher you go. Due to the rainy season, older and more defined paths had been damaged, and we found ourselves using a steeper route. We walked at our own pace in 3 groups. Hurrying up to the top was not the goal, but getting up the crater without over exhausting our bodies was our main concern. We envisioned getting to the top and doing an anticlockwise rotation around the crater, which would take us a total time of 4 to 5 hours to go round the crater only.

After climbing for what seemed like 2 hours we got to a stop point where a gazebo had been erected and partook of our meal. We had some delicious cake, chicken again, bread and mint sweets for refreshments. The trick with water was to take small sips frequently. We met other climbers, going up and others who were going down. They gave us hope and made it seem easy to get to the top. After a few minutes of resting, we got up and continued with the course.

After trekking for almost 2km, we found a nice aerial view of Lake Naivasha, a big freshwater lake in Nakuru County. The buildings below us looked like tiny specs of dust. We could see the gate of the park from our location and it seemed like it was miles away. The sun was shining and the ridges of the mountain were getting bigger and bigger. They seemed like cornrows plaited on someone’s head and they lay beautifully parallel to each other. In some places along the trek, the park had constructed steps with concrete. I call them the stepzilla, they kept making the course harder and they seemed to be everlasting.

CONFRONTING THE CRATER RIM

After a steep climb for about 30 minutes or so, we finally got to the top. The views are immaculate. The crater is big and wide, 7.2km long. Inside the crater, a deep forest full of dangerous wild animals is set. We could see smoke from a few places down in the forest. The clouds seemed to be just at reach on the summit of the crater. Stepping onto the crater rim felt like entering another world altogether – a world shaped by the forces of nature over millennia. We took a moment to catch our breath and soak in the awe-inspiring sight of the crater below, its rugged terrain contrasting against the clear blue sky above.

We were exhausted and time was not on our side as we had a second location to drive up to. We decided to not explore the crater, but to rest and descend after. We ate again the remainder of our food again and then sat down to appreciate nature’s beauty. More climbers reached the top and we could see the awe in their eyes as they panted and soaked in the view of the crater. After a well deserved rest, we decided it was time to depart.

THE DESCEND

We started going down and our knees were really feeling the struggle. It was all about avoiding slipping and sliding down. We had to maintain our posture and balance. We met several hikers going up. It seemed more difficult for them because the sun was so hot and some of them did not have water to sustain them during the hike. Gradually, we passed several spots which we had passed as we went up. It was a good feeling to see how high we had gone by how far it was to get down. It was faster ofcourse due to gravity but it wasn’t as simple as it sounds. There were some showers of rain but they only lasted for like 3 minutes. As soon as we reached the bottom of the mountain, we breathed a sigh of relief to have survived and came out feeling stronger in spirit.

Hiking Mt. Longonot was not just about conquering a physical challenge; it was about immersing ourselves in the beauty of nature, pushing our limits, and gaining a newfound appreciation for the world around us.

OLKARIA GEOTHERMAL SPA

After the exhausting adventure, the main thing that kept us going was a promise to go to the Olkaria Geothermal spa. It is located in Nakuru county, near Hell’s Gate National Park. It is the largest natural spa in Africa. It belongs to a power generating company in Kenya called KenGen. They use the hot water and sulphur found underground with turbines to generate electricity. There are 3 pools where the first one is a really hot jacuzzi. No one is allowed to swim in there as it is too hot to kill somebody. The second pool is slightly less hot but the third big pool is where temperatures are favorable for us to swim. The other 2 pools are used to cool off the water. 

We went to the changing rooms and put on our swimsuits and then relaxed inside the pool. It was the best feeling I have ever experienced in my life. The water was hot while the temperatures outside were low so it was cold outside the pool. The water contains sulphur, which is good for the skin and helps with acnes and eczema. It also invigorates blood flow and circulation. We stayed in the pool for 2 hours or so. Some of us learnt how to float in the water. It was a very relaxing experience.

If you want to cool down and forget about the city’s troubles, Olkaria is the best place to do so. In general the day was a success. We drove back to Nairobi at around 6pm. and arrived in the Nairobi CBD at 8.30 p.m. Personally, I enjoyed the day’s adventures and I would totally redo the day in the future.