This hike to the top of the Great Rift Valley will give you the
chance to experience the freedom and awesome wildness of East Africa.
Mt Longnot is just less than 9100 ft above sea level with a tree filled
interior and a lonesome steam vent to the northeast.
You start the assent at 6000 ft. The hike takes approximately 1½
hour you will leave the lodge at 6.15am and will start at approximately
7 am.
Like all good uphill hikes it will lull you in to a sense of false security
with a slow gentle rise to the first peak. This gives you a chance to
get your lungs and limbs freed up for the second section, which is the
most awesome. At the end of each section there is a rest point where you
can prepare your self for the next part of your journey. You will have
started early to avoid the heat of the Sun but by the time you reach the
end of the second section you would have generated your own heat. This
hike is not an easy hike but is achievable by people of average fitness.
An indication of the fitness required is that most school of the age 14
and 15 take this climb while attending school in Nairobi. Once you have
finished the second section there is another rest bite of slightly less
demanding terrain, before making the final climb on the fourth section.
This again is a demanding section, though not as demanding as the second
section.
As you heave your self over the rim of the crater your reward is
the awesome sight of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley and you
know that it was all worthwhile.
Before making this climb you will need to acclimatize at 6000 ft and as
part of the climb package we offer a day and one night at the
Emerald Lake near by.
A ranger accompanies you on the hike. He will act as a guide. As
there are wild animals in the area he is armed. Paul my guide has been
a ranger for 10 years and has not used the gun once on his daily trips
up and down the mountain.
You will need:
Equipment
• Good pair of walking boots (broken-in)
• Walking stick. An adjustable sprung loaded stick is best.
• Pair of woolen socks as recommended by the boots manufacturer/sales
man
• Rucksack. Large enough to carry 2 x ½ litter of water plus
few sandwiches to eat at the top. Together with camera, sun cream, plus
your sweater that will be removed during the climb.
Tips
• The ranger's advice on all matters including your rate of progress
should always be listened to, as he has vast experience on helping people
reach the summit.
• Don't under estimate dehydration. Drink water at the end of each
section, and as required.
Note
• The crater can be circum-navigated, this takes another 4 hours
via a narrow path. In some places this path has seep slopes on both sides
and is not without danger.
• All of this hike is over rough ground and has all the hazards of
hiking up steep inclines
Animals
There are numerous animals in the area; the most commonly seen is the
odd giraffe or dik-dik.
Update 2003- THE BIG HIKE
I returned to make this magnificent hike again with my husband on
the 28 December 2002 the day after Kenya's general election. This
time the effort was just as great as it had been that first time but
the heart stirring sound of the tribal drums of victory accompanied
us. The vibrations ran down the Great Rift Valley and in to our veins
like the music from some big blockbuster film beating out the sound
of victory. This was the first time I had experienced this since Independence
Day on 12 December 1963.
On the climb we saw a large herd of zebras and Thomson gazelles
along with a large majestic giraffe. The view from the top was wonderful
as ever. The Great Rift Valley rolled out in front of us and the sun
sparkled on Lake Naivasha.
