Hiking Mount Longonot National Park: A Must-Do Adventure in Kenya

If you're visiting Kenya and love hiking or trail running, Mount Longonot National Park should be high on your list. Just a short drive from Nairobi, this dormant volcano offers stunning views, fresh mountain air, and a rewarding hike without being overly challenging. The trail takes you up the volcano and, once at the rim, you can choose whether to hike the full loop around the crater — and trust me, you should! The loop is scenic, peaceful, and gives you incredible 360° views of the Great Rift Valley. The terrain is rugged but manageable, and no guide is needed, so you can enjoy the hike at your own pace. For those who are a bit more energetic, it’s even possible to turn this into a trail run — the path is tough in parts but makes for a great natural running track. Entry to the park costs around 30 euros, and here’s the catch: you need to pay online via the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) website. Unfortunately, the process can be a bit clunky — it didn’t go smoothly for us or for other travelers we spoke to. M-Pesa isn’t accepted, which adds to the hassle. To avoid stress at the gate, make sure to purchase your ticket online the night before or early on the day of your hike. Despite the hiccup with the ticketing system, the hike itself more than makes up for it. Mount Longonot is a stunning and memorable adventure that offers one of the best hiking experiences in Kenya. Important Tip: You can't bring disposable plastic water bottles into Mount Longonot National Park, as part of efforts to protect the environment. But don’t worry — you can buy reusable water bottles at the entrance and transfer your water into them before starting the hike. It's a small but impactful way to help preserve this beautiful place!

@Belges en Route

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