About Mount Longonot

Among the mountains that are found in Kenya Mount Longonot is one of a kind that attracts many visitors from across the divide. This is because it is a mountain of many ridges as it is referred in the Maasai community ‘Oloonong’ot’ which also means a mountain of numerous spurs. This mountain is located in the Great Rift Valley in the south east of Lake Naivasha. Many people have come up with assumptions that the last time it erupted was in the 1860s and thus leading to the way it appears now and the birth of the geographical term strato volcano.

It is possible to access this mountain by using the tarmac road that runs from Nairobi city approximately ninety kilometers or one hours drive. And the climate around the mountain is conducive with temperature ranging from 20 – 300 c and the rainfall ranging from two hundred millimeters to seven hundred millimeters. The major attraction sites around the mountain include the crater forest, the attractive landscape and the general view of Lake Naivasha and the floor of Great Rift Valley. One other factor is that the park is a den of so many bird species.

Mount Longonot is preserved and conserved in Kenya for the purposes of restoring its value to the country. It has a trail that begins from the entrance of Mount Longonot National park all the way to the centre of the park where it goes round the crater. A tour to this park will cover approximately 9 kilometers which covers roughly five to six hours trekking.

This mountain is covered with forests and vegetation which provide a home to the wild animals like birds, leopards, zebras, giraffes and buffaloes among many more. There are also visible steam vents which are seen widely spaced on the walls of the crater. It is possible to view the animals that are present round the mountains especially the nocturnal ones. However, leopards and hartebeest are difficult to spot.

The number of activities that one can take while on tour to mount Longonot includes hiking, trekking, rock climbing, biking, walking and also catching the view of Lake Naivasha. All the activities involved when on camping or simply gathering with groups, family members or work mates are common on mount Longonot. It is good to travel during the hot seasons but it is favorable all year round. The most important thing to put in mind while on trip to mount Longonot is ensuring that you need to always be in company of a tour guide, carry water to during with you and all the necessary camping equipment.

 It is useful to carry your binoculars, cameras, hats, sunglasses and also guide books to make your trip worth the time.