Taking in some of the lesser known national parks and landscapes of southern Kenya, this adventure makes the journey from A to B more action-packed and interesting than simply hopping on a flight to your safari destination. Instead, you will zip line through a forest, hike to the top of a volcanic crater, Mt Longonot, mountain bike through the canyons of Hell’s Gate National Park, and spend a day exploring the forests, waterfalls, and escarpment of the Aberdare National Park. You’ll finish at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy where you can extend your stay with time on safari learning about their world class rhino conservation efforts.
Nairobi
Ol Pejeta Conservancy or Nanyuki
Land Cruiser 4×4 or Mini Bus
High
Ziplining, Mountain Biking, Hiking
Children aged nine upwards can participate in the hike and mountain biking, but this is at the parent’s discretion. Children’s mountain bikes can be hired at both Kereita Forest and Hell’s Gate – we recommend you bring cycle helmets from home, though, as they are in very limited supply for rental, and it is difficult to guarantee that the right size will be available.
Depart Nairobi with driver-guide and 4×4 Land Cruiser. Stop at the Kereita Forest, around 1.5 hrs from the outskirts of Nairobi, where you will enjoy the thrill of a zip lining adventure through the forest. Enjoy a picnic lunch before going mountain
biking through the forest. In the mid-late afternoon, depart to the southern shores of Lake Naivasha – a drive of around 2.5 hrs. Overnight: Kiangazi House (FB basis)
Head out with your guide in the morning for Mt Longonot volcano, a drive of around 1 hour. On arrival, your KWS guide who will accompany you on the trek will be waiting. As you hike through the forest to the crater rim, you’ll be spoiled with incredible views! It takes around 2 – 3hrs to reach the crater rim, where you’ll stop for a snack and enjoy the magnifi cent view, before hiking down to the trailhead where your driver/guide and vehicle await. Total trek time from start to fi nish is approximately 4.5 – 5hrs. You will enjoy a packed lunch and time to relax, and in the mid afternoon, you’ll head to the nearby Hell’s Gate National Park
for an afternoon of mountain biking accompanied by a guide, exploring this unique landscape of canyons and towering rock cliffs. The biking isn’t particularly strenuous here, and you’re very likely to see zebra and other plains game, which makes this a mountain biking trip with a difference! Depending on your level of biking experience this can be made more challenging, cycling down and through the canyons, or take easier routes if you prefer – please advise at time of booking. Return to your lodge for a well-earned dinner. Overnight: Kiangazi House (FB basis)
Depart after breakfast at Kiangazi House and drive to the Aberdare National Park western entrance, around 2.5 hrs away. From here, you will enjoy a game drive through the park, looking out for some of the varied wildlife and birdlife that inhabits this largely forested area (including elephant, buffalo, reedbuck, bushbuck, Syke’s monkey). Stop at midday for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot and continue your drive up and over the escarpment, enjoying far-reaching views towards Mt Kenya.
Descend and exit the eastern side of the park, and continue onward to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, around 2hrs away from the point you depart the national park, where you can extend your adventure with some time on safari.
