Trekking and hiking Elephant Hill in the Aberdare ranges
Hiking and trekking the elephant hills in the Aberdare ranges, Kenya is the best way to prepare for the big mountains like Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
As promised, I will share experiences about a day hike on Elephant Hill, in Aberdares ranges Kenya. This hike happens to be the most challenging hikes I have ever done. (Leave alone Mt. Meru in Tanzania).
Summary of the hill.
Distance from Nairobi: About 90 km
Starting/Ending Point: Njabini Forest Gate
Walking Duration: 7 hours
Terrain: Dirt road, swampy trail, bamboo zone, rocky zones.
Trek Difficulty: Moderate to High. You need to be reasonably fit to do this climb.
As part of my preparations for Climbing Mt. Meru, I joined a group of hikers (Eco-trek, Hikemaniak) for a day trek and hike on the Aberdare ranges of Kenya.
Arrival and Beginning the hike.
On arrival, we met our KWS guides who were to accompany us to the summit. After a short briefing, the hike began with some of the experienced hikers in Kenya leading the way. The terrain was amazing, going through the forest, thickets, bamboo forest and the cold mist on open areas. It had rained the previous night and the trail was full of mud. I found myself sliding and going down quite often. After 2 hours of hiking, we had a lunch break as we waited for one group which was left behind.
About 20 minutes from the summit the worst happened to me. I developed muscle pulls on both my legs and I couldn’t move anymore. One of the guides came back to my rescue and after first aid, I was able to go up the top.,
I got to the summit where I met the Elite team (First team on the summit). The Weather at the summit was too cold as the rain had already started. After a few minutes, we headed back.
Going down was equally challenging, but the slides and falls made it fun. We met the other groups who did not make it to the summit as they are returning and we headed back together to the Ending point.
Our clothes were soaked and the hiking boots were full of mud. After lighting a fire to warm ourselves, we headed back to Nairobi. It was a very awesome experience.
Charges and Requirements
Charges – $25 for local residents, $30 for Residents and $40 for non-locals.
Documents – National ID or Passport
Snacks, Water
Determination and fun.
Caution:
Beware that the weather at this altitude can change for the worse very fast, with temperatures sometimes dropping to sub-zero levels. Ensure you have warm clothes and rain gear, and always keep an eye for signs of clouds forming.
If you are looking for the best guide to get you up the Elephant Hill in Kenya, Contact Kenyan Backpacker and share your views in the comment section below!
