Mount Longonot is a dormant volcano in the Kenyan Rift Valley. It is located approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Nairobi. Also, it is situated southeast of Lake Naivasha.
The mountain has an elevation of 2,776 meters (9,106 ft) and is presumed to have last erupted in the 1860s. It is a large, broad-based volcano with a well-defined crater. The outer slopes of the mountain are covered in forest, while the inner slopes are bare rock.
Mount Longonot national park is home to a variety of wildlife, including eland, Thomson’s gazelle, plains zebra, and giraffe. The mountain is an important site for bird watching, as it is home to a variety of rare and endemic species. These include the threatened Lammergeier, as well as other well-known birds like Verreaux’s Eagle and Common Ostrich.
Mount Longonot is a popular hiking destination in Kenya, and the views from the summit are spectacular. There’s a 3.1 km trail from the entrance to the crater rim, which continues for another 7.2 km around the crater. So, the entire hike is around 13.5 km, from the gate up the mountain, around the crater, and back to the gate.
Because parts of the trail are steep, you may need to take breaks as you go along. The hike to the top is challenging, but it is possible to reach the summit in a few hours and complete the loop.
Must Read: A Travel Guide to Kenya