Ngare Ndare Forest: Hiking, Wildlife, and Camping Adventures

Ngare Ndare Forest Guide

NGARE NDARE FOREST THE HIDDEN GEM OF MOUNT KENYA NORTHERN CIRCUIT

Another untampered with nature, another unpopular gem that ought to be popular by now. Ngare Ndare is an indigenous forest found at the border of Meru and Laikipia counties. This is an extension of the Mount Kenya forest. Ngare Ndare is located in Meru County, Timau, which is claimed was original ‘The Mau.’ Then it was mispronounced Timau, and the name stuck.

Timau is in the North of Mount Kenya on the Leeward side which is generally the drier side. From the town of Timau in the morning one can see the magnificent view of Mount Kenya. Which seems like just a few kilometers away and it is quite far.

Despite Timau being the drier side the snow on Mount Kenya is more visible from this side than the south of Mount Kenya. From Nanyuki to Ngare Ndare it is approximately 52 kilometers. From Timau town, 400m from the Timau police roadblock along Nanyuki-Meru road to a rough road 11km to the forest gate.

Ngare ndare forest serves a migratory corridor for elephants and other wild animals from the mountain to the range land below.

NGARE NDARE FOREST TRAILS AND HIKING OPTIONS

CANOPY WALK

This is a 420-meter-long bridge that is 10 meters above the ground. It’s kind of shaky, and people with acrophobia, which is a condition in which an individual experiences an intense fear of heights, may not prefer it. I have a fear of heights, but the canopy walk is manageable.

FOREST WALK HIKING TRAILS

Ngare Ndare forest walking trail is also a great trail to take a walk in the forest. Some of the trails are marked and fenced with a temporary fence. Going for a walk in the forest needs a tour guide since there are dangerous animals in the forest. One can also prefer to go for the game drive instead of walking.

But having a walk is a great way to explore the plant species, birds, and animals. The trails are a little rocky but easy to hike. The vegetation in the forest is also natural and has not been tampered with; hence, it is thick and healthy. I could not help but enjoy the sound of nature, birds singing, and our footsteps as we trail through the forest. Just amazing.

TRAILS TO THE WATER FALLS

Ngare Ndare trails as packed with pools, and streams. It has about seven waterfalls that are relatively small compared to Aberdare Ranges Falls, like Karuru Falls, which is one of the longest waterfalls in Kenya.

Walking through these trails will give you the beautiful site of streams flowing in the forest, giving a therapeutic sound of the stream in the silence of the forest. It is so healing and rejuvenating. These trails have shades from the trees, therefore the walks are cool.

But the jewel waterfall and pool of Ngare Ndare forest is the blue pool famously Azure waterfall.

NGARE NDARE FOREST WILDLIFE AND NATURE

Ngare Ndare forest is a forest that has not been explored so much therefore it is healthy, with the evidence of mosses on the trees, the indigenous species of trees and vegetation around. Even the sources of the falls in the rocks are covered with vegetation evidence of untouched nature, just beautiful.

There are two main species of trees in the forest: the African olive tree (Olea Africana) and red cedar (Juniperus Procera). The indigenous species of trees and plants make it a suitable home for wild animals.

Nature being untouched and protected makes it a safe home for endangered species like Rhino. The type of rhino most likely to be found in this forest is the black rhino.

Efforts were seen when the Nanyuki- Meru highways were being constructed. There is an underpass under the highway, a corridor used by the elephants when migrating through the forest. Elephants are intelligent animals and do not forget their path; therefore, interfering with their path may cause animal-human conflict.

Some of the animals found in the forest are lions, African buffalo, leopard, black rhino, African elephant, bushbucks, water bucks, bush pigs, spotted hyenas, olive baboon, colobus monkeys which really love indigenous trees. There are also birds different types of birds.

Conservation measures have been put in place in the forest. There are trained rangers who collect information to do with wildlife; they check on illegal activities in the forest and conflict between the animals and the people who live near the conservancy.

NGARE NDARE FOREST WATERFALLS

The forest is served by about seven waterfalls. The falls pour out their water in pools that people swim in. The waterfalls can be accessed while hiking through the forest. There are also streams formed by the water from the rocks.

The jewel waterfall of Ngare Ndare Waterfalls is the Azure Waterfall, which pours water from the rocks, filling the famous blue pool. The water that forms the streams and the waterfalls come from Mount Kenya. They are regarded as being clean and pure since they pass through rocks and can be drunk.

During the rainy season, the water in the pools and streams may turn brown due to the water flowing in the pools and streams from the forest.

The conservancy has allowed people to swim in the pool created by the waterfalls. Swimming in these pools needs experts in swimming since they are really deep and cold.

WHAT TO DO IN NGARE NDARE FOREST

Ngare Ndare forest has activities one can engage in apart from hiking.

Going for the famous canopy walk

This is the longest canopy walk in Kenya and probably in East Africa. Walk above the canopy forest on the swing, will give you a spectacular view of the forest and a chance to view the animal if lucky enough.

The view from this point is just out of this world beautiful. This is also a solution to keep the visitors safe from the animals. Isn’t that cool? One can spot the elephants from here or rhinos.

At the end of the canopy walk one can see the elephants drinking water from the pool below.

Wildlife spotting

Being a forest with untouched nature, it gives the animals a good habitat. One can go game viewing through the canopy walk or the game range drive. There is also an option of going with an armed guide in the forest.

Most animals may not be seen during the day especially when the sun is out. But there is evidence of the presence of the animals, like their poop and footprints and also shedding’s. To view more animals, one can go as far as the Lewa Conservancy. There, one can see giraffes, leopards, and elephants.

Swimming in the pool of the waterfall

Compared to other waterfalls I have visited, Ngare Ndare waterfall is one of the waterfall pools one can swim or be allowed to swim. Aberdare range falls were so big, draining into two or three basins which are inaccessible for swimming. Karur Forest Falls people are not allowed to swim.

Despite Ngare Ndare’s waterfalls pools being accessible for swimming, people prefer swimming in the famous blue pool. The blue pool, one may think it has been colored or something, but the water is blue due to the Copper Sulphate minerals. Even when there are dark clouds or dusk, the water is still blue.

For one to swim in the pool one has to be an experienced swimmer since the pool is deep and very cold.

Photography

The forest offers amazing views for photography. The beautiful canopy forest, indigenous trees, and the vegetation around the water sources are just great sites for photography.

People take photographs of the birds and wildlife from the canopy walk. The beautiful streams and the waterfalls.

CAMPING IN NGARE NDARE FOREST

There are two camping sites in the forest. One near the falls to give a great view of the falls and the other deep in the forest with a great view of the forest and the noise from birds and animals. The camps are provided with clean water, toilets, and a fireplace. Other necessities people carry their own.

There are no eateries and accommodations inside the forest.

THE OPENING HOURS AND TRAVEL INFORMATION OF NGARE NDARE FOREST.

The forest opens at 6 am till late at night, but for this, you must be in the company of a game guide since most wild animals walk around at dusk and night. Therefore, advisable to be done with walks around the forest by 6 pm.

Booking is done to avoid any inconveniences from 8 am-5 pm weekdays and 8 am-1 pm during weekends. The best time to visit the forest is early in the morning, from 8 am to 10 am, since wildlife hides at midday from the sun.

ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO STAY AROUND NGARE NDARE FOREST

Lewa house, Lewa conservancy Isiolo.
Wooden knee cottage Nanyuki
Jungle Green Resort Meru National Road Meru
Rafiki house Meru, Nanyuki.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NGARE NDARE FOREST

Ngare Ndare forest can be visited all seasons throughout the year. The best time to visit the forest is during the dry season, that is between June-October and December-March. During this season, you will be able to capture the blue pools since, during the rainy season, they turn brown due to the water that flows in them from the forest.

During this time also, the canopy walk is easy to make. During the wet season, it may tend to be a little slippery. The trail paths are also easy to maneuver. This is also the best season to camp for an easy time for game viewing and hiking.

NGARE NDARE FOREST PRICING

Ngare Ndare eco-tourism day trip packages.

	GUEST	CHILDREN
RESIDENTS/CITIZENS	2000	1000
NON-RESIDENTS	4000	2000
LOCAL GROUPS OF MORE THAN 10 @1500 PER PERSON	1500
PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS	300
HIGH SCHOOL	500

VEHICLE ENTRANCE FEE

TYPE	PRICE KSH
SMALL AND MEDIUM VEHICLE	500
BUSES	1000

ARMED RANGER TO ALL FOREST WALKS AND OVERNIGHT CAMPING MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ARMED RANGER @KSH 1000

ATTRACTIONS SITE AROUND NGARE NDARE FOREST

There are some attraction sites around Ngare Ndare forest. Like Meru Museum, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.