Guide to Mount Kipipiri: Hiking, Wildlife, Camping, and Travel Tips

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MOUNT KIPIPIRI

MOUNT KIPIPIRI HIKE

This is one of the best places for you to visit and hike. If you are an upcoming hiker, this is the place to start your hiking journey as you look forward to exploring more challenging hiking destinations.

Mount Kipipiri hikes start off at Geta Forest Station at an elevation of 2697 meters above sea level. The trail length is 17 km, which takes 6-7 hours depending on your hiking speed and the resting time.

The hike rises to an elevation of 3370 meters above sea level at the summit.

The trails

The hike will start you off a shaded murram road. The road is mostly used by tractors that go there to harvest trees on the nearby tree plantation. This is a flat road, hence a friendly start.

The hike will later on divert into the forest on your way to the mountain. You will pass through a manmade wooden bridge across the stream to the other side. The bridge is scary to close but manageable and fun.

The hike into the forest has thin trails, and the vegetation around it thickens as you explore further. The trails are bushy, with deviating routes along the way. This is because they allow residents around the area to graze their goats and sheep in the forest.

The trail has beautiful scenery of the indigenous trees descending down from the trail. The forest have the famous tree specie with a religious aspect among the Kikuyu ‘Mugumo tree.’

This tree species has a very vital spiritual aspect among the Kikuyu community. Whenever the tree falls, even if it is from a calamity, a ceremony has to be done to remove it. Just an interesting cultural aspect.

The hike steepens as you get closer to the mountain summit. The likelihood of you meeting wild animals in the forest will depend on the animal’s migration season.

The wild animals move within the Aberdare Range National Park’s different circuits and forest parts with seasons.

On your hike across the forest, you will see cows grazing but they are not dangerous. Do not be scared. The hike up to the mountain steepen as you climb up. This is now the tuf section for everyone. Stiffening up with the steepness of the mountain and the goal to reach the summit is just interesting and motivating.

Reaching the summit is always a goal for everyone and the most fulfilling achievement ever. It is so fulfilling achieving something you planned for and knowing your visit was a success.

From the summit, you can see the vast Aberdare Forest and, on a clear day, Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha.

DIRECTIONS TO MOUNT KIPIPIRI

Mount Kipipiri from Nairobi, you will take the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to Njabini town, then to Ndunyu Njeru, where the Geta Forest Station is located. The distance from Nairobi to Ndunyu Njeru town is 122 km.

The distance from Nairobi to Mount Kipipiri is  approximately 134 km. The distance of Mount Kipipiri from Nakuru is 54km.

Mount Kipipiri is accessible by a private vehicle and a public vehicle.

THE WEATHER AT MOUNT KIPIPIRI

The weather at mount kipipiri varies from time to time. It may be sunny in the morning, but by midday it starts raining. Mount Kipipiri is very cold; you will have to dress warmly when coming here and carry a raincoat or waterproof hiking attire.

The dry seasons in this area are from June to July. The sun is really hot during this period, but do not be fooled any time from midday it can start raining.

From August to September, the rain increases, but this is the period for the short rains.

The wet season is from October to May but October to November is the period for the short rain. Mount Kipipiri and its surroundings are generally very cold. The sun is usually in the morning, then in the afternoon or late in the evening it start raining. Be prepared not to be surprised by the weather.

CAMPING AT MOUNT KIPIPIRI

Despite hiking, mount Kipipiri offers camping to give the people more time in the area to explore the area more. Campsites are usually located at the bottom of the mountain with a very beautiful view.

Before coming to camp here, prepare your self well. Make inquiries before coming to camp here. You should know what the Kenya Wildlife Service guides in charge offer before coming and what you should bring along. You should also inquire about your security and the boundaries set for people during camping.

Prepare yourself well before you go camping. Plan your schedule, the days you plan to stay, and what you plan to do during that time. Come well prepared with warm clothes since the place is very cold.

Make sure you bring along your first aid kit and enough food to sustain you during your time camping. Camping fees are always on a negotiable basis with guides in charge; therefore, they tend to vary.

THE HISTORY OF MOUNT KIPIPIRI

After independence, homeless people were settled at the bottom of Mount Kipipiri, and the Kenya Wildlife Service was given the higher area near Mount Kipipiri.

There has been the human-wildlife conflict, which led to the fencing of the corridoh the animals used during migration. This was back in 2005, when Mount Kipipiri was a habitat for 15 elephants.

Animals in the forest were invading people in the area, which led to the fencing of the wild animals, corridoh. Now the forest lives in harmony with the residents in the surrounding area. The people even come to graze in Mount Kipipiri Forest.

WILDLIFE AT MOUNT KIPIPIRI

Mount Kipipiri is home to wildlife like colobus and syke monkeys, elephants, and buffaloes. Wildlife in Aberdare Range’s circuit and forests move around in seasons.

On season they are in Kipipiri forest and another season in another forest like Ngare Ndare forest, a very beautiful destination. It should be on your travel bucketlist.

THINGS TO DO AT MOUNT KIPIPIRI

• Mountain climbing

This is the main activity you will look up for here. The goal of everyone is to reach the summit. The trails are tuff and steep as you climb up. This is a hike challenge I highly recommend.

• Photograph

Mount Kipipiri is very scenic for photography. On the trail to the mountain, do not forget to capture the moment through the forest. Nature at its best is another scenery for you to capture.

You can also take photos of birds and study the bird species found around Mount Kipipiri. Do not forget a photoshoot session at the summit, this is proof you made it to the summit.

• Waterfalls

 From Ndunyu Njeru you can proceed to aberdare ranges through Shamata Gate. There, you visit Karuru and Gura Falls. They are located adjacent to each other, separated by thick forest covering the mountain. Very beautiful. Come prepared and visit the waterfalls.

The aberdare forest with the Karuru waterfall

WHERE TO STAY AROUND MOUNT KIPIPIRI

You are coming from far away and want to explore Mount Kipipiri without any hurry to go home due to time? We got you there are several accommodation options around Mount Kipipiri.

• Brook Lodge and Spa is located on Gilgil-Nyahururu Road.
• The Panari Resort in Nyahururu near the Thompson Falls.
• Bubble Lodge Kinangop, located Engineer Jabini, road, Engineer.
• Aberdare Fishing Lodge is located in Dude Ranch in Kenya.

TRAVEL INFORMATION TO MOUNT KIPIPIRI

You can visit Mount Kipipiri through private and public means of transport. The best way to travel to a destination like Mount Kipipiri is through a traveling company as a group.

Book with us and let us go together and create memories you will forever remember. We will guide you as you explore for your safety, together with fun activities. Do not say you will not visit a place for hiking and other fun activities because I am alone. We go you.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MOUNT KIPIPIRI.

The best time to visit Mount Kipipiri is during the dry season from June to July and parts of August. Though the dry season here are not the dry seasons you are used to. Here the weather changes really first from sunny to really cold.

Make sure you wear warm clothes and carry waterproof clothes no matter the season.