EXPLORING MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO (OLDONYO SABUK)
Are you planning to kickstart your outdoor fitness journey? Are you planning to start hiking as a hobby? If you aim to hike big mountains in the future, you have to start somewhere. Mount Kilimambogo is the right place for you. The hike up Kilimambogo is a beginner-friendly hike.
Mount Kilimambogo is a mountain rich in scenic views, wildlife, thick, green vegetation cover, and historical sites like the Macmillan grave and the castle. The place is just the right place to spend your weekend after a long, busy week.
The mountain will get you out of your comfort zone if you are a novice hiker. For the experienced hikers, this is just a walk in the park. The Oldonyo National Park has helped in the growth of Kiambogo town. The tourists who visit the park have led to growth and the creation of employment opportunities.
On your way on the Thika-Garissa highway, you will pass the Delmonte farm. The highest producer of pineapples and mangos.
LOCATION OF MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO
Mount Kilimambogo is a mountain that can be accessed through the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park. It is located along the Thika-Garissa highway on a rough road located in Kiambogo town.
From Thika to Kilimambogo it is 18.9 km via A3 and takes 30 mins or more depending on the traffic. If you are coming from Nairobi via the Embu-Nairobi highway/Meru-Nairobi highway/A2 and A3, it is 62.8 km and will take you approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes.
Related: Mount Longonot: Adventures, Camping, Pricing, Map, Hiking
HIKING DISTANCE AND TRAIL OVERVIEW OF MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO
Mount Kilimambogo trail is 13 km with an elevation of 2145 meters above sea level. The trails are clearly marked on the wide road, with signboards stating the distance to the summit and the elevation you are at.
You will pay your entrance fee, which is Ksh 300. They have a parking area in the park, so your vehicle will be safe. You can do a quick warm-up in preparation for the hike ahead.
The hike starts on a friendly road; you can choose to go around the main road that is used by cars and motorcycles or divert in a path through the forest. We chose the path through the forest so that we could enjoy the view of the forest and learn more on our way up.
Through the forest, the trail will become steep and rocky. The steepness will increase after passing the Rocky Hyrax Picnic site. This is the second part of the trial. This climbing will last a few kilometers before getting back to the main road.
Back to the main road is the third part of the trail. The road is wide and mostly used by vehicles and motorcycles. You can climb up the mountain with your vehicle. The most convenient vehicle is the 4WD type of vehicle or any other vehicle, provided it is high.
Before you get to the summit, you will come across the grave of Lord Macmillan, his wife, his dog, and his servant Louise. This is a tourist attraction in Oldonyo Sabuk National Park. There are telecommunication boosters near the grave.
On the wide, rough road, you will pass three sign boards located 1 kilometer apart. The first one is 4.6 km away from the summit at an altitude of 1813 meters above sea level. The second sign is 3.6 km from the summit at an elevation of 1905 meters above sea level. The third one is 2.6 km from the summit at an elevation of 1985 meters above sea level.
On the summit, you will have a beautiful view of Mount Kenya from afar, Nairobi city, and the Thika industrial area. The view is worth the struggle getting to the summit.
MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO ACTIVITIES
Apart from hiking up the mountain, there are other activities you can indulge yourself in.
- Wildlife in Mount Kilima Mbogo
There is wildlife in Mount Kilimambogo. Some of the wildlife you can view are buffalos, snakes, the syke and colobus monkeys, squirrels, and hyenas, which are mostly seen at night. You can go for a game drive to view the animals or see them while hiking up the mountain.
- Birdwatching
Are you a bird lover? This is the right place for you. As you go for a nature walk, you can take photos of the birds and add them to your collection.
Some of the bird species are: crowned eagle, montane white eye, whisked greenbul, helmeted guinea fowl, common bulbul, and black-backed putback.
- Running
You can go to the mountain for a morning run as an exercise. The mountain has the right environment to run peacefully, enjoying the view.
- Photography
You can have a photoshoot session around the summit and the picnic areas. The background is very beautiful and worth creating memories with.
- Picnic
Mount Kilimambogo has you sorted on this side; they have two picnic areas: near the entrance and at the summit. Come with family and friends with a lot of snacks and enjoy as you bond and catch up.
Make sure you do not litter, for it is not allowed for the safety of the animals.
- Visit The Fourteen Falls
As you plan on coming here, plan yourself well and get to visit the Fourteen Falls. They are located a few kilometers from the Ol Donyo Sabuk Park
This is a very beautiful destination with a spiritual aspect. The Indian Community uses the area for spiritual activities. This is where they throw away the ashes of their loved ones. They believe the water will take the ashes to the Indian Ocean to meet their ancestors.
CAMPING AT MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO
Camping is available for you. You can spend some days here and explore the park and its surroundings more. There are three campsites: the Summit campsite, which is located at the summit with a great view below of Nairobi City, Thika Industrial Area, and other places.
The second campsite is the Turracco public campsite and Rock Hyrax special campsite. The camp provides a pit toilet, running water, benches to rest, showers, and electricity.
You will come with a tent, a sleeping bag, your personal items, and enough food to sustain you throughout your stay here.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO
You can visit Mount Kilimambogo any season of the year. The weather here is warm. The mountain does not experience extreme weather conditions. The weather conditions are manageable.
The mountain receives the long rains from April, June, and July, which is also the coldest month in Nairobi and its surroundings. During the wet season, the vegetation cover around the mountain is so beautiful.
The mountain is crowded during school holidays; most parents take their kids to destinations like Mount Kilimambogo on holidays. From the month of October to December, the place is usually crowded.
RELATED CONTENT TO MOUNT KILIMAMBOGO
- The Fourteen Falls
These are waterfalls located a few kilometers from Mount Kilimambogo and Oldonyo Sabuk National Park. You can pass through there before going to Mount Kilimambogo.
- Chania falls
They are located near Thika, along the Nyeri highway. It is a big tourist attraction.
- Oldonyo Sabuk National Park
Mount Kilimambogo is accessed through the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park. You pass through the park to get to the mountain.
- Historical aspect of Mount Kilimambogo
The mountain hosts the graves of Lord Macmillan, his wife Lucie, their dog, and their servant Louise. These graves are a tourist attraction near the mountain.
A short drive east of Oldonyo is the Macmillan home. If you have time in your visit here, you should check it out. The home has been visited by the former president of America, Theodore Roosevelt, and the British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, among other very important guests.
The house has an exciting discovery at the basement. It served as a jail in the 2nd world war. Prisoners were kept captive below in the basement.