Castle Forest Hike & Kamweti Fall
A gentle walk in nature
Come with us on a beautiful, beginner-friendly, child-friendly hike to the breathtaking Kamweti Fall. Located within the Mount Kenya Forest in Kamweti, Kirinyaga County, our hike starts at the Castle Forest Lodge, initially following a scenic, unpaved forest road, across a river, to get to a detour. The trail takes a brief, steep, narrow path to reconnect to the forest road, before finally taking another brief, steep descent into the river towards the majestic Kamweti Fall. We then take the same path back to the starting point, where you can, optionally, grab a cup of hot beverages before hitting the road back home.
Castle Forest Hike Distance and Stats
Distance: 12km
Maximum Elevation: 2,282m
Maximum Elevation Gain: 392m
Duration: 4-6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Beginner-friendly: Yes
Child-friendly: Yes, 7 years and above
2023 Dates: July 15, November 18
Castle Forest Hike Itinerary
5:45 a.m Meet up at International House Parking, City Hall Way. Boarding opens.
6:00 a.m Departure from International House Parking, City Hall Way
09:00 Arrival at Castle Lodge
09:30 a.m Hike Starts
01:30 p.m Mandatory turn-back to avoid encounters with wild animals after dark
EST 05:00 p.m Departure for Nairobi
Charges
- Kenyan & East African Citizens - 3,300/=
- Foreigner with Kenyan Residency - 3,600/=
- Non-Resident Foreigner - 3,800/=
- Self-Drive (Kenyan Citizens only) - 2,000/=
Trip Includes & Cancellation Policy
What to Wear
- Quick-drying tshirt
- Quick-drying pants
- Fleece jacket
- Sun hat or cap
- Well-treaded hiking shoes
What to Carry
- 3L water and suitable snacks
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Trekking pole
- Identification documents
How to Prepare for the Hike
- Engage in active cardio exercises such as aerobics, walking, running, cycling, and swimming among others the week prior to the event.
- Set aside the day before the hike for resting--take a break from exercises.
- Increase your hydration at least two days to the hike.
- Purpose to get enough rest the night before the hike.
- If on intermittent fasting or on a diet, take a break in the period one day before and after the hike. This way, you will build up your energy reserves for the arduous task ahead.
- Cut your toe nails!
- Have a generous breakfast at least 3 hours before the start of the hike. This ensures that most of the food has been digested by the time you begin the hike, giving you the much-needed energy while ensuring your stomach is not too full for comfort.
- Use the bathroom before leaving the house to reduce the need for bathroom breaks on the commute.
- Set your mind up for conquering yourself. Hiking is more about your mindset than physical preparation. Once you win the battle in your mind, everything else contributes less than 10%. You can do it!