Oldoinyo Eburru Forest Hike – Western Summit Trail
Oldoinyo Eburru Forest Hike – Western Summit Trail
A Serene Paradise in Naivasha
Eburru Forest: a trekker’s paradise. Stashed away in the outskirts of Naivasha, the sudden transition from the scorching Naivasha sun to the serene ambiance of the Eburru forest hike takes you aback at first. The hike starts at the Eburru gate, taking you through 11km of pure enchantment.
The magic follows you throughout the trek — up and down, up and down through the thick forest vegetation. It’s in the hundreds-year-old trees, the singing of the birds, the Ogiek beehives, the smell of blossoming flowers, and yes, the stinging nettles — especially the stinging nettles!
A precious mountain forest ecosystem, the natural features of Eburru forest, include its diverse forest types, steep valleys, springs, and waterfalls and make it a precious ecosystem, rich in biodiversity.
The trek through the forest walks you among hundreds of majestic indigenous trees, a hotspot for birdlife, and home to over 40 species of mammals. Eburru forest is also home to the critically endangered mountain bongo, whose 10% of its population (about 12 animals) known to exist in the wild is thought to survive in this forest.
The Oldoinyo Eburru mountain, on which the forest exists, is a complex volcano, featuring many craters and two distinct summits, the higher one rising to 2,856m above sea level.
The trek from the Eburru gate to the Western Summit trail start point is a rewarding easy-to-moderate 5km hike. The rest of the trek to the Western summit is a moderate-to-hard hike that provides a thrilling hiking experience, cutting through thick forest vegetation into the bamboo zone and eventually to the elusive summit.
We return to Eburru Forest to unlock Oldoinyo Eburru once more.
Eburru Forest Hike Distance And Stats
Distance: 22km
Maximum Elevation: 2,856m
Maximum Elevation Gain: 836m
Duration: 6-8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Beginner-friendly: Yes
Child-friendly: Yes, 7 years and above
Eburru Forest Hike Itinerary
4:45 a.m Meet up at International House Parking, City Hall Way. Boarding opens.
5:00 a.m Departure for Eburru Forest, Naivasha
08:30 Arrival at Eburru Gate.
09:00 a.m Hike Starts
01:30 p.m Mandatory turn-back
5:00 p.m Departure for Nairobi
Charges
Ticket | By Bus | Self-Drive |
Kenyan Citizens | KES 3,650 | KES 2,200 |
Foreign Kenyan Residents | KES 3,850 | KES 2,400 |
Non-Resident Foreigners | US$ 33.00 | NA |
Mpesa Till 989985
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!