Loita Hills

The Loita Hills rise east of the Maasai Mara, and at their heart is the Naimina Enkiyio forest, whose name means the forest of the lost child, a large block of indigenous woodland that the Loita Maasai have protected as a sacred and grazing resource rather than allowing it to be logged or converted. The forest is where the laibon, the traditional Maasai spiritual leaders, gather plants and hold ceremonies, and it remains one of the last substantial indigenous forests in southern Kenya. Walking here is the point: multi-day treks with Maasai guides move between villages and through the forest, camping or staying in manyattas, with the emphasis on the landscape and on the people who live in it rather than on wildlife, though buffalo, elephant and bushbuck are present.

The landscape

• Naimina Enkiyio forest - the protected indigenous woodland of the Loita.
• Guided treks - multi-day walks with Maasai guides between villages.
• Highland grazing - cattle and sheep on the open ridges.
• Traditional life - manyattas and pastoral routines away from the tourist circuit.

When to go

Dry seasons for walking; tracks and paths turn to mud in the rains. Nights are cold at altitude. Treks need arranging in advance through community groups or operators who work with the Loita, since this is not a place to turn up and wander.

Practical notes

There is no tourism infrastructure: no lodges, no marked trails, no signage, and everything runs through local arrangements. Access roads are poor. This is a cultural walking experience rather than a game destination, and visitors expecting safari density will be disappointed. Respect for the forest's sacred status is expected.

Nearby

The Maasai Mara lies west; Narok is north.