Mount Longonot

Longonot rises straight out of the floor of the Rift Valley as a classic cone, and it makes one of the best day hikes within reach of Nairobi. The climb from the gate is short but relentless, a steep hour or so on loose volcanic scree and dust up to the crater rim, where the ground suddenly falls away into a crater a couple of kilometres across whose floor holds a small forest of its own, steaming gently at a few vents. From the rim you can turn back or commit to the full circuit, a switchback of some seven kilometres round the lip with sharp ups and downs and no shade, which takes a good few hours and delivers views over Lake Naivasha, the Rift escarpment and, on a clear day, a long way north and south along the valley. Zebra and giraffe graze the lower slopes.

What you actually see

• The crater rim - the sudden view down into the forested crater floor.
• The full rim circuit - the switchback loop around the lip of the crater.
• The Rift Valley views - Lake Naivasha, the escarpment and the valley floor.
• The lower slopes - zebra, giraffe and antelope on the approach.

When to go

The dry months, June to October and January to February, give firmer footing on the scree and clearer views; the rains make the ash slippery and the trail heavy. Start early, as there is no shade anywhere on the mountain and the equatorial sun is brutal by mid-morning.

Honest expectations

It is far harder than its modest height suggests: the ascent is steep and loose, and the rim circuit is a relentless series of climbs and drops on crumbling ash with no shade and no water anywhere on the route, so carry more than you think you need. The crater floor is not accessible. Wildlife on the lower slopes means walking with awareness, and rangers advise groups rather than solo hikers.

Nearby

Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate are just north; Nairobi is about ninety minutes away.