Mount Longonot National Park

Mount Longonot is a strata volcano offering 96 kilometers caldera formed by vast eruptions of trachytic lava situated southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya in the African continent. The mountain is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s and its name is derived from the Maasai word Oloong’ot which means ’’mountains of many spurs’’ or ‘’steep ridges’’.

With its small size of only 53 square kilometers, mount Longonot national park offers a rare feature of thick forest sitting within the crater of the mountain and the ecosystem that composes of mountain rising with an elevation of an elevation of 277 meters above the sea level, V-shaped valleys and also little vegetation.  The park also has a crater rim that creates great scenic views across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Mount Longonot national park habitats a various animal species including leopards, lions, bushbucks, giraffes, zebras, Thomson’s gazelles and others.

How to get to Mount Longonot national park

Mount Longonot national park covers 60 kilometers from northwest of Nairobi and can be accessed from there by the route of a tarmac road.

Safari attractions in Mount Longonot National park

The national park has a various attractions that will make your Kenya safari more memorable and unforgettable. Among them include;

Wildlife: Mount Longonot national park has a little selection of wild animals that can be seen on the way of the rim and when having a walk in the adventurous forest of crater. Among the animals in the park include lions, buffalos, gazelles, bushbucks, giraffes, elands, antelopes, Thomson gazelles and at a lucky day one can spot a leopard.

Bird species: Mount Longonot national park is a habitat to various beautiful and colorful bird species including Sharpe’s, long claw, African grass owl, cape eagle-owl, ken rick’s starling, olive ibis, lammergeier, lesser kestrel, scarlet –tufted sunbird, Abyssinian owl and others.

The crater rim of Mount Longonot: Have a clear and perfect view of geothermal steam that comes out from a various fissures along the crater rim. Also while at the crater rim, the reminder of the energy traps surely beneath your feet.

Activities done in Mount Longonot National park

Hiking: This is the most done experience in Mount Longonot National park. Have an adventurous hike of about 3 hours to the breathtaking viewpoint at the rim of a volcano. The hiking experience needs some bit of fitness to accomplish it though sounds like piece of cake to anyone who has never done it before.

With the heroic hikers who are in need of exploring into the caldera, a permission from a park ranger will be required and for the safety of any hiker, hiking equipment like hiking boots and warm clothing due to the change in the altitude.

Wildlife viewing: Though Mount Longonot national park habitats a little selection of animals, it hosts amazing wildlife encounters in the forested crater that be clearly viewed. Among the animals include zebras, antelopes, baboons, giraffes, buffalos, leopards, lions and others.

Birding: Abundant of birdlife with different beautiful and amazing colors can be seen in Mount Longonot National park. Among the birds in the park include lesser kestrel, long claw, African crowned eagle, African grass owl, Abyssinian owl, Sharpe’s, scarlet-tufted sunbird, olive ibis and many others.

Where to stay when on a Kenyan tour in Mount Longonot national park

Mount Longonot national park does not have any accommodation inside besides the Olongonot campsite that is situated just inside the park entrance, along the access road to the crater.

Besides inside the park, there is a wide range of accommodation options that are available nearby the town of Naivasha and along Moi south lake road. Some of these accommodations include Lake Naivasha country club, Masada hotel and others.