Private Hiking Day Trip To Mt. Longonot From Nairobi

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Mt. Longonot Private Tour As a solo female traveler, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment I met Wilson, my driver and tour guide, I felt completely safe, comfortable, and well taken care of. He was kind, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. I especially appreciated his genuine pride in Kenya and his passion for sharing the history, culture, and beauty of his country. For the hike, Peter, the park guide, was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about Mt. Longonot, the area, and the wildlife, and he did a great job spotting animals along the way. He also took some wonderful photos for me! I highly recommend this tour. Wilson and Peter made the entire day safe, enjoyable, informative, and truly memorable. 🇰🇪❤️

Nice experience and we had much fun💯💯❤️

Totally customized to my needs, and it turns out I was the only one. Private tour! Good communications regarding driver pick-up and timing. Make sure you use WhatsApp. Dennis was an attentive driver and good conversationalist. There was a vendor at the lookout point ( no surprise), and he gave a great geography lesson. His shop has quality items, which I believe are locally made. If you buy, Masai haggling is permitted. The hiking guide is picked out of a queue at the park entrance, and Moses did not disappoint. Take water in a reusable container. You may see wildlife going up; binoculars would help. The climb gets rough, but there are steps at the most rigorous points. The view from the top is exceptional! I chose go only a quarter way around to the north and back to see the lake, Hell’s gate and geothermal plant, and I was happy with that. Saves you at least an hour. Do tip your guide! They only do this once per day. We did not lunch at the Marina but at a nice place along the road with a buffet, $12 prix-fixe, but quick and tasty. The boat ride was definitely worth $25 — small boats close to the water and so much wildlife in just an hour; hippos alone were worth it. Again, tip your guide and the driver; they depend on it. Great and full day indeed.

The tour was great, the guide for mount longonot (Joshua) was very knowledgeable and the views at the top were breathtaking. Our driver Jimmy also took care of all our requests and gave an insight into Kenyan life and culture throughout the trip. Highly recommend.

An amazing experience at Mount Longono! Isaac picked me up in the morning – very punctual, the car was spotless, and he was extremely kind. He dropped me off at the park entrance where Peter was waiting to start the hike. The trail was a bit more challenging than I expected, but Peter was absolutely wonderful and very attentive throughout. Tip: bring a reusable water bottle (plastic bottles are not allowed, and a bottle on-site costs around $2). The scenery is breathtaking, and the view from the top is truly spectacular. I hope to come back one day to do the full circuit when I’m in better shape! On the way back, Isaac was waiting exactly where he had dropped me off – again, very punctual and friendly. I highly recommend Isaac and Peter for this unforgettable experience!

We had a fabulous hiking trip to Mt Longonot and boat trip on Lake Naivasha - great views and so many bird species. Ezekiel was a very knowledgeable and kind guide for our trip. Highly recommend!

At nearly the last minute I decided I wanted to hike Mt Longonot. I found Perfect Wilderness and couldn't be happier I asked them for the tour. I had a lot of questions beforehand and tour agent Betty answered all of them quick and perfectly. Once in Kenya, their driver Benard helped me get to the vulcano and back safely and comfortably. We had a lot of nice conversations and I enjoyed it a lot. Once at the location I was handed over to my guide Joshua. He was perfect and I was very lucky to have him guide me. Friendly, knowledgeable, fun, great to talk to and helped me take some amazing photos. In a bit of extra luck, the weather was fantastic and we nearly had the whole vulcano to ourselves! I highly recommed this tour.

Stephen & Moses provided me with a wonderful experience. We got to the park early, and I found myself the only hiker on the trail! The views are stunning (wait until you get to the top, it is truly a wow moment), and I recommend hiking the whole rim if you’re up for it, about 9 miles total. Bring hiking boots and a reusable water bottle (2 litres if possible). Would recommend hiking poles for some sections that are a little steep and loose on the way down, but I survived without. Really recommend this trip for a fun day outside of Nairobi, and this group is the one to make it happen in a friendly and efficient manner. Thanks!!

My driver, Gem picked me up from my hotel early in the morning and we drove to Mount Longonot. On the way, she was telling me thing about Niaorbi, the things we were seeing on our way to Mount Longonot, and the Great Rift Valley. I really appreciate her knowledge and her good driving. At Mount Longonot, I got my own private tour guide (I forgot his name). He was very patient and was able to point out animals from a distance. He even got some good pictures for me! It was a really beautiful hike. On my way down, it got super crowded and people going up were in a very slow moving line. Starting early means beating the heat and the crowd.Afterwards, Gem drove me back to my hotel and we had a really good conversation during the ride. I would recommend hiring this tour since I had a really good driver (Gem), got a private tour guide, and we started early.

I spent a long time searching for tourism companies in Nairobi to do this day trip to Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha, since I was a bit concerned with safety in Africa. Couldn't have chosen better! Had an absolutely amazing experience with my driver Peter and the hiking guide Steven Mbugua. If you're going to Kenya, you must hike Mount Longonot and visit Lake Naivasha!

My wife and I had a perfect day on this one day tour from Nairobi to Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha and back. From the time I made contact with the company, I've had very responsive and clear correspondence from Damaris in the office. On the day of the tour, Charles, our driver picked us up promptly at the designated time and looked after us properly and patiently all day. He was flexible when we asked for a different lunch stop and also a coffee stop. He drove well. The hike upto the rim of Mount Longonot and around the rim is moderately hard but well worth it for the views of the crater and the rift valley. My only advice is that this tour starts early at 6am and it would be good to schedule a coffee stop some where before the hike starts at Mount Longonot. Thank you everyone at Perfect Wildnerness Tours.

Mt Longonot and Lake Naivasha (boat tour) daytrip from Nairobi. Efficient organization, quick to respond, and a beautiful day with a great driver and nice guides. Recommend!

Had a great experience with Perfect Wilderness Tours. I did a solo trip. Paid directly with the tour company, which was a bit cheaper. :-) Both my driver Charles as well as my hiking guide Joshua were very nice. The mountain and the crater was covered in clouds in the morning but cleared up before going down, so I could still take some great pictures.

The hike up and around Mt Longonot was pleasant. Great views of the great rift valley and of the extinct volcano. I really appreciated that the tour occurred even though I was alone.

Hiking up to the top of Longonot was challenging but well worth the time and work. The views were amazing the guide was very knowledgeable. I wish I was informed of my hiking options as I I only climbed to the top but did not hike around the rim which I would have liked to do. I only realized I could extend the hike when I was at the top but my driver was waiting. On the plus side, I did get to see zebras and hippos on my boat ride around Lake Naivasha.

I had an excellent experience with Perfect Wilderness Tours. I booked a private hike to Mt Longonot, leaving Nairobi at 5am so I could be back to catch an early evening flight. Everybody I dealt with was wonderful - from Everline who responded to my various queries very promptly, to my excellent driver Nicrdermus who I felt very safe with - he was the best driver I had during my time in Kenya. Geoffrey, my guide, was also excellent. He was great company along the hike and very knowledgeable. Mt Longonot is beautiful and well worth the walk. I was pleased to do so early in the morning before it got too hot. I'd highly recommend Perfect Wilderness Tours.

My whole experience with Perfect Wilderness was flawless. It took less than 30min for them to reply to my request and the whole process was transparent and well managed. The trip itself was absolutely amazing and I think it helped a lot to have an amazing guide, Sekou Kone (thank you brother) who was punctual, a safe drive and overall an amazing guide/partner in my solo trip. After a stop at the view point to check out the amazing Great Rift Valley, we arrived early at Mt Longonot and started our ascent as the only hikers in the park, incredible ! The hike itself is a challenge but it is only 3km to the crater and then you can go around the rim for 7km with stunning views. We made it in less than 3hrs which apparently is some kind of record (big up Sekou !). We went on to Lake Naivasha and straight on a boat ride with a very knowledgeable guide that helped us spot hippos, cormorans, pelicans, fish-eagle (amazing) as well as some wildlife (giraffes, gnous, zebras). It was overall a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone that'd like to escape the hustle and bustle of Nairobi for the day. I cannot thank enough Sekou for this great day and would highly recommend him.

Great day excursion to Mount longonot and lake Naivasha! My guide, Charles, was very friendly and helpful. I had a wonderful time and would recommend!

I wrote a message for Perfect Wilderness Tours and Safari Sunday morning and trip was paid and confirmed by 2pm for the next day. I had a big breakfast before pickup which gave good energy for the hike. Charles (driver and guide) picked me up at 6am at house I was staying at. We stopped at Rift Valley Viewpoint for some photos before heading straight to Mount Longonot. You need to bring a reusable water bottle (not even reused coca-bottle fx is ok) otherwise you’ll have to buy 1 (100 KES). Charles and I went up the mountain and went all way round the crater. Beautiful hike, but harder climbs + loose/slippery gravel/sand made it difficult. You have to be in some kind of training to be able to hike all way round. It will be very slippery if it rains. The hike was 5h20m w. Few breaks. I teaches us w. The app AllTrails (very nice). We didn’t manage to make time for lunch in Naivasha, bc I wanted to hike all around the crater. I had packed several snacks (salty, nuts, chocolate) and juice, soda and water and 2 sandwiches which was enough for me, and didn’t need lunch before going on a 1h boat ride from Lake Naivasha Crescent Camp to see the birds (incl. African Fish Eagle) and the hippos. It was a very nice end to a challenging hike. Charles was great driver and guide. I would recommend him.

A great day out to a beautiful location, thanks to Peter for his interesting commentary on life in Kenya.

The hike was rather challenging for me as an inexpierienced hiker, yet I had a great time. My guide took breaks when I needed them, explained a lot about what is seen and where it comes from and also took some great pictures and videos for me. The view once you made it to the top is amazing and the feeling after you also surrounded the crater is also. The second part of the tour - boat trip on Lake Naivasha - was also great, the driver makes sure to get you really close to the hippos (they don't mind and don't attack) and other animals. It's also quite relaxing after the hike. I can recommend this tour, but please be aware that disposable plastic is prohibited at Mt. Longonot, so make sure you bring a multi-use-waterbottle.

The hike was great but I think people should consider the elevation if they are used to sea level elevations. I had to stop frequently as I am not used to any elevation. However, it was worth it. Then we went to lunch and after that to the lake. Swimming in the lake was great, we saw hippos. But forgot sunscreen & got a little sunburn. So dont forget your sunscreen. Victor, our guide, was great throughout this whole trip.

The trip was wonderful, the hike is great, has options for every difficulty, and the views are spectacular. Victor was a great guide. Remember to ensure you have the right type of shoes (but there might be a person you can rent from at the trailhead). Water in reusable bottle only. The trip there and back is 2-3 hours depending on traffic jams (which we had).

What a fantastic day. I had read some of the previous reviews and highly recommend to come prepared for a more strenuous hike if you plan to go around the rim of the volcano! The trip was very well organized. My driver Stephen picked me up at 6 am to drive to Mt. Longonot. He confidently and very safely maneuvered Nairobi traffic. We arrived at the park at 8‘am and my guide was Joshua who was phenomenal. He kept a good pace and shared a breath of knowledge of plants and wildlife. The views were breathtaking. I am an avid hiker but I had misjudged the altitude a little bit, so going up to the top was more strenuous than I expected but doable. Bring plenty of water and wear a hot - also, a hiking pole may not be a bad idea. We saw some wildlife along the way - including a buffalo. I can highly recommend this trip

Enjoyable day. Early start to avoid high day temperature. Some steep sections but step have been made. Good driver and guide

I had a fantastic time hiking Mount Longonot with Perfect Wilderness Tours and Safaris today. Particular thanks to my driver Victor, who provided lots of interesting insights into the places we passed on the way there. The hike itself was great. We went up and then around the rim. It was a tough hike, but the views were amazing. We also saw some Zebra and Giraffes on the way back down. I would definitely recommend! Some suggestions for you if you are planning to take this tour: - A decent level of fitness is required, particularly if you want to do a loop of the rim of the crater (according to my Garmin it was 11km with approx. 800m of elevation, all above 2000m). There are some quite steep, slippery and technical parts, but it is manageable if you take it slow and have a decent level of fitness. - Make sure you pack enough food and water (I definitely did not), in reusable packaging. There is a shop at the start of the hike where you can buy water and soft drinks, but the bottles from there cannot be taken up the mountain. - Wear sun protection (again, I forgot to pack mine and learned this lesson the hard way). There is limited shade on the hike, and the heat can increase quite quickly after a chilly start. - Wear good grippy shoes, ideally hiking boots. I believe you can hire a walking pole at the departure point, but I did not do this so can't confirm the pricing.

Well worth the climb - even if you don’t make it to the top. We was picked up from Naivasha for 08:30 by our driver Moses. The trip is usually from Nairobi but Perfect Wilderness make adjustments to suit us (third time we’ve used Perfect Wilderness in Kenya so would highly recommend). Our driver Moses was polite and friendly and a safe driver. He had a lot of local knowledge on the drive about the community as well as when the roads were constructed and who by! He took us to Mt.Longonot for about 09:00 where we met our guide Jonathan. He again was polite and friendly and spoke very good english - had a lot of facts and knowledge about the dormant Volcano and it’s surroundings. Happy to stop and rest with you and allow you to take photos. Some parts of the climb are quite steep so be wary if you’re not the most mobile/fittest. Be aware though - Mt.Longonot park doesn’t let you take disposable plastic bottles in so you have to buy a refill/re-usable one at the shop. This is bizarre because they are just plastic reusable bottles. I would advise taking your own refill bottle or even a camelbak. Moses then collected us and took us to the great Rift Valley viewing point. After this he took us back to our hotel. Would recommend Moses from Perfect Wilderness and would be happy to have him again.

This was the perfect day trip out of Nairobi. The hike up Mount Longonot is challenging but totally worth it! Our guide Peter was absolutely fantastic - super friendly and easy to talk to, with lots of knowledge about the area. Peter was really flexible on how we wanted the day to be, and let us set the pace. Would recommend you wear good hiking boots, bring lots of water (no plastic bottles allowed) and snacks. Would recommend the boat trip on Lake Navaisha too! We got to see hippos, eagles, lots of birds and giraffes in the bushes! Make sure you bring 25USD or 3000KES per person for the boat trip, plus enough for the cost of lunch!

A fantastic day out with Victor and Sammy. The Mount Longonot hike was an incredible experience, and can be enjoyed at any pace, and achievable for anyone with good fitness. The Lake Naivasha walking tour on Cresent island was great, I really enjoyed walking with the animals, it was a unique experience.

This hike really exceeded my and husband's expectations! The climb was challenging but extremely rewarding and made even better by the great company of our guide, Peter. Peter was very easy to talk to and joke around with, he had a lot of knowledge to share, and was very encouraging. I would 10000% recommend this hike and especially one with Peter as your guide. The hike took around 4.5 hours (including hiking around the crater rim). I recommend coming prepared with plenty of water and good hiking shoes with a strong grip because the climb and descent is rather steep.

An absolutely fantastic day out of the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. The hike was perfect and the views are breathtaking. The guide David is excellent and keeps you motivated. The boat trip was the best possible end to the day, very relaxing. The price of entrance to the park is included but you have to pay for the lunch and boat separately. The driver Peter is great also. Highly recommend the trip as a solo female traveller.

Climbing was tough at first due to altitude. After an hour I was fine and got to enjoy spectacular views around the crater. Polepole, slowly slowly my guide said. The descent isn’t easy either. Overall I’d say this walk is for people who are reasonably fit. I then did the boat ride on Lake Navaisha which was a nice wind down after the walk but also included a short walk where I got to see zebra, wildebeest, water buck, giraffe, hippopotamus, and impala. My driver was cautious compared to others on the road, and all the guides were fabulous. I’d suggest budgeting about 3000KES for tips and 5000 to 10000KES for souvenirs. And note that ATMs aren’t common in the area.

Beautiful hike to the crater and then around its rim. It took a bit more than five hours altogether, but the effort is very much worth it. Geoffrey was a great guide who knew all the plants and could spot giraffes from very far away (I had to use my binoculars to even see them). Moses was a great driver, very reliable and he knew interesting stories to tell about the area and Kenya in general. I didn‘t do the boat ride as I was too tired, but even being near Lake Naivasha was interesting and the boat rides are very popular both among tourists and locals.

George and Joel (the co-owners of Perfect Wilderness Tours & Safaris) helped us customize our Kenyan "safari", combining a trip from Nairobi to hike up Mount Longonot with overnight stays and game drives at Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru, followed by transportation up through Eldama Ravine to the Eldoret/Iten area on the escarpment above the Great Rift Valley. Our local guide for the hike up Mt Longonot, Charles, was very knowledgeable and personable, with extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna. (He also often serves as the guide for their bike tours of Hell's Gate.) We saw giraffes and a variety of other animals, as well as scat that Charles was able to identify. He also stopped to tell us about the properties of various plants we passed as we hiked, and was conscious of the varying fitness levels of the different people in our party. The hike up to the crater rim is steep (~2,000' elevation gain over 2 miles), but well worth it (and there are a couple of huts/shaded stopping points along the way) - in addition to the crater itself, there are gorgeous views of the Great Rift Valley, Hell's Gate, and Lake Naivasha. As a lesser-known "attraction", the park/trail wasn't crowded (maybe 10-15 other people on the trail), which was nice. For those wishing to overnight, the park has a campsite not far from the entrance gate/trailhead.

We really enjoyed both the hike, though it was tough, and the boat ride ($30pp extra). Our driver and guide were great. Highly recommend!

The hike was så great! Some animals, great viewpoints, relatively easy when in good/normal form. Very nice boat ride as well - And the driver Viator set us up with was really helpful and service-mindes

A perfect day trip from Nairobi, customized to include the walking safari on Crescent Island, not to be missed!! Paul and Julius were wonderful to spend the day with, extremely friendly and professional. Thank you Paul for showing us how driving on the Mombasa to Uganda road can be-- exhilarating-- and getting us all over the Nairobi region safely. Julius was an excellent guide up and around Mount Longonot. He maintained a very doable pace, spotted exceptional wildlife, and had some great stories. Lunch at Lake Naivasha was amazing. And, again, the Crescent Island walking safari was incredible.

This was an extraordinary tour! First we hiked to mt. Longonot, our guide Simba was very understanding of our pace haha He was so professional and humble. Extremely nice and caring guy! Boat ride on Naivasha was fantastic! Hippos amongst other animals you can watch while going around the Crescent Island. Definitely we’ll do another tours with these guys! Thank you a lot!

The trip was wonderful! Sammy picked me up right on time and Peter was my tour guide for the hike. The drive was smooth and so fun to get to see more of Kenya. The hike was difficult at a few points but I really enjoyed it! So glad I decided to do it. The sights were really beautiful and Peter was a great guide for the hike, I learned a lot! Conversation was good with both of the them during the tour as well, I am so thankful such a good experience in Kenya!

I had a great day with a superb guide George. The tour is recommendable for any out door fan. Its a good day tour hike with a beautiful view over the volcano and area. some difficult sections have to be mastered and the intensity is not to be under-estimated but still a great hike for everyone in good fitness.

I was Ppicked up on time from hotel and taken to entrance of Nairobi NP to purchase my ticket. We spent approx. 3 hours driving in the park. The driver accommodated my wish to see specific animals I was particularly interested in.

Vincent picked me up at 6am in a clean car. It was just me on this trip. He had with him Saffa a trainee. We stopped at the view point for the rift valley (but to be honest better views come as you head to longonot and from longomot itself). We climbed up lognonot, around the rim and down again. Vincent was a very goood guide. I'm on my 30s and fairly fit and used to hiking but I would class this as moderate to challenging given the altitude and conditions under foot. The ground is very loose so very easy to slip. Especially on the way down. I was wearing poor trainers so I would advice better footwear. Due to recent rains big parts of the walking route have been carved out. Be prepared to climb a bit especially on the rim section and on decent you may choose to sit and slide down bits which are steep. I would advice trousers (i had shorts but now have some bites and scratches over my legs) The hike was rewarded with spectacular views. Very pretty. Vincent was a very good guide up and down the mountain. We then went to lake navaisha for lunch. I wasn't interested in the boat ride so we had a look at the lake and got back. Overall very good value for money. Excellent team. (I had spoken to George pre booking and he was very helpful on the day too). 5 stars

I was picked up by George promptly at 6:00am in a very comfortable car. and we drove out to Mt Longonot. George was great company on the hike and offered both encouragement (it was fairly steep in places) and insights into the surrounding Flora and Fauna. The hike itself is quite strenuous - I am pushing 60 however, but very doable! The views are fantastic. Once yo reach the rim you really have to go all the way round the crater, the views from the very top are amazing. I skipped the Lake and boat trip as I had done this only a few days earlier - but George took me to a lovely restaurant for lunch on our return trip. Can't say enough about George who made this a wonderful and memorable day!

I was picked up at my hotel by Peter at 6:00am, which is a good time because of the traffic, trucks, and road conditions going into the Rift Valley. Also the hike can be hot so you don’t want too start late. I wanted a good workout and Peter set a great pace that I really appreciated. He was also patient and informative. We stopped at several rest huts with benches. Its about 2 miles up from the gate to the rim and 1300 feet elevation gain. Going around the rim has a lot of ups and downs in order to reach the peak and is 4 miles around. Many times you need your hands to help climb. 2 miles back down for a total of 8.1 miles and 2648 feet elevation gain over the course of the hike. We saw giraffes, eland, and zebra. The views were tremendous. Peter was a careful and good driver and a good guide. We went to a swahili resort for lunch which was delicious. I chose not to do the boat ride, and arrived back at my Nairobi hotel at 3:45 pm. Just note that if you do decide to purchase lunch, you will be expected to buy lunch for your guide as well. Highly recommended, especially if you are tired of sitting in a safari vehicle and need to get out and move your legs.

covering the 11 kilometer round the crater its an experience and half the ambiance game nature around very attractive.

Santa, the tour guide, was great. He was willing to wait a few extra hours for me to hike extra routes people don’t normally go for. He was very knowledgeable as well and told me a lot about Kenyan culture and Nairobi as we drove to Mt Lonognot. When I had to move the pickup location at midnight since my flight was delayed, these folks were awesome and responsive. I highly recommend this tour group.

This is quite an expensive trip, and when we booked, it clearly said that there would be a photo-up at Great rift valley, a guided tour up and around Mt.Longonot, and a trip to Lake Naivasha with a boat ride. We were Looking forward to everything and everything started smoothly. We got picked up when we were supposed to, had an amazing trip up Mt. Longonot (amazing view). Then we got the message that the boat ride was not included. The site did not make this clear beforehand and the mail we got the day before our trip also stated that boat ride was a part of the inclusions. (The site has been changed after our mishap). Our guide Albert was very nice and a good guide! He needs credit! But we would never have chosen this company again. Use someone cheaper, or better - get your own transport and hike it by yourself (it’s absolutely possible)! Summary: Nice guide, but too expensive for just a hike (which is what you get).

All in all was an awesome experience. Picked up right on time, and because we were so early (8am arrival at the park) we were the first to enter the park and saw zebras, gazelles, warthogs and baboons before they were scared off by the afternoon crowd. The hike is tiring and not to be underestimated, just make sure to bring more water than you think you'll need. The views are breathtaking planet-earth type stuff, travelling from Canada it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. My guide Peter was exceptional as well, due to his knowledge and easygoing attitude that anybody would easily get along with. Would recommend this activity, tour company and guide to anybody any day.

This trip was perfect! Moses was kind, accommodating, and very knowledgable of the area. We had a great conversation in the car and a lot of fun hiking Mt. Longonot. Lake Naivasha was also beautiful, and Moses was very adaptable to stopping for food, sunscreen, etc. I highly recommend!