Loita Hills Trek

Your Loita Hills adventure begins with a 7:00 am pick-up from your Nairobi hotel or directly from the airport. From there, enjoy a 5–6.5 hour drive to the Loita Hills Forest, with a scenic stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for breathtaking panoramas and photo opportunities. By the end of the day, you will arrive at Morijo, on the edge of the forest. Here, we’ll set up camp, settle in, and begin preparing the evening meal as you soak in the peaceful atmosphere of the hills — the perfect introduction to this unique wilderness experience.

After an early breakfast, we break camp and begin our Loita Hills trek through the enchanting montane forest. The trail winds through thick cedar stands interspersed with open glades — perfect spots to pause and bask in the sunshine on natural lawns. Along the way, expect to encounter a fascinating variety of birds, plants, and wildlife, making every step full of discovery.

Lunch will be a relaxed picnic beneath the shade of a towering forest giant, surrounded by the sounds of nature. Because of the pristine and untamed nature of Loita Forest, we follow different routes each day — sometimes along existing animal trails for a few hours, other times through denser, untouched forest. The terrain is remote and ever-changing, adding to the sense of wilderness exploration.

Loita Hills is truly a special place — lush hills draped in cedar and fig forests, rich in traditional medicinal plants and Maasai cultural significance. Before it gets dark, we arrive at Ngiwan, where camp will be set for dinner and overnight after approximately five hours of walking

The trail descends into the heart of the Loita Montane Forest, weaving alongside a long meandering swamp. Along its banks, the serene silence is often broken by the echoing calls of Guereza Monkeys, leaping gracefully between the treetops at the swamp’s edge.

The path then returns beneath the thick canopy, before occasionally opening into sunlit clearings scattered with striking boulders that rise from the earth. From one of these vantage points — the highest peak in Loita Hills at 2,400 meters — breathtaking views unfold: the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, the sacred Ol Donyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, and the rugged Shompole Hill to the south along the Nguruman Escarpment. By late afternoon, we reach Esoit Neigero campsite after a rewarding 4.5-hour walk, ready to settle in for dinner and a night under the stars.

The trek continues past Maasai villages, where the trail gently winds up and down the Loita Hills. Along the way, the landscape transforms steadily — from lush equatorial forest to more open dryland vegetation. Even the soil changes in texture and color, reflecting the descent from the cool high elevations of the Loita Hills to the warmer, moderate heights of the Nguruman Escarpment. A highlight of the day is a stop at a picturesque waterfall, where you may enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Entosopia River.

By nightfall, we settle at Entosopia Campsite, dramatically perched on the edge of the escarpment. From here, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views across the Rift Valley, including Lake Magadi, the winding Ewaso Nyiro River, and the distant silhouette of Mount Olorgesailie. The day’s trek is about 4 hours.

After an early breakfast, we break camp and set off at 06:00 hrs for the final descent down the Rift Valley escarpment. The trek takes about 5 hours, ending at Entosopia town around 09:00 hrs, where our vehicle will be waiting. From here, we drive back to Nairobi via Lake Magadi, with a stop for lunch along the way. Expect to arrive in Nairobi by around 6:00 pm, marking the end of this remarkable Loita Hills trekking adventure.