Mount Longonot National Park is located in Kenya’s southwestern region. The national park is 59 square miles in size (154 sq km). The national park is only 37.2 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Nairobi, making it easily accessible. It is located southeast of Lake Naivasha.
Mount Longonot is a stratovolcano with a peak elevation of 9,108 feet (2,776 m). The mountain and park are named from a Maasai phrase that means “steep ridges” or “mountains with many spurs.”
At the summit of the mountain lies a caldera measuring 5 miles by 7.5 miles (8 x 12 km). The volcano’s real cone is capped by another crater that spans 1.12 miles (1.8 km) across. Little plants cover the crater floor, and steam vents can be discovered along portions of the crater’s edges. Lower elevation visitors might expect to encounter buffalo, giraffe, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, and zebra.
ATTRACTIONS IN MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK.
The extinct volcano and crater forest, magnificent scenery with rewarding views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, and bird of prey paradise.
The crater rim of Mount Longonot: While standing on the crater rim, you may see geothermal steam erupting from multiple fractures along the rim, which serves as a reminder of the energy traps beneath your feet.
Wildlife and Birds: The Mount Longonot National Park has an excellent selection of wildlife that can be seen on the way up to the rim, and those venturing into the forested crater should also spot out animals such as Buffalos, Giraffes, Zebra, several species of antelopes, Baboons, and leopards, but tracks are done inside the park. You can also see a significant number of Rift Valley species, such as raptors collecting thermals over the crater; typical birds in the park include the Verreaux’s Eagle and the Lammergeier.
Park’s Scenery: The views from the volcano are rewarding; from the elevated perch, you will get a rewarding bird’s eye view over a large section of the stunning southern Rift Valley, all the way to Mount Kenya and the Aberdare mountains in the distance, and the beautiful Lake Naivasha is also rewarding, as is Hell’s Gate National Park; both are impressive places that can be visited after a tour to Mount Longonot because they are close to each other.
ACTIVITIES DONE IN MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK.
Mountaineering: Mount Longonot, with its tremendous high ascending ranges to the major peaks, provides some of the best trekking experiences on the continent. The hike is an incredible struggle for tourists, but it is rewarding in the sense that when they reach the pinnacle of the mountain, they can see Lake Naivasha.
Cycling/ Biking: Such an amazing experience as tourists go cycling on the mountain ranges’ step slows through the immense wildness of Mount Longonot National Park, and can glimpse a few animal species along the cycling trails.
Bird watching: Bird watching is possible in any region of the park, with the most commonly spotted birds being Lammergeyer and Verreaux’s eagle, among others.
Wildlife Viewing: Mountain Longonot National Park provides an incredible and spectacular picturesque view that is not found in any other park. The activities here appear to be similar to those in other parks, but the best part is that it is an area of hidden touristic riches; in the park, wildlife such as buffaloes, antelopes, baboons, and countless tree monkeys may be noticed around the mountainous parts.
Mountain Biking: This is a cycling experience that allows you to pedal along the circuit route for about 2 kilometers towards the volcanic lava flow, allowing you to admire the park’s natural beauty. The bicycles are always available for rent.
WHERE TO STAY IN MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK.
With the exception of the Olongonot Campsite, which is located just inside the park gate, along the access road to the crater, there is no accommodation within the park. The campsite provides the greatest location for pitching a tent, as well as a toilet and running water; you may bring your own equipment on safari to Mount Longonot National Park.
Nonetheless, the usual range of lodging alternatives are accessible in the adjacent town of Naivasha and along Moi South Lake Road, with several nearby housing facilities offering good amenities such as the Lake Naivasha Country Club, Mamsada Hotel, and others.
BEST TIME TO VISIT MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK.
Mount Longonot National Park is best visited during the dry season, which is generally from January to March and July to October. Mount Longonot offers breathtaking views of Lake Naivasha, the lilac-blue scarps of the Mau Escarpment, the brooding peaks of the Aberdares, and the rolling waves of the Rift Valley itself.
HOW TO GET TO MOUNT LONGONOT NATIONAL PARK.
Mount Longonot may be reached by both air and road transportation from Nairobi.
By Road transport: The park is 90 kilometers from Nairobi and can be reached by either public or private transportation. If you take public transportation, you will disembark in Longonot hamlet and then board a motorbike or cab to the park’s entrance. This takes about 3-4 hours.
By Air/ Flight transport: Domestic charter flights are available from either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport to the Green Park Airstrip, from whence you may drive to the park’s gate. The park is 71 kilometers away from Nairobi and takes 34 minutes to get.
“Mount Longonot National Park offers “sheer Adventure,” with the extinct volcano of Mount Longonot standing like a monolith from the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The dense forest that grows within the mountain’s crater is a distinctive feature. The crater rim also offers stunning views of the Rift Valley all the way to Lake Naivasha”
