Pull on your hiking boots and enjoy the rare treat of hiking through the Kenyan bush. But this isn’t just any hike. It takes between 1½ and 2½ hours to circumnavigate the crater; watch for occasional steam vents rising from the crater floor. The name ‘Longonot’ comes from the Maasai name Olo Nongot, which means ‘Mountain of Many Summits’, and the rim is anything but a flat-level walk.
Including time for pausing to take in the views, the 21km trek from the park gate and back should take about five to six hours. The trail is clear and easy to follow and taking along a KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service) ranger is not necessary, although a good one will certainly enhance your trek; rangers can be arranged at the main gate as you enter.
