Hiking trips from Nairobi are the easiest way to swap a weekend of traffic for a ridge, a crater rim or a forest trail.
- FromKES 3,000per person, Ngong Hills day hike, group joining with transport
- Duration1 day, or 2 days for Mount Kenya
- StartsNairobi, early morning pickup
- Best forFitness groups, friends, new hikers, corporate teams and families with teens
- StyleGroup joining, or private groups of 10 or more
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Authentic Adventures started in 2015 as a fitness and hiking outfit, and we still plan guided group hikes with transport, local guides and a pace that suits mixed groups. Our team of about 15 runs the trips from our Nairobi CBD office. Our Google rating is 5.0 from 46 reviews.
This page lists seven hiking trips from Nairobi with Kenya shilling prices, a difficulty table, travel times and what to bring. Message us on WhatsApp for the next date and a written quote.
Highlights
- Seven hikes from easy ridge walks to Mount Kenya and Satima
- Prices in KES with transport, guide and entry included
- Clear difficulty ratings and time estimates for each hike
- Early morning pickup and back in Nairobi by evening on day hikes
- Group joining dates, or a private date for 10 or more
- Packing, fitness and altitude advice before you go
Day by day plan
- Step 1
Pick your hike and date
Choose from the hiking trips from Nairobi in the table, then message us with your preferred date and the number of people. We tell you the next group joining date or set up a private date for your group. Share your fitness level and any health concerns, so we recommend the right hike. A first timer should start with Ngong Hills or Ol Donyo Sabuk.
- Step 2
Pay and get your briefing
A deposit holds your seat, and we send a briefing by WhatsApp with the pickup point, time, packing list and expected weather. We ask about shoes, water and snacks. Bring warm clothes for the higher hikes, and tell us in advance about allergies or medical needs.
- Step 3
Hike day
You meet at the pickup point at about 5:30 or 6 am and drive to the trailhead. A local guide leads the group while an assistant stays at the back. You hike at a steady pace with water and photo stops. After the hike, a packed lunch or a local meal, then the drive back to Nairobi.
Hiking trips from Nairobi, guide price per person, group joining, KES
| Hike | Difficulty | Time | KES per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ngong Hills | Easy to moderate | 3 to 4 hours | KES 3,000 |
| Ol Donyo Sabuk | Easy to moderate | 3 to 4 hours | KES 4,500 |
| Kijabe Escarpment | Moderate | 4 to 5 hours | KES 3,500 |
| Mount Longonot | Moderate to hard | 4 to 5 hours | KES 5,500 |
| Elephant Hill | Moderate to hard | 5 to 6 hours | KES 4,500 |
| Satima, Aberdares | Hard | 7 to 9 hours | KES 9,500 |
| Mount Kenya Sirimon | Hard, 2 days | 2 days, 1 night | KES 22,000 |
- Guide price per person for group joining dates, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment
- Includes transport from Nairobi, entry fees, a local guide and a packed lunch on day hikes
- Rates are for Kenyan citizens and residents, non residents pay higher park fees and we quote them separately
- Private dates for 10 or more people use the same rates, and we set the date with you
- Mount Kenya price includes park fees, a camp or hut night and meals, porters are optional
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Return transport from Nairobi
- Entry or park fees at resident rates
- Local guide and a trail assistant
- Packed lunch on day hikes
- Drinking water and a first aid kit
- Pre trip briefing and packing list
Not included
- Hiking boots, poles and rain gear
- Personal snacks and extra drinks
- Personal travel or medical insurance
- Porters on Mount Kenya, optional
- Tips for guides and drivers
Why Hiking Trips from Nairobi Work So Well
Nairobi sits among hills, forests and volcanoes, so a good trail is rarely more than two hours away. Ngong Hills are 25 km from the city. Longonot is about 90 km. Mount Kenya is a four hour drive.
That makes hiking trips from Nairobi easy to fit into a weekend, a public holiday or a team day. You leave early, hike by mid morning and return before dark. Most trips are day hikes with no need for leave or hotel nights.
Hiking Trips from Nairobi: Prices and Difficulty
The table shows seven hikes with price, time and difficulty. Easy to moderate hikes suit beginners. Moderate hikes need some fitness and good shoes. Hard hikes need training and stamina.
All prices are in shillings for group joining dates. They cover transport, entry at resident rates, a guide and lunch on day hikes. Private groups of 10 or more pay the same rate per person, on a date you choose.
If you plan to use your own car, see our car hire Nairobi page. For a longer list of ideas, see our Nairobi day trips.
The Hikes One by One
Each hike has its own character. Read the short notes below and choose the one that fits your fitness and your free day. Hiking trips from Nairobi vary in height, distance and weather, so check the details before you book.
Ngong Hills: the easy starter
Ngong Hills rise about 25 km southwest of the city, with a ridge of peaks above the Rift Valley. The ridge walk is about 3 to 4 hours, with wide views and wind turbines. A guide is required. See our Ngong Hills hike page for the private option.
Ol Donyo Sabuk: a hill with buffalo
Ol Donyo Sabuk sits near Thika, about 65 km from Nairobi. The summit is at 2,145 metres. The trail climbs through forest where buffalo and baboons live. Allow 3 to 4 hours of hiking plus the drive.
Kijabe Escarpment: forest and viewpoints
Kijabe is about 60 km from Nairobi on the Rift Valley edge. Trails climb through forest to viewpoints above the valley floor. It is cooler and greener than most lowland hikes. Expect 4 to 5 hours with a steady climb.
Mount Longonot: the crater rim
Longonot is a volcano about 90 km from Nairobi. The trail climbs to the crater rim at about 2,780 metres. You can walk the whole rim, a loop of about 7 km, and see the Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha. See our Mount Longonot hike page for details.
Elephant Hill: a highland climb
Elephant Hill sits in the highlands north of Nairobi, about 3 hours by road. The trail climbs through farmland and forest to an open summit. It is cool, often misty and good training for higher hikes. We confirm the trailhead and the route when you book.
Satima: the highest peak in the Aberdares
Satima rises to about 4,000 metres in the Aberdares. It is a long, steep hike with cold, wet weather and thin air. Expect 7 to 9 hours on the trail and an early start. Only fit hikers should book it, and a guide is essential.
Mount Kenya Sirimon: a two day taste
Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa. Our two day hike follows the Sirimon route into the moorland zone, sleeps at a camp or hut and returns the next day. It is a good test before a full climb. See our Mount Kenya climbing packages for the longer routes.
Fitness, Altitude and Safety
Hiking trips from Nairobi suit many levels. Easy hikes need only a normal level of fitness. Moderate and hard hikes need a few weeks of walking, stairs or jogging. Start slowly, drink water and tell the guide if you feel dizzy or unwell.
On Satima and Mount Kenya, altitude can cause headaches and nausea. We climb slowly, and our guides know the signs. We keep a first aid kit, but we do not replace medical advice. Read our Kenya vaccinations and malaria guide if you also plan a lowland trip, and check our travel insurance and flying doctors guide for cover.
What to Wear and Carry
Dress in layers and wear shoes with grip. Weather changes fast, so carry a rain jacket even in dry months. Bring a hat, sunscreen and enough water. We supply a first aid kit and a guide.
Pack light. A small daypack is enough for most hiking trips from Nairobi.
- Hiking shoes or trainers with grip
- Two litres of water
- A rain jacket and a warm layer
- Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Snacks, such as nuts, bananas or glucose biscuits
- A small first aid pack with plasters and painkillers
- Power bank and phone
- Trekking poles for Satima and Mount Kenya
Group Joining, Private Groups and Teams
Group joining hiking trips from Nairobi let singles and pairs meet new people and share costs. Private dates suit friends, families, churches, schools and offices. We set the date, the pace and the group size with you.
For corporate teams, a hike can double as team building. See our team building packages for days with games and meals. For a longer break, see weekend getaways from Nairobi.
A Four Week Training Plan for the Harder Hikes
Longonot, Elephant Hill, Satima and Mount Kenya reward preparation. A simple plan of four weeks makes hiking trips from Nairobi more fun and lowers the risk of cramps and sore knees.
Walk uphill whenever you can. Use stairs at work, hill roads near your home or a gym stair machine. Add a loaded daypack in the last two weeks, so your shoulders and back adjust.
- Week 1: three 30 minute brisk walks
- Week 2: two walks and one 60 minute hill walk
- Week 3: two walks and one 90 minute hill walk with a loaded daypack
- Week 4: one easy walk and a rest day before the hike
A Sample Hike Day, Hour by Hour
Here is how a typical Longonot day runs. The timing is similar for most hiking trips from Nairobi, with small changes for drive time and fee gates.
The pace stays steady, with a short break every hour for water and photos. The guide sets the speed so that nobody is left behind, and the trail assistant stays at the back.
- 5:30 am: meet at the pickup point and load the vehicle
- 6:00 am: leave Nairobi
- 8:00 am: arrive, register and begin the climb
- 10:30 am: reach the crater rim and take photos
- 11:30 am: walk the rim or start the descent
- 1:00 pm: packed lunch and rest
- 2:30 pm: drive back to Nairobi
- 5:30 pm: drop off at the pickup point
Best Time for Hiking Trips from Nairobi
Dry months are best for hiking trips from Nairobi. Jan to Mar and Jun to Oct give firm trails and clear views. Wet months, Apr to May and Nov, make trails muddy and slippery, and mountains can stay in cloud.
Higher hikes need more care in the rain. We may move a hike if the weather is unsafe, and we tell you before you travel.
How to Book Hiking Trips from Nairobi
Message us on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957 with your date, group size and preferred hike. We reply with the next group joining date or a private quote.
Book at least a week ahead for day hikes and two to three weeks for Mount Kenya. If you want to try a rafting day between hikes, see our Sagana white water rafting day trip.
How to book your hiking trips from Nairobi
Booking your hiking trips from Nairobi with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every hiking trips from Nairobi plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box, and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only, and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos, and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good hiking trips from Nairobi into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews, and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How much are hiking trips from Nairobi?
Group joining day hikes start at KES 3,000 per person for Ngong Hills and run to KES 5,500 for Mount Longonot. Satima is about KES 9,500 and a 2 day Mount Kenya hike is about KES 22,000. Prices include transport, guide and entry at resident rates.
Which of the hiking trips from Nairobi is best for beginners?
Ngong Hills and Ol Donyo Sabuk. Both are easy to moderate, take about 3 to 4 hours and have clear paths. They are good first hikes for people building fitness. Start with one of these before you try Longonot.
Do I need a guide?
Yes, on most Kenyan hills a guide is required or strongly advised. Ngong Hills, Longonot and Mount Kenya all use local guides, and we include them in the price. A guide also keeps the group together and watches the weather.
What time do hiking trips from Nairobi start?
Usually at 5:30 or 6 am from a central pickup point. This beats traffic and gives you cool morning light. Day hikes return to Nairobi by 5 to 7 pm. Mount Kenya trips leave earlier and return the next evening.
Can non residents join?
Yes. Non residents pay higher park fees on most hikes, so the price differs. Message us for a non resident quote on any of these hiking trips from Nairobi. For example, the Longonot entry fee for non residents is about USD 50 per person.
Can I book a private group hike?
Yes, for 10 or more people on the same rates. We choose the date with you and set the pace. Private hiking trips from Nairobi suit offices, churches, schools and friends. For smaller groups, a private hike in your own vehicle costs more per person, and our Ngong Hills and Longonot pages show those rates.
What if the weather is bad?
We check the forecast and trail conditions. If rain or cloud makes a hike unsafe, we change the date or the route and tell you before you travel. Safety comes first on the hills, especially on Satima and Mount Kenya.
Official information: Kenya Wildlife Service for park and hill entry details.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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