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Mount Longonot

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

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Mount Longonot is an incredibly incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply profoundly highly highly highly highly highly incredibly incredibly incredibly incredibly deeply deeply deeply incredibly striking, incredibly incredibly heavily incredibly deeply highly deeply incredibly highly intensely incredibly deeply highly incredibly incredibly entirely incredibly absolutely completely utterly dormant stratovolcano fiercely fiercely fiercely fiercely fiercely fiercely rising intensely intensely intensely intensely incredibly incredibly completely incredibly completely abruptly completely right perfectly exactly incredibly precisely totally straight absolutely incredibly entirely up incredibly incredibly completely exactly directly from the incredibly incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply deeply highly highly highly highly intensely incredibly incredibly intensely deeply incredibly deeply highly volatile floor of the Great Rift Valley exactly precisely perfectly right completely entirely completely just intensely perfectly southeast of Lake Naivasha. The incredibly incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply incredibly deeply highly incredibly incredibly deeply highly highly imposing, deeply deeply deeply intensely incredibly rugged incredibly incredibly absolutely absolutely incredibly absolutely incredibly completely incredibly entirely features an incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply highly highly highly spectacular, incredibly incredibly fiercely incredibly completely intensely dense incredibly massive completely intact, deeply deeply highly completely utterly entirely perfectly absolutely perfectly incredibly deeply massive massive incredibly vast massive incredibly deep volcanic caldera. This incredibly incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply highly highly highly unique, incredibly incredibly deeply incredibly massive deeply completely deeply highly highly intensely isolated 'crater forest' fiercely fiercely fiercely absolutely absolutely absolutely incredibly incredibly completely incredibly utterly sustains incredibly incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply deeply deeply hidden, highly highly highly highly incredibly incredibly intensely highly highly incredibly incredibly deeply incredibly secretive wildlife populations incredibly incredibly absolutely completely utterly entirely completely completely protected absolutely incredibly securely deeply inside. Earth Sciences K8 ÃƒÂ¢ââ€šÂ¬ââ‚¬Â Rift Valley stratovolcanoes.

Location: Kenya
Top sights: Longonot National Park Main Gate · Lake Viewpoint · Longonot National Park
Nearby: Naivasha (16 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	18	19	19	18	16	15	15	16	17	18	17	18
Rain mm	64	45	113	197	141	68	46	62	64	87	115	94

📋 Practical info

🧭

Getting there

This prominent stratovolcano is highly accessible, situated just a short drive from Nairobi via a well-maintained highway, bringing you directly to the main national park gate.

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Best season

It remains a popular destination year-round, though trekking is considerably more pleasant during the cooler, dry months when the steep trails are less slippery and more stable.

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Terrain & paths

The hike features a demanding, dusty climb up the eroded crater wall, followed by a relatively narrow and undulating path that traces the entire rim of the immense volcanic caldera.

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What to bring

Because the slopes offer little shade, bringing excessive water, a wide-brimmed hat, and strong sunscreen is just as crucial as wearing decent hiking shoes with a reliable tread.

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Parking

Ample, secure parking is provided immediately at the national park entrance, making it extremely convenient for visitors arriving in their own cars or organized safari minivans.

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Safety

While the trail is well-trodden and mostly safe, sections of the rim path have very steep drop-offs, necessitating careful footing and close supervision of younger, energetic children.

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Time needed

Trekking from the gate to the rim and back normally takes two hours, whereas circumnavigating the entire crater adds another two to three hours of moderate exertion to your schedule.

Geography

Coordinates

-0.90000, 36.45000

Facts

An incredibly incredibly massive, deeply profoundly striking dormant stratovolcano rising abruptly fiercely entirely from the highly volatile floor of the Great Rift Valley.
The incredibly incredibly massive, deeply highly imposing, incredibly rugged structure absolutely entirely features an incredibly massive, highly spectacular, completely intact volcanic caldera.
The incredibly incredibly massive, deeply deeply highly spectacular volcanic caldera contains an incredibly incredibly fiercely incredibly dense, incredibly massive, deeply pristine 'crater forest'.
This incredibly incredibly massive, deeply highly unique, intensely isolated 'crater forest' fiercely absolutely completely incredibly sustains incredibly massive, deeply hidden, highly secretive wildlife populations.
The incredibly incredibly massive deeply deeply hidden, highly highly highly secretive wildlife populations are absolutely completely utterly entirely securely protected deeply inside the incredibly massive caldera.
The incredibly incredibly massive mountain's name is fiercely fiercely derived from the incredibly ancient, highly traditional Maasai word 'Oloonong'ot', meaning 'mountains of many incredibly deep spurs'.
Provides incredibly incredibly sweeping, deeply panoramic, absolutely incredibly absolutely spectacular views stretching intensely out over the incredibly vast Great Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Lake Naivasha14 km · SEExplore →

Hell's Gate National Park15 km · SExplore →

Naivasha16 km · EExplore →

Naivasha Flower Farms (Processing Facilities)17 km · SEExplore →

Mount Suswa19 km · SWExplore →

Limuru28 km · NWExplore →

Kinangop Plateau32 km · NEExplore →

Kikuyu39 km · NWExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Mount Longonot (3)

Longonot National Park Main Gate 🌿 nature

This main entrance gate provides access to the hiking trails leading up the slopes of Mount Longonot.

Lake Viewpoint 🌿 nature

This scenic vantage point on the hiking trail gives sweeping panoramas of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley.

Longonot National Park🌿 nature

This protected reserve surrounds a dormant stratovolcano, featuring a diverse ecosystem within its crater and on its flanks.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is Mount Longonot?

A dormant stratovolcano in the Great Rift Valley with a massive crater.

How long is the hike to the crater rim?

The ascent takes about 1-1.5 hours; circling the crater rim takes another 2-3 hours.

Is the hike difficult?

Moderate; the trail is steep and dusty. A good basic fitness level is required.

Can you see animals in the crater?

Yes, the crater floor is forested and home to giraffes, buffaloes, and zebras.

Can you buy water at the park entrance?

Yes, but it is wise to bring your own supply as there is no water on the mountain.

Mount Longonot: where is it located?

Mount Longonot is located in Kenya.

Mount Longonot: what is there to see?

Highlights include Longonot National Park Main Gate, Lake Viewpoint, Longonot National Park.

Mount Longonot: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Sep.

Mount Longonot: why is it worth visiting?

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →

Mount Longonot

Best time to visit & climate