Nguruman Escarpment Hike

The road from Nairobi to the Nguruman Escarpment passes through the rolling green foothills of the Ngong Hills, long descent to the semi-arid plains on the Great Rift Valley’s floor, a brief watery interlude crossing the renowned Lake Magadi, and then another seemingly endless drive through dusty dirt tracks crossing semi-arid plains inhabited by the Maasai community.

To the south, near the Tanzanian border, the Nguruman Escarpment defines the western edge of Kenya’s Rift Valley. The environment changes considerably as you approach its slopes, some 160 kilometers from Nairobi. Mango and Pawpaw groves may be found all over the place.

Thanks to the Entasopia River, which originates from the Escarpment, and the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which originates from the Mau Escarpment and flows along the base of this Escarpment on its way to Lake Natron, a thriving farming community grows and supplies horticultural produce to Nairobi residents and export markets.

How to Get There

If you want to take public transportation, there is just one bus service, Ostrich Services, that runs once a day between Kiserian and Nguruman. It departs Kiserian late in the afternoons and arrives in the late evenings at Entasopia Market in the Nguruman region. If you’re feeling courageous, take a ride on one of the pickup trucks or lorries that transport products between Kiserian and Nguruman. For a connection, go to the Waria in Kiserian.

You’ll need a 4WD car with adequate clearance if you’re travelling from Nairobi. Take Lang’ata Road until you reach the Kenyan town of Bomas, then turn left onto Magadi Road.

After passing the Magadi Soda Factory, the asphalt road becomes a gravel road. At one point, this route traverses Lake Magadi, then rises back into the dry semi-arid plains, weaving its way till it reaches the slopes of the Nguruman Escarpment.

Accommodation

The Nguruman ICIPE Research Centre offers lodging, as well as showers and food.

Cool Waters Camp, which has tents put up on a riverside and can organize meals on request, is another option.

Hiking to the Entasopia River Waterfalls is a favourite pastime for most tourists to the Nguruman Escarpment. Hiking up the escarpment to the waterfalls and back might take 5 to 6 hours, depending on your starting position and speed, with elevations ranging from 750m to roughly 2000m above sea level. The walk begins with a river crossing that is littered with boulders and fallen rotting trees that have been toppled by the river during wet seasons.

As you approach the escarpment’s top reaches, the route becomes increasingly steep. The views of the village below, the Ewaso Ng’iro, distant Lake Magadi, and numerous hills improve as you ascend higher.

The route leveled off for a short while before resuming its steep ascent to the waterfalls’ area. Even at this height, Maasai ranchers and women may be seen walking this trail on a daily basis.

This route appears to stretch all the way through the Loita Hills to the Maasai Mara, so as you get closer to the waterfalls, you’ll have to jump off the track and descend a nearly steep plunge of about 10 meters through dense forest undergrowth to reach the river and waterfalls below. As vivid as the sight of the waterfalls at the bottom is the feeling of creeping down the vertical drop, holding for dear life to every root and branch within grasp.

The water pools beneath the first two tiers of the waterfalls are ideal for cooling yourself while taking in the landscape. Beyond these pools, the penultimate level of the waterfalls is a steep plunge.

It could be good for the adventurous to seek out vantage locations from which to witness this beauty.

The cost for the one day Mount Kilimanjaro hike includes and excludes the following items