Nairobi's Ngong Hills are a range of seven hills located just to the south of the city.

 

These hills are a part of the Great Rift Valley, and rise to a height of 2,460 meters over farmland and Maasai villages, providing a stunning view of the surrounding landscape.

Ngong Hills is a popular destination for walking and picnicking for both locals and tourists alike, offering a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The trail is well-marked, and the walk or hike takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete, depending on the fitness level of the individual. The trail has some steep inclines and rocky terrain, so it's advisable to wear comfortable shoes and carry enough water.

The hills have a rich history, and were made famous by the book and movie 'Out of Africa' by Karen Blixen. Visitors can visit the Karen Blixen Museum, which is just a short drive away from the hills.

The museum is dedicated to the life and works of the author, and provides insights into her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya.

In addition to the scenic beauty and cultural significance, Ngong Hills is also home to a variety of wildlife, including buffaloes, baboons, and numerous bird species.

It is recommended to visit the hills early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the weather is cooler and the animals are more active.

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BACKGROUND HISTORY.

• The hills got their name from the explorer, Joseph Thompson, who camped at the foot on his way to Uganda in 1884. Prior the Masai name for the hills was ‘Enkong'u-e-nchorro-emuny' but Thompson was unable to correctly transcribe it, so he simply called the place ‘Ngong', and the name stuck.

The hills were revered by the Maasai people, who knew them as ‘Oldoinyo Oloolaiser' , which means ‘the mountain of the Laiser' who were one of the mightiest clans of the Maasai, from which the famous ‘laibon', Olonana (Lenana), descended.

The trail across the ridgeline here is popular among recreational and elite runners alike.
Most runners start from the Kenya Forestry Service station in the northeast corner of the park.
From here, a gently inclined dirt road reaches up to the wind farm atop the hills and continues south with great views along the way.
The route is about 11 km (one-way) to the Kona Baridi bus stop, so runners can either take public transportation back, or shorten the route by doubling back at the highest point (about 10 km round trip).

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The Imprint Of A Giant? Or The Dirt Under God's Fingernails?

According to the Maasai, the hills were formed when a giant, who was stumbling north from Kilimanjaro with his head in the clouds, tripped and fell heavily to the ground, impressing the imprint of his knuckles into the earth.

Another story claims that the hills are the bits of earth that were left under God's fingernails when he had finished creating the earth.

Part of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, the Ngong Hills are actually the remains of a massive volcano, which formed from basalt lava between five and six and a half million years ago.

Around two million yeas ago, it is thought that the volcano was dissected by faults, which caused its western slopes to drop into the Rift.

The town of Ngong came into being early in the last century, when it developed as a resting place for the slave and ivory caravans heading north.

It also marked the boundary between Maasai land and Kikuyu land.

In 1887 the hills offered a 2-week campsite for the 700 members of one of the most epic safaris in East African history.

Led by Count Samuel Teleki von Szek and Lieutenant Ludwig von Hohnel, the safari (which lasted two years and covered 3,500 miles) resulted in the discovery of Lake Turkana and was supported by 700 men carrying two and a half tons of camping gear, one and a half tons of ammunition, one and a half tons of preserves, soap, tobacco, sugar, tea and coffee, a quarter of a ton of alcohol, ten tons of cloth, glass beads, iron wire and cowrie shells, and over three hundred guns.

The hills featured in the film ‘Out of Africa', which was based on the book of the same name by Karen Blixen.

The film begins with the words ‘I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills', while in the book Karen says that her love of the hills ‘had not it's like in all the world'.

So fond were she and her lover, the hunter Denys Finch Hatton, of the hills, that when he was killed in a plane crash, Karen buried him on their lower slopes.

Thereafter the grave became the preferred haunt of a pair of lions; and later Denys's brother erected an obelisk in his honour, inscribed with Coleridge's ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', one of Denys's favorite poems.

Note: the grave, which is due east of Point Lamwia on the lower slopes of the hills, is now on private land, but can be visited in return for the payment of a small fee.

The sharp spine of the Ngong Hills stretches for 20 km and takes several hours to walk from end to end.

Once a popular walking and picnicking venue for Nairobi's residents, in recent years the hills acquired a notorious reputation for muggings and attacks on walkers.

Thanks to the presence of armed KWS rangers who now patrol the area, security is improved and the hills are once again a popular venue for family outings.

Note: it is possible to hire an armed KWS ranger to escort you up the hills , in return for the payment of a small fee.

The summit of the hills is marked by Point Lamwia (2,483 m above sea level), which offers stunning 360-degree views of the Great Rift Valley to the west and the Nairobi suburbs to the east.

Its a popular walking and picnic venue.

The walk/ Hike takes about 4 to 5 hour to complete, depending on fitness levels.

It was featured in the film ‘Out of Africa', which was based on the book of the same name by Karen Blixen.

• The climate mainly sub-humid and semi-arid with a small pocket of humid climate around the Ngong Hills.
• Short rains occur between October and December, long rains between March and May

The eastern side of the hills are covered in montane dry forest and wooded grassland.

The western side is mainly bushland.

The common wildlife to encounter here includes buffalo, vervet and colobus monkey, baboon, duiker, bush pig, water buck and leopard (the latter found mostly in the remnants of indigenous forest along the river valleys).

Hiking - Take a walk-in nature and enjoy the fresh air, beautiful scenery, and physical exercise.

Picnicking - Pack a basket full of food and drinks, and take a trip to a park or other scenic location. Spread out a blanket, relax, and enjoy your meal with a view.

Camping - Spend a night or two in the great outdoors. Set up a tent, build a campfire, and roast marshmallows while bonding with family or friends.

Sightseeing - Visit a new city, town, or landmark, and explore the local culture, history, and attractions.

Religious activities - Join a prayer group, attend a religious service, or take part in a spiritual retreat.

Team building exercises - Participate in group activities that help build trust, communication, and problem-solving skills. This could include anything from escape rooms to trust falls.

Weddings - Celebrate the union of two people in love by attending a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception.

• There is no accommodation in the forest reserve.

• By road: take the Ngong Road out of Nairobi and proceed via Karen to Ngong Town.
• At the T- junction in the centre of town, turn right and follow the road around to the left for 1 km (passing Ngong Police Station).
• Where the tarmac ends, turn right up a rough track, which leads (in 1.9 km) to the KWS barrier.

The forest reserve is open daily 6.30am - 6.00pm (including public holidays).

 

Entry is free.