Location & How To Get To Mt Kipipiri
At the heart of the Kinangop plateau, which is found in the Aberdare Ranges, sits this beautiful volcanic mountain in the Wanjohi Valley, previously known as the Happy Valley. The distance from Nairobi town to Mount Kipipiri is approximately 130 kilometers. You can get to Mount Kipipiri from Nairobi or Nakuru in approximately 3-4 hours through the highly accessible roads if you are driving. The hiking starts at a small town called Geta, Geta Forest Station, 2,697 meters. Afterward, pick a forest guard and pay the entry fees.
Park Entry Fees for Mount Kipipiri
The amounts before are in the form of Kenyan Shillings;
Citizens 200
Residents 400
Non-residents 600
The charges above are entry fees paid to the Kenya Forestry Service, which monitors all the Mt.Kipipiri hiking activities. Apart from the entry fees, you will need to have the guide fee, which will vary depending on what you agree with them. Additionally, if you decide to camp at the Kenya Forestry Service Campsite, which is near the foot of the mountain, you will have to pay some camping fees, depending on what you agree with the staff there.
The Summit & Mount Kipipiri Hike Duration
From Mount Kipipiri summit, you can see the breathtaking view of Lake Naivasha on the Northeast side from a distance of about 32 kilometers. In the Gikuyu dialect, Kipipiri means “butterfly,” a name given to this mount from the reference of the profile you see from a distance at its summit. You will need approximately 6-9 hours to go up and down the Mount Kipipiri summit. Mount Kupipiri summit stands at an elevation of approximately 3349 AMSL.
Scenery & What You See During Mt Kipipiri Hike
You can see the beauty of nature at Mount Kipipiri since its environment is not disturbed by human settlements and other man-made activities. The Mount Kipipiri Forest Reserve guard protects the mountain, which is part of the larger group overseeing the whole Aberdare National Park. The well-preserved natural scenes include wildlife like monkeys, buffalos, elephants, and too much birdlife.
NOTE: You must take a guard who carries his gun and other armor while hiking Mount Kipipiri due to the presence of wildlife and the fact that hiking trails are not obvious since human activities do not impact Mount Kipipiri. You also expect to see beautiful water points like small streams and rivers on the small and large valleys. Too many plants and tree species are also visited on the hiking trail.
What To Wear for Mount Kipipiri Hike
To start with, Mount Kipipiri, like any other Aberdare ranges trail, receives lots of rain and low temperatures, which can sometimes go as low as 2 degrees Celsius. In such a case, you must carry a warm Puffer jacket or a Fleece Jacket. Learn more about layering for mountain weather in this post.
One thing you cannot leave behind is your raincoat. You will likely get rained on from the start to the endpoint of your Mount Kipipiri hike. That raincoat must be of good quality because sometimes that rain falls in the form of hailstorms. It would help to have a proper hiking boot with the perfect grip, thick soles, and ankle support to avoid slipping on the marshy trails. You can also carry some gaiters to protect your hiking pants from soaking too much water and mud as you hike through the muddy and marshy trails.
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