Ngong Hills, located 25 kilometres from Nairobi CBD, is one of Kenya’s most stunning hiking trails. Enjoy wonderful Nairobi and the Great Rift Valley views while hiking the Ngong Hills. This majestic mountain range spans the western end of Nairobi. It is famous for many historical works, including Karen Blixen’s film “Out of Africa”. Her lover, Denys Finch Hatton, was buried along the hills, and the story was that Karen could see the grave site from her house. The peak of the Ngong Hills lies at 2,460 m. This exciting hiking tour will help you unlock this and many more fascinating features of the legendary Ngong.
The Park is maintained by the Kenya Forest Service. The KFS has a guard stationed at the gate to collect the park fees and has also provided designated parking spots for vehicles.
How do you get to Ngong Hills?
There are three main ways to get to Ngong Hills
- Public means
Take a matatu No. 111 at Railways opposite Memorial to drop you off at Ngong town, 2 kilometres from the Forest reserve gate. Once you reach Ngong town, you can either walk or take a motorbike/boda boda, which takes an average of 10 minutes. Feel free to negotiate with the riders and also, ask them for their mobile number so they can ferry you after the hike.
- Private means
Use Ngong Road and drive past Dagoretti Corner, Karen, and Ngong Town until Ngong Police Station. Google Maps will come in handy.
- Cab
You can now use ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt, Little Cab, Yego, or InDriver, among others. They have options for a cab, motorbike/Boda Boda, and vans. It is easier to either take a cab to the Forest Reserve gate or take public means to Ngong town and use Boda Boda to get to the gate.
Ngong Hills Forest Entry Fees
The mode of payments accepted are M-PESA and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. Below are the entry rates:
| Citizen – Kenya | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 232 |
| Child | Ksh 58 |
| Residents – East Africa | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 464 |
| Child | Ksh 174 |
| Non-Residents | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 696 |
| Child | Ksh 174 |
Ngong Hills Opening Hours
Opening hours at Ngong Hills are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can visit earlier if you buy a ticket a day earlier.
Ngong Hills Hike
How to Prepare for the Hike
- Engage in active cardio exercises such as aerobics, walking, running, cycling, and swimming, among others, the week before the event.
- Set aside the day before the hike for resting—take a break from exercises.
- Increase your hydration for at least two days before the hike.
- The purpose is to get enough rest the night before the hike.
- If on intermittent fasting or a diet, take a break during the period one day before and after the hike. This way, you will build up your energy reserves for the arduous task ahead.
- Cut your toenails!
- Have a generous breakfast at least 3 hours before the start of the hike. This ensures that most of the food has been digested by the time you begin the hike, giving you much-needed energy while ensuring your stomach is not too full for comfort.
- Use the bathroom before leaving the house to reduce the need for bathroom breaks on the commute.
- Set your mind to conquering yourself. Hiking is more about your mindset than your physical preparation. Once you win the battle in your mind, everything else contributes less than 10%. You can do it!
What do you need?
- Sunscreen – Your skin will feel the burn if you do.
- Warm, Layered Clothing – It can get very cold, windy and hot too
- Closed, comfortable shoes with a strong grip
- 2–3 litres of drinking water & dry snacks
- Hat – The sun can be scorching
- Good company and excitement.
- Mobile money (M-PESA) and Cash.
- Camera – Capture the moments
The hike is suitable for beginners, intermediates, and advanced hikers. It offers a good starting point for stamina to hike Mt. Kenya or Mt. Kilimanjaro. You can do this with a small or large group of friends.
Hiking hours are from 8 am – 5 pm. Depending, on how fit you are, the whole journey can take 4 to 5 Hours at most. The first 2 kilometres from Ngong Police Station are a gradual ascent through the KenGen generator and human settlements until you get to a Kenya Wildlife Barrier barrier indicating the start of the Ngong Hills forest reserve. From here on, you go past a wind farm, before climbing the first steep hill leading to an area populated with Radio repeater station masts.
The trail thins out and descends into a trough before you climb the next steep hill. Just when you think the worst is over, the rolling hills seem to keep popping up, with each taking its toll on you. The highest peak (7th Hill, called Lamwia) on the knuckle-shaped Ngong hills is at 2460 metres or 8070 Feet above sea level.
Thankfully, the views all around are magnificent, making the effort worthwhile. 15 kilometres to the east is the Nairobi National Park, to the north, Nairobi city views, and to the west, the hills overlook Masai Manyattas, 1,000 metres down in the Rift Valley. On a lucky day, you are likely to encounter buffalos around the fourth hill, on account of the abundant bushes at these higher altitudes on the range. To your right is a fantastic view of the Great Rift Valley, while on the far left is a view of the City of Nairobi.
Going Down
There are two ways to climb down – Kona Baridi, which leads to Kiserian or back down the 7 hills to Ngong town. The hiking hours come to a close at 5 pm for safety purposes so be sure to be on time.
Do you need a guide to hike Ngong Hills?
If you are not familiar with Ngong Hills or you are hiking solo, it is advisable to get a guide. There are Kenya Forest Service guards stationed at the gate to help you navigate the terrain and protect you. They charge Kshs 1,500/$15 for Kenyan citizens and Kshs 2,000/$20 for foreigners.
If you choose to go without a guide, go with a mixed group of friends.
Where to eat in Ngong Hills
At Ngong Hills, you can choose to eat at the Kompass Restaurant, which offers authentic Kenyan food, snacks, and drinks. As you wait for your meal or after, you can choose to play archery or zipline.
If you leave via the Kiserian route, Kona Baridi, you can choose to go into town and check out local restaurants such as Olepolos. Their nyama choma is to die for.
If you leave via the Ngong route, you can check out local eateries and butcheries scattered across. There are also fast-food joints such as Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn, and Chicken Inn at Milele Mall.
If you have a penchant for street food, there are vendors across the Hills where you can buy smokies, mayai kachumbari and other cool stuff.
Other Activities other than Hiking
If you don’t want to hike or you want to supplement the experience, there are tons of activities you can do at Ngong Hills.
Ngong Hills Picnic Site
Picnics at Ngong Hills are just as popular as day hikes. There are no particular designated picnic areas, hence, you’re free to set up in any place that suits you. Be aware of debris and broken glass around, as waste management in some areas is quite poor. Remember to take everything you bring back out with you. Also, remember to pack warm items of clothing, as Ngong Hills can get very cold and windy.
Ngong Hills Activities and Prices
| Category | Charges |
| Ziplining | Ksh 1,000 for 200 meters |
| Bike riding | Ksh 500 for 3 hours |
| Archery | Ksh 1,000 for 20 arrows |
| Picnic | Ksh 200 |
| Hiking | Ksh 200 |
| Video Shooting | Ksh 2,500 |
| Filming | Ksh 40,000 |
| Horse Riding for residents | Ksh 6,550 per hour |
| Horse Riding for non-residents | USD 70 per hour |
| Camping fees | Ksh 1,000 per adult |
| Photography | Ksh 1,160 |
| Quad biking | Ksh 1,000 for ten minutes |
Ngong Hills Forest Recreational Park Contacts
Phone: 0797 480 784, 0755 838 360
