Daniel
Lead guide
Daniel has walked these crater paths his whole life. He knows where the baboons sleep and which ledge catches the last light.
Walk the crater with Daniel and Timothy.
Two Maasai guides from Mount Suswa, Kenya. Crater rim, lava caves, a night by the fire.
You walk with us
Timothy
Guide & driver
Timothy picks you up on his motorbike, leads the cave walks and is the one the kids want to sit next to at the fire.
How booking works
- Send your dates on WhatsApp. The form below writes the message for you.
- Daniel or Timothy replies with the plan and the price for your group.
- Meet them on the day in Mai Mahiu, Suswa town or at the gate. Gate fees are paid in cash.
What we do on the mountain
Crater rim hike
- 4 to 6 hours
- Moderate
- Price on request
Walk the outer rim to the highest point, 2,356 m, with the forested inner crater below you.
- Daniel or Timothy as your guide
- Stops at the crater view point and the peak
- Stories about the mountain and Maasai life
Lava caves & Baboon Parliament
- 3 to 4 hours
- Easy
- Price on request
Climb down into lava tubes where light falls through the roof and baboons hold court at dusk.
- Guide with torches
- Baboon Parliament chamber
- Steam vents on the way
Night on the rim
- 2 days, 1 night
- Moderate
- Price on request
Hike the rim, explore the caves, then sleep at the edge of the crater and wake up to the sun coming over the Rift Valley.
- Rim hike and caves
- Campsite and campfire
- Firewood
Stay in the manyatta
- 2 days, 1 night
- Easy
- Price on request
Sleep in a traditional Maasai home with the family, help with the goats, and walk the rim the next morning.
- Night with a Maasai family
- Dinner and breakfast at the fire
- Rim walk the next day
People who walked with us
Families with small kids, couples, groups of friends. Swipe through.
Where we take you
Schematic map, not to scale. Tap a place to see it.
Good to know before you come
No showers, no shops
There is no running water on the mountain. Bring 5 litres per person per day.
Little or no signal
Tell people at home you will be offline for a while.
Cold nights
The rim sits above 2,000 m. Days are warm, nights get cold. Bring a warm layer and a good sleeping bag.
Long-drop toilets
Only near the cave area. On the rim it is a shovel and a good view.
Getting there
- From Nairobi take the Nairobi-Narok road to Mai Mahiu, about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- From Mai Mahiu it is a rough track to the conservancy gate. A 4x4 helps, especially after rain.
- No car? Take a matatu to Mai Mahiu or Suswa town and Timothy picks you up on his motorbike.
When to come
- January to March
- Dry, clear, cool nights. Good for camping.
- June to October
- Dry, best views from the rim.
- April, May, November
- Rain. The track gets muddy and the caves slippery. Still possible, ask us first.
Fees
| Visiting | Resident | Citizen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry, adult, per day | US$30 | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 |
| Camping, per adult per night | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 |
| Firewood, per night | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 |
| Vehicle | KES 500 | KES 500 | KES 500 |
| Homestay, per person per night | US$40 | US$40 | US$40 |
| Motorbike, one way | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 | KES 1,000 |
Paid in cash. These fees go to the Mount Suswa Conservancy Trust. Child rates: ask when you book.
Bring
- Walking shoes with grip
- 5 litres of water per person per day
- Hat and sunscreen
- Warm layer for the evening
- Head torch (for the caves)
- Cash for the gate fees
Questions people ask
How far is Mount Suswa from Nairobi?
About 1.5 to 2 hours by car. Take the Nairobi-Narok road to Mai Mahiu; the last part to the conservancy gate is a rough track.
How long is the crater rim hike?
Four to six hours, depending on the route and your pace. The highest point of the outer rim is 2,356 m.
Do I need a 4x4?
It helps, especially after rain. No car? Take a matatu to Mai Mahiu or Suswa town and ask Daniel and Timothy about a motorbike pickup.
What does it cost to enter Mount Suswa?
Conservancy entry is US$30 per person per day for visitors from abroad and KES 1,000 per person per day for Kenyan residents and citizens. Camping is KES 1,000 per person per night. These fees go to the Mount Suswa Conservancy Trust and are paid in cash. The guide fee depends on your group size, how long you stay and what you want to do.
Can children come along?
Yes. Families with young children walk with Daniel and Timothy; the lava caves and shorter rim walks work well for kids.
Is there water, electricity or phone signal?
No running water and no electricity. Bring at least 5 litres of water per person per day. Phone signal is weak or absent on most of the mountain.
When is the best time to visit?
January to March and June to October are dry. April, May and November bring rain, a muddy track and slippery caves.
How do I book?
Use the form on this page, or send your dates on WhatsApp to Daniel (+254 721 357 415) or Timothy (+254 758 332 051). They reply with the plan and the price for your group.
Send us your dates
WhatsApp opens with your request written out. Nothing is booked until we reply.