Karweti Falls Hike

This hike lands squarely into moderate category with the 14km stretch and long stretches of ascents and descents. It starts and ends in Githunguri town and has 3 waterfalls, all available for swimming.

The start is fairly straight along dirt roads before we find ourselves at the first waterfall (Karweti) around 3km into the trek. The second waterfall occurs around the 7km mark while the final waterfall is around 9km mark. After finishing with the last waterfall, it’s a long 5km upward walk back to the town.

Each waterfall is different and offers swimming options and nice views too. The hike can take about 7 hours including time for swimming

Full day trip

It would take us about 1.5 hours to get there. The distance to the starting point is about 50km. We’ll depart the city at 7:00am

Nairobi – Ruiru – Githunguri town

Intermediate
  1. Hiking level –moderate with a general descent towards the middle and long ascent back to the starting point. Total hiking distance is 14 km.

 

  1. Main attractions – long farm walks, 3 waterfalls, swimming, birdlife, views

 

  1. Type of hike – farm/rural trek with sparse forest cover

 

  1. Atmospheric conditions – Similar to Nairobi weather

 

  1. Slipping hazard – very low except at the waterfalls

 

  1. Steepness – Most of the terrain is gently rising or falling with a few steep sections. Total elevation change is almost 200m with the highest altitude being 1960m at the start and the lowest being 1760m at the second waterfall

 

  1. Hiking path condition – open trails surrounded by forest, grassland or plantations

 

  1. Water usage – medium to high – recommend a minimum of 2 litre depending on weather

 

  1. Route visibility – the trail is generally visible except for a few places where the paths can split

 

  1. Biodiversity – numerous species of birds and trees
The hiking trails near the starting point
Scenery near the first waterfall
Waterfall no 1  -Karweti – the pool is almost rectangular shaped and enjoyable for a swim
A short trek though forests after we leave waterfall no 1
Views of the farmlands as we cross valleys
Closeup of waterfall no 2
Waterfall no 2 which is really a set of short wide waterfalls – you can walk up to them and continue beyond
Looking down from the top of waterfall no 3
Waterfall no 3 which has a bridge crossing over it. The pool may have other people using it

 

 

  • Good hiking boots
  • Sun hat – to protect against the sun
  • Water – at least 2 litres
  • Change of clothes or swimming costume in case you’re swimming
  • Snacks and lunch – since we expect to finish latest by 6pm, we recommend you bring snacks and lunch to eat while relaxing at scenic locations along the route
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Elevation Profile

Trail Map