Ole Sekut Hike

Located 50km from Nairobi, on your way to Magadi, is this set of hills that cross the landscape south of Ngong Hills

Our objective is climb the highest of these ranges of hills called Ole Sekut. The hill rises to an altitude of 2087 m. Out starting point is at an altitude of 1782m and therefore the rise is about 300m

The hike is about 9km long and though it looks short, we are classifying it as moderate due to the rocky terrain and hot climate

For those wanting to try a hill climb closer to Nairobi, this is a good start. The best part is the scenery – really fantastic views from the summit in all directions – we can even see Ngong Hills and the wind turbines

The climb involves going up and then back down the same way

It should take about 2 hours to get there due to the rough roads and passing through heavily settled areas such as Ongata Rongai and Kiseian

We’ll be using Langata highway, followed by passing through Ongata Rongai, Kiserian and then branching from Kisamis town

The road to the hill is quite rocky and the drive would be about 14km – it’s rough and there will be some discomfort for the duration of the drive

1. Hiking level – Moderate level – The hike can be considered an introduction to hill hikes and the trails are quite rocky in nature. Total hiking distance is 9 km. Factors contributing to moderate hiking experience include the rocky terrain, loose stones, hot climate and thorny bushes

2. Main attractions – Scenic views of the surrounding hill ranges, a few species of birds, flowering plants

3. Type of hike – hill hike with dry forest covering parts of it

4. Atmospheric conditions – warm air with the occasional breeze, sunny conditions expected most of the time

5. Slipping hazard – medium and frequent due to the loose rock and stones that cover the hiking trail. With care, it’s entirely possible to do the hike without slipping anywhere. Please also note that near the summit there are very steep sides – be careful when approaching the edges

6. Steepness – This being a hill climb, we quickly get into the climbing part – the first part is steep but becomes gentler as we continue the climb. Towards the summit the terrain becomes steep again but with a last push, we can summit.

7. Hiking path condition – Some of the trails follow gullies where rain water passes while the rest seem to be paths created by domestic animals. The trails can be several but all head in the same direction which is up

8. Water usage – medium to high – recommend a minimum of 2 litres

9. Route visibility – Due to the trees surrounding the paths, there is a slight chance of getting lost – thus we have to stick together

10. Biodiversity – unending swarms of flies, a few butterflies, birds and other insect life. There are no wildlife though we might see goats and sheep

• Good hiking boots, walking stick
• Sun hat, sun screen – to protect against the sun
• Insect repellent
• Water – at least 2 litres
• Snacks and lunch – since we expect to finish latest by 3:00pm, we recommend you bring snacks and lunch to eat while relaxing at the summit