- Destination type: Hikes
Table Mountain, located near Lake Elementaita in Nakuru County, offers a moderate hiking experience with breathtaking views of the Rift Valley. Known for its unique summit and panoramic scenery, the hike combines steep climbs, unmarked trails and a final scramble up rocky terrain. Though rewarding, it is not for the faint-hearted and requires good time management and preparedness.
The hike involves scaling up steep walls at the beginning, then gentler trails that lead to the mountain followed by more scrambling and climbing to reach the top. The trails can be unmarked in places and loose rock are strewn in many places. The climb is tough but the views make up for the effort
The descent is an adventure in itself with winding trails and narrow exits in some places. After the descent from the mountain, the trail passes by hot springs where we can dip our feet to soothe the aches from all the hiking. The trail is 12-13km and and is considered moderate due to the steep climbs and descents. Starting altitude is at 1860m and highest point is around 2260m – meaning an elevation change of 400m
The hike starts right along the highway close to Lake Elementaita and with the expected traffic and road conditions, we estimate it would take 3 to 3.5 hours to get there
The route would follow Nakuru highway up to the starting point
1. Hiking level – Moderate . Total hiking distance is around 12 kilometers.
2. Main attractions – Panoramic views of Lake Elementaita and Sleeping Warrior, steep “wall” climb.
3. Type of hike – Savannah & Mountain Scramble.
4. Atmospheric conditions – Mild to Warm Temperatures
5. Slipping hazard – High in certain areas, especially during the summit scramble and descent.
6. Steepness – Total elevation change is about 406 meters.
7. Hiking path condition – Rocky and loose soil terrain on descent.
8. Water usage – Medium to high. Recommend minimum 3 litres depending on weather.
9. Route visibility – Some parts are clear, but others, especially the ascent to Table Mountain and descent, lack defined trails. The descent route involves navigating a cave-like water outlet and requires passing down bags to squeeze through
10 Biodiversity – Features acacia trees, dryland shrubs, and sweeping valley vistas. Occasional sightings of birds.
- Good hiking boots, walking stick
- Sun hat – to protect against the sun
- Water – at least 2.5 litres
- Snacks and lunch – we recommend you bring snacks and lunch to eat while relaxing at scenic locations along the route