Zaina Falls Hike

The hike starts about 14km from Nyeri town, at the foot of Aberdares forest. We’ll start with a gentle descent towards the river and then a steep climb up the first hill where we can get fantastic views of the surrounding forest. After descending the hill, we then make a slow upstream trek to visit Zaina Waterfalls which drops down more than 60m

The total hike is about 6 km long and though it is short, the steep hill climb can be taxing. We expect to take about 4 hours for the full hike

We expect to take about 4 hours to get there based on road conditions

Nairobi – Thika – Sagana – Nyeri – Zaina Falls

1. Hiking level – between beginner and moderate with one hill climb of 150m. Total hiking distance is 6 km. Factors contributing to moderate hiking experience include the steep climbs

2. Main attractions – forest trek, one large waterfall, river crossing, hill climb, views

3. Type of hike – hill/river trek

4. Atmospheric conditions – due to the mid – high altitude and wet area, the weather tends to be cool and wet.

5. Slipping hazard – minimal near the river and hill sections.

6. Steepness – the hill climb and the walk to the waterfall both involve ascents of 150m each. Highest altitude is 2190m at the hill while lowest is 2007m at the lowest point of the river

7. Hiking path condition – hill climb has some tight sections while the river trek is more open

8. Water usage – medium – recommend a minimum of 1.5 litre depending on weather

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

10. Biodiversity – numerous species of insects, birds and trees

The hike starts at the forest station and after settling entry fees and having a brief with the guides, we can start

• Good hiking boots
• Sun hat – to protect against the sun
• Water – at least 1.5 litres
• Snacks and lunch – since we expect to finish latest by 8pm, we recommend you bring snacks and lunch to eat while relaxing at scenic locations along the route