Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip

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Nairobi Day Tour Hiking - Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip

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Mount Suswa is one of the most spectacular mountains of the Rift Valley as it comprises a 12 km double crater system, a vast network of obsidian caves, and a variety of wild animals and plants.

Only 90 km from Nairobi, it is described by many as the best day trip from Kenya’s capital, this little-known yet massive double-cratered volcano is located very close to its well-known sister, Mt. Longonot.

Mount Suswa is a double crater volcano with a shield-shaped cone covering an area of about 270 km2. It is a magnificent extinct volcano in the Rift Valley. Perhaps the best-known attractions on Mt Suswa are the lava caves on the outer crater. The Suswa caves are home to large populations of bats.

The bats are said to travel as far as 30 Kilometers in search of food at night and then retreat to the caves in the morning. As you walk and crawl through the caves, you can view the colonies of bats hanging from the roof, asleep and dead to the world, until the evening when they stream out.

The caves are easy to access, none are too long or complex and no special gear or knowledge is required to explore these systems. Another interesting feature in the caves is a rock painting in one of the chambers, attributed to the local Maasai morans, who apparently sleep there during one of their initiation rituals.

Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Itinerary

0700 Hours: We depart Nairobi after breakfast and drive on the lower escarpment Naivasha Road making a brief stopover at the Mai Mahiu Great Rift Valley viewpoint. Proceed past Mai Mahiu on the Narok road past the earth satellite station to Suswa Conservancy. The drive is about 120 km to reach the entrance and takes 2 to 3 hours to drive from Nairobi to the inner crater hiking starting point.

1000 Hours: You will start hiking, from the Road and head to the crater viewpoint with sightseeing and bird watching along the way. The road is dusty and rocky. Suswa has a variety of micro-ecosystems that play host to countless animals.

In addition to the baboons, the Martienssen’s Mastiff Bat, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, civet cats, barn owls, wild dogs, and rock hyraxes regularly visit the caves. Indeed, the leopards have a feeding corner within one of the caves. Giraffe, zebra, klipspringer, and Thompson’s gazelle graze the volcano slopes.

Occasionally, elephant pass along the migratory route from Amboseli to the Maasai Mara. Hyenas and the genet cat are common at night. Birds often sighted at Mount Suswa include the Rufus Naped Lark, Augur Buzzard, Superb and Hildebrandt’s Starlings, and the Variable Sunbird.

The caves have distinct insect species, and rare bat colonies, and the mountain is inhabited by carnivores such as leopards. Occasionally elephants pass along the migratory route from Amboseli to the Mara. It has distinct insect species, rare bat colonies, and is inhabited by carnivores such as leopards.

1300 Hours:  We take our picnic lunch at one of the caves en route to the summit/ Mt Suswa camp, relax at the peak as we photograph, and start descending as we enjoy game-watching. This hike takes approximately 4 hours (10 km round trip) to the summit and back.

1600 Hours: Depart for Nairobi.

1830 Hours: Arrive at Nairobi and transfer you to your residence.

Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Prices

Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Rates Includes:

Packed Lunch + Mineral water during tour + Professional English-speaking guides + All Conservancy fees, guide fees, service charges, and taxes + Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to your hotel & Hiking Mt Suswa and an optional tour to the Caves (takes about 2 hours)

Dates From Dates To Price Per Person Children Aged 6 to 12 Years
 1st January 2024 31st December 2024 Request for rates Request for rates

Notes:

Walking around the rim of the crater: For those going right around the inner crater, the trail is 22 km long and takes about 7 hours or longer depending on your pace, with an elevation gain of 1380 meters. Along the way, you encounter rock hyraxes and small antelopes grazing peacefully on the slopes
* A bottle of water Wear comfortable shoes & light clothes. Carry a picnic lunch, binoculars, extra drinking water & snacks. If you can, bring a spotlight and helmet for caving


Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Information

Suswa Crater

Mt Suswa is a double crater volcano with a shield-shaped cone covering an area of about 270km2. Its inner volcano soars to an altitude of 2356m above sea level at its summit. The inner crater, about 5km across, is covered by a forest that is also home to leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, antelopes, and other wildlife.

By a twist of nature, this inner collapse formed a moat-like trench surrounding a central island in the crater, creating a breath-taking view that has to be seen to be believed. The outer crater, estimated at about 10km in diameter, is currently dotted with Maasai homesteads.

The Maasai graze their livestock on the outer crater and the slopes of the inner volcano and harvest water for their domestic use from the numerous springs spouting steam and hot water in this area.

Suswa Caves

Perhaps the best-known attractions on Mt Suswa are the lava caves on the outer crater. There are over 30 entrances, most of which are collapsed roofs into these caves. Fig trees and other types of vegetation mark the location of some of these openings, but it would be best to get a local guide to show you around the caves.

A torch or headlamp is also vital when exploring these caves. The Suswa caves are home to large populations of bats that are said to travel as far as 30km in search of food at night and then retreat to the caves in the morning.

As you walk and crawl through the caves, you can view the colonies of bats hanging from the roof, asleep and dead to the world, until the evening when they stream out. One interesting location in the caves is the Baboons’ parliament where a large troop of Baboons takes shelter at night from their predators.

The Baboon troops’ arrival in the evening coincides with the departure of the local bat colonies, creating two-way traffic. It is said that if you peer down the opening in the roof early in the morning, you will find the troop’s leader perched on a pile of rocks at the centre of the chamber, seemingly addressing the rest of the troop perched on ledges high up the walls of the cave.

Another interesting feature in the caves is a rock painting in one of the chambers, attributed to the local Maasai morons, who apparently sleep there during one of their initiation rituals.

Hiking

Most hikers on Mt Suswa park their vehicles at a road head on the edge of the inner crater and hit the trail going up a gradual slope towards the summit on the edge of the crater. It takes about 1hr to get to the first summit, and another 1 hour to get to the higher second summit.

The 10 km return trip to the summit, therefore, takes about 4 hours.

Booking & Reservations Nairobi Day Tour Hiking Mount Suswa Crater Caves Trip Contact

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com

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