Hiking Mount Olesekut in Kenya
Hiking Mount Olesekut in Kenya
Mount Olesekut is located in the South Rift Valley, about 65 km from Nairobi, the Mount Olesekut summit on the Oloroka mountain range offers a moderately easy hiking safari through the Maasai community that takes about 5 to 6 hours to complete, to the dismay of the local Maasai, foreigners erroneously call this place “ol esakut,” a swear word in the Maa language. It’s an easier alternative to the much steeper and higher climb up Oloroka from the Oltepes side.
After completing the hiking safari, it makes for a truly refreshing and fun-filled day hike far from the Nairobi hustle. Olesekut is the most amazing hill bordering Oltepesi on your way to Magadi, the hiking safari is a thrilling day excursion into the Maasai land, the hill is Maasai communal land and must be respected as such.
Route description.
This trail starts at the saddle of Ole Sayeti, where you walk up a gentle uphill slope along a motorable road to the brow of the hill to reveal your intended Kenya safari destination, to the ole sekut a distant off to the east. After starting at the plains near Ole Sayeti, the trail skirts to the left of this little hill, then cuts across another plain to get to the base of Olesekut; it then winds its way up onto the Oloroka ridges that present spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, including the distant Ngong Hills.
From here on, the trail levels off at a high elevation and follows a ridge top with stunning V-shaped gullies off to the sides and breathtaking sheer cliff drops. At the head of one of these side valleys is Kitalo Cave, a refuge for the Maasai Morans during their period of living in the wilderness following their circumcision.
Save for the few herds of the Maasai livestock you encounter grazing on the lower hill slopes, Olesekut is delightfully isolated from civilization, and from its summit, you get magnificent views of both Ngong Hills and Mount Olorgesailie. It makes for a truly refreshing day hiking safari from Nairobi.
Other activities to be done by the tourists at Mount Olesekut, minus the hiking safari, include trekking or nature walks, fun adventures, networking, and fun and games.
Charges at Mount Ole Sekut in Kenya.
Kenyan, Ksh 2650
Expatriate, Ksh 3200
Non-Resident, Ksh 3800
Requirements necessary for hiking Mount Olesekut.
A hiker who is prepared to hike Mount Olesekut should have the following requirements: tracksuits, T-shirts, a sweater in case of change of weather, comfortable shoes, the spirit of hiking and a face mask, among others.
How to get to Olesekut.
Olesekut can be accessed by road transport from Nairobi.
Here you take Langata Road until Bomas of Kenya, turn right onto Magadi Road, and drive past Ongata Rongai, Kiserian and Corner Baridi till Kisamis, then branch off to the right onto the Ngong circular road and drive past the bridge until you get to J.M. Kariuki’s memorial marker at the site where his body was found back in 1975, following his assassination during Jomo Kenyatta’s regime.
Turn left and drive towards ole Sayeti until you find a Manyatta where you will park your vehicle, then after reaching the Olesekut, the locals charge you a small fee to look after your car.
After you arrive, it is highly recommended to hire a local guide to assist you in hiking this hill, as it is located on Maasai community land; the guides listed below are familiar with the local trails and can also provide information about the flora and history.
