Chyulu Hills Hike & Caves
Day Tour
Chyulu hills borders Amboseli plains and Tsavo plains rising to an altitude of 2188 m. This 150km long mountain range is situated 200km southeast of Nairobi and some of the wildlife found there includes the big five. The hills consist of several hundred small flows and cones. These volcanoes are still considered active, since their last two eruptions (Sheitani and Chainu) occurred in 1856. This is a truly magical area of ragged craters, rolling grassland, exotic aromatic plants and cedar forests. It is an area of stunning landscape, verdant rolling hills of endless green, great blue skies with views of the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance.
An interesting feature of the Chyulu Hills is that it has no surface rivers, yet it is the water catchment area for the surrounding plains. Its porous surface acts like a sponge, with all rainwater percolating into underground reservoirs, only to emerge about 50km due south at Mzima Springs in Tsavo West. It is estimated that the water takes 25 years to flow underground from the Chyulu Hills to Mzima Springs. You also get to explore some of the deepest known lava caves.
- Distance from Nairobi: About 200 km.
- Starting/Ending Point: Chyulu Hills Park. Headquarters of Satellite.
- Terrain: Rocky terrain in lower section, loose gravel in upper section.
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
- Round trip transport from Nairobi.
- All the park fees.
- Complimentary water.
- Kenya Wildlife Service Armed Escort Guide.
- Tips.
- Personal items/expenses.
- Medical expenses/insurance.
- ID / Passport
- Warm clothes and jacket.
- Comfortable hiking boots/shoes with a good grip.
- Wooden walking stick (optional), sunglasses, sun hat.
- Lunch (please bring packed lunch) and healthy snacks.
- Extra drinking water.
- Camera with spare film and batteries.
- A fun spirit.
