More Hiking - Mt. Longonot

Our Karura Forest hike turned out to be practice for a bigger adventure the following day. After hearing our neighbors talking about hiking Mt. Longonot we decided we should try it ourselves. About 1.5 hours away, Mt. Longonot is a stratovolcano with a 3.1 km hike to the crater rim to take in the surrounding Rift Valley and forested caldera within the volcano.

I was a bit nervous about the hike up, being relatively out of shape and 5 months pregnant, but we all made it to the top! Livi was in her element, took the lead, and only slowed down when Dada told her he had to help me up at some steep spots. Oscar and I happily brought up the rear and soaked in the view while Oscar and Livi explored the rim a little. There is a 7 km hike around the rim, but my fear of heights was enough to keep me from wanting to go any farther and it gives Big Oscar and Livi an excuse to go back.

pre hiking ninjas getting ready for the dust (aka volcano ash)

local wildlife around the Mt. 

first rest stop on the way up, overlooking the RiftValley

Team Oscar and Mommy at the rim. While Dada and Livi explored along the rim trail a little, we happily took in the view and imagined Pteranodons and T. Rex in the crater below.

Dada and Livi had their own little adventure on the rim trail. Livi's goal for the hike seemed to be to get as dirty as possible. She was in heaven!

And the family together again for a few photo ops and the hike down:

crater side (yes that's Livi making her own volcano out of dirt/ash)

Rift Valley side

Volcano ash bombs. They had a ball finding and throwing these, creating mini dust explosions the whole way down.

heading down back into the Rift Valley

almost done!

Did we enjoy it? You tell me….