Eburru Forest: a trekker’s paradise. Stashed away in the outskirts of Naivasha, the sudden transition from the scorching Naivasha sun to the serene ambiance of the Eburru forest hike takes you aback at first. The hike starts at the Eburru gate, taking you through 11km of pure enchantment.

The magic follows you throughout the trek — up and down, up and down through the thick forest vegetation. It’s in the hundreds-year-old trees, the singing of the birds, the Ogiek beehives, the smell of blossoming flowers, and yes, the stinging nettles — especially the stinging nettles!

A precious mountain forest ecosystem, the natural features of Eburru forest, include its diverse forest types, steep valleys, springs, and waterfalls and make it a precious ecosystem, rich in biodiversity.

The trek through the forest walks you among hundreds of majestic indigenous trees, a hotspot for birdlife, and home to over 40 species of mammals. Eburru forest is also home to the critically endangered mountain bongo, whose 10% of its population (about 12 animals) known to exist in the wild is thought to survive in this forest.

The Oldoinyo Eburru mountain, on which the forest exists, is a complex volcano, featuring many craters and two distinct summits, the higher one rising to 2,856m above sea level.

The trek from the Eburru gate to the Western Summit trail start point is a rewarding easy-to-moderate 5km hike. The rest of the trek to the Western summit is a moderate-to-hard hike that provides a thrilling hiking experience, cutting through thick forest vegetation into the bamboo zone and eventually to the elusive summit.

Eburru Forest Hike Distance And Stats

Distance: 22km

Maximum Elevation: 2,856m

Maximum Elevation Gain: 836m

Duration: 6-8 hours

Difficulty: Moderate to hard

Beginner-friendly: Yes

Child-friendly: Yes, 7 years and above