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    Ngong Hills
    Rotsee2 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Kenya

    Ngong Hills

    Point of Interest

    The Ngong Hills are a green ridge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, about a 40-minute drive southwest of Nairobi. From the ridge, you look east over Nairobi National Park and the city, and west down into the Rift Valley.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Nairobi & Surroundings
    9. Ngong Hills
    The Ngong Hills are a green ridge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, about a 40-minute drive southwest of Nairobi. From the ridge, you look east over Nairobi National Park and the city, and west down into the Rift Valley.A hiking trail leads over the peaks up to around 2,460 meters. Many know the silhouette of the hills from the film "Out of Africa"; today, wind turbines of Kenya's first wind farm turn on the ridge.

    Sights in Ngong Hills

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ngong Hills Forest Reserve
    Park

    1Ngong Hills Forest Reserve

    The Ngong Hills forest reserve of the Kenya Forest Service covers the ridge. At the entrance above Ngong Town, you pay the fee and can book guides and security for an additional charge; open daily from 8 AM to 5:30 PM.
    Open in Google Maps
    Kona Baridi
    Point of Interest

    2Kona Baridi

    Southern access to the ridge, where many begin their ridge walk. From here it's a good five kilometers to the highest point; if you go as far as the windmills, you'll be walking for up to six hours.
    Open in Google Maps
    Grave of Denys Finch Hatton
    Point of Interest

    3Grave of Denys Finch Hatton

    On the eastern slope of the hills lies the solitary grave of Denys Finch Hatton, marked by an obelisk with a small garden.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Ngong Hills

    1

    Compass Restaurant

    Restaurant with upscale cuisine right in the Ngong Hills, decorated in a rustic style with touches of Maasai culture. A good address for a meal after hiking over the hill ridges.
    Show on Google Maps

    Name and History

    The Rhinoceros SpringThe name derives from the Maasai phrase “enkong'u emuny,” meaning “rhinoceros spring,” after a spring near Ngong Town. The hills are part of the water catchment area that also includes Nairobi National Park.Out of AfricaBehind Karen Blixen's farmhouse rise the Ngong Hills; their peaks are clearly visible in the film. On the eastern slope lies the grave of Denys Finch Hatton, with an obelisk and garden.Wind PowerThe Ngong Hills Wind Farm was completed in 2015 and is considered the country's first wind farm.

    Hiking & Essentials

    Getting ThereFrom Nairobi, it's about a 40-minute drive to Ngong Town, then continue to the Forest Reserve entrance. Ride-hailing services often don't pick you up at the top gate; for the return trip, Boda-Bodas or Tuk-Tuks will take you down to the town.The Ridge HikeThe classic route starts at the Kona Baridi entrance; it's a good five kilometers to the summit, and the entire round trip measures about 21 kilometers and takes up to six hours.The Forest Reserve is open daily from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. The fee is collected by the Kenya Forest Service, usually paid via M-Pesa; current reports suggest around 600 Kenyan Shillings for foreigners, please verify the amount on site.The Kenya Forest Service offers guides and escorts for an additional fee; it's advisable to travel in a group.SafetyCurrent safety information can be found in the travel and security advisories of the UK FCDO, linked on the Kenya country page.

    Accommodations in Ngong Hills

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    Nearby

    Karen

    Karen

    Karen is a green, sprawling suburb in the southwest of Nairobi, at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Here, in close proximity, are three Nairobi-day classics: the Karen Blixen Farmhouse, the Giraffe Centre, and the Kazuri Bead Workshop.Large plots, many trees, and sparse development characterize the district, complemented by garden restaurants and shopping centers like The Hub.
    Nairobi

    Nairobi

    Kenya's capital lies in the highlands and is the start and end point for almost every safari. Nairobi is a loud, rapidly growing metropolis with skyscrapers in the centre, green villa districts, and a national park directly on the southern city limits.Besides the National Museum on Museum Hill and the KICC's observation deck, Karura Forest and the cultural performances at Bomas of Kenya are worth visiting. In the evenings, life shifts to the bars and clubs of Westlands.
    Nairobi & Surroundings

    Nairobi & Surroundings

    Nairobi and its surroundings are the starting point for most Kenya trips: a metropolis in the highlands, on whose southern edge lies a national park home to black rhinos, wildebeest, and zebras. To the west, the green suburb of Karen and the Ngong Hills adjoin, sloping down to the Great Rift Valley.A day or two here is worthwhile before or after your safari: for the National Museum, the elephant orphans of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, and a hike along the ridge of the Ngong Hills.
    Nairobi National Park

    Nairobi National Park

    The Nairobi National Park begins just about seven kilometers south of the city center: savanna with black rhinos, wildebeest, and zebras against the capital's skyline. Opened in 1946, it is Kenya's oldest national park.At just over 117 square kilometers, it is small, but is considered one of the country's most successful rhino sanctuaries. A half or full day is enough for a game drive, ideal before an evening flight or after arrival.
    Mount Longonot National Park

    Mount Longonot National Park

    Mount Longonot is a 2,776 m high volcano southeast of Lake Naivasha, approximately 60 km northwest of Nairobi, and a classic day trip destination for hikers from Nairobi. From the park entrance, you ascend to the crater rim in about one to one and a half hours, looking into the crater and over the Rift Valley, which the volcano towers over by approximately 1,000 m.Those who circumnavigate the entire crater rim will be on the move for a total of about five to six hours from the gate.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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