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I’ve always hard a soft spot for Nanyuki town, also known as the gateway to Mt. Kenya. It’s one of those towns that you can just decide to drive to without any plans and you know it’s gonna be lit!!!
Founded in 1907 by British settlers as a small market town, Nanyuki town soon grew commercially and economically. By 1930, Nanyuki’s potential justified the construction of a railway line linking the town to Nairobi. Presently a base for the Kenya Air Force and a training area for the British Army, Nanyuki continues to be an administrative and supply centre for farms, ranches, game parks and conservancies in the region. Nanyuki lies along the Equator, in the centre of the nation, and at an elevation of 1,947m above sea-level, is the 14th highest town in Africa.
The town and its surrounding area connect Mount Kenya in the South East to the edge of the Great Rift Valley in the West, known as ‘Kenya’s high country’.
So here goes my to do list, if you’re ever enroute to the high country:
Sweetwaters Game Reserve
Sweetwaters Game Reserve is 24,000-acre private ranch with magnificent views across the plains to the snow capped peaks of Mount Kenya. This game sanctuary is the closest reserve to Nairobi (2.5 hours drive) home to all the big five game, and has the highest ratio of game-to-area of any park or reserve in Kenya. Its popular waterhole is floodlit by night, providing excellent and secluded rarely seen game viewing.
Mt. Kenya Animal Orphanage
The animal orphanage at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is a unique facility to give orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or frightened wild animals a second chance. The orphanage provides shelter and professional care with the goal to release these creatures back into the wild where they belong.
Mt. Kenya National Park
The World Heritage Committee inscribed Mount Kenya National Park on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Being the second tallest mountain in Africa, the scenery surrounding this designated world heritage site is breathtaking.
You can enjoy mountain climbing, camping and cave exploration, as you marvel at the sight of the mountain’s rugged glacier-clad peaks and equatorial snow. While the 5199 meter summit is a difficult technical climb, the lesser peak of Point Lenana (4985m) can be easily reached by any fit trekker which takes 3 to 5 days. Scenery here is just pure bliss.
Ragati Conservancy
Ragati Conservancy lies on the Southern slopes of Mt. Kenya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and consists entirely of afro-montane forest and afro-alpine heath.
It’s ecosystem includes the Ragati river and its tributaries, and is home to an abundance of wildlife; elephant, buffalo, leopard as well as the rare mountain bongo, crowned eagle and African clawless otter, and some amazing birdlife.
The river is an ideal habitat for rainbow trout, providing a fantastic opportunity to fish in crystal clear mountain tributaries running through pristine forest. So come and enjoy one of the best fishing and walking experiences that Kenya, and indeed East Africa, has to offer.
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