Mount Suswa is one of Kenya’s most extraordinary natural wonders — a wild, unscripted canvas of craters, caves, cliffs, and savannah. It’s a place where the Earth feels alive beneath your feet, where the silence is ancient, and where every trail leads to a moment of awe.
This guide takes you deep into Suswa’s wild heart — not just listing its attractions, but painting the vivid experiences that await you.
🌋 Discover Mount Suswa’s Rare Double Crater
Mount Suswa isn’t just a volcano — it’s a geological masterpiece. At its summit lies a rare double crater: an outer caldera nearly 10 km wide encircling a smaller, inner caldera about 5 km across. Few places on Earth exhibit this nested crater structure so dramatically.
Stand at the rim at sunrise, and you’ll see layers of time peeled back before you — ancient rock cliffs folding into each other, volcanic ridges jagged with history. The inner crater is a ring of forested serenity, with a hidden green circle tucked inside the wider ash-stained bowl. The wind is the only sound here, brushing past your ears as you look out across the endless Rift Valley.
It’s breathtaking. Majestic. Almost alien.
🕳️ Exploring the Lava Caves of Mount Suswa
Beneath the volcano lies a network of lava caves, stretching like a secret underworld through the rock. These caves formed when molten lava flowed beneath the surface, cooling and hardening at the edges while the fiery center drained away — leaving behind tunnels, chambers, and caverns.
Step inside, and you’re swallowed by stillness. Your headlamp flickers across smooth basalt walls, narrow crawlspaces, and vast vaulted chambers. You might hear the flutter of bats or the distant call of a baboon using the cave for shelter.
The most famous is the Baboon Parliament, a giant chamber where troops of baboons gather at dusk, perched on ledges like elders in debate. Other caves bear Maasai markings, symbols of ritual and tradition still alive today. Some tunnels are tight, others cathedral-like — all of them thrilling.
It’s more than a cave system. It’s a memory of Earth in motion.
♨️ Are There Hot Springs in or Near Suswa?
While Mount Suswa itself does not have active hot springs, geothermal activity is part of the landscape — visible in the broader Rift Valley through steam vents and hot spots. Travelers often confuse the Hell’s Gate and Olkaria hot springs near Naivasha with Suswa, but they’re roughly an hour’s drive away.
That said, the volcanic terrain of Suswa is still warm in spirit — caves may retain heat in certain chambers, and some rocky ground emits warmth, especially near collapsed lava tubes.
If hot springs are a must for your itinerary, you can pair a Suswa hike with a visit to Olkaria Spa at Hell’s Gate — a perfect way to soak sore muscles after a rugged adventure.
🥾 Best Hiking Trails on Mount Suswa
Suswa isn’t marked with formal trails — it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of mountain. That said, here are three unforgettable hiking experiences:
- Outer Crater Rim Trail: Hike the wide outer rim for panoramic views of the entire mountain and Rift Valley beyond. Moderate difficulty, ideal for sunrise or sunset.
- Inner Crater Forest Descent: With a guide, descend into the inner crater and walk among the wild forest ring that feels otherworldly — like a hidden world trapped in time.
- Lava Cave Traverse: Some trails wind across the southern and western slopes, connecting a series of lava caves and viewpoints. Watch your step — and bring a guide and torch!
Every trail here feels uncharted. You’ll climb over wind-smoothed lava, wander past thorn trees, and maybe stumble upon a Maasai goat herder watching the horizon from a rock perch.
🦅 Wildlife You Might Spot in Suswa
Suswa’s rugged ecosystem supports a surprising amount of wildlife. It’s not a game park — there are no fences or tracks — but keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll be rewarded.
Here’s what you might encounter:
- Baboons: Dozens, especially near the caves and ridges.
- Hyenas: Mostly nocturnal — listen for their haunting laughter at night.
- Leopards: Rare, elusive, but known to pass through.
- Klipspringers: Tiny antelope that dance up cliff faces.
- Eagles & Vultures: Soaring over the crater thermals.
- Snakes & reptiles: Mostly shy, occasionally spotted basking on rocks.
Birdwatchers will be thrilled by the raptor sightings, and the crater forests hide an array of smaller mammals and birds. Bring binoculars and a patient gaze.
📸 Most Stunning Viewpoints on Mount Suswa
Mount Suswa offers viewpoints that rival anywhere in East Africa — raw, expansive, untamed.
Top Viewpoints to Visit:
- Eastern Outer Rim: The sunrise here is electric — pinks, golds, and shadowed ridges rolling out to the Rift Valley floor.
- Southern Crater Edge: Peer directly into both the inner and outer craters — a double-whammy view that’s simply surreal.
- Lava Tube Openings: In the late afternoon, sunlight streams through collapsed cave roofs, creating shafts of light that photographers dream of.
- Crater Forest Clearings: If you make it into the inner crater, climb a tree or small rise and look around. You’ll feel like the last person on Earth.
🧭 Final Word: Suswa is Wild Kenya at Its Finest
This isn’t a polished park with paved roads and signs. Mount Suswa is still wild, still real — and all the more powerful for it.
It’s a place where adventure meets geology, where you’ll feel the weight of the land’s history and the joy of true discovery. From wind-carved cliffs to whispering caves, Suswa calls to the curious — and rewards those willing to explore.