Hiking Mount Suswa in 2025: The Ultimate Trail Guide

Mount Suswa isn’t your average volcano. It’s a rugged, double-crater marvel full of hidden forests, lava caves, rocky cliffs, and open plains — all crisscrossed by trails carved by wildlife, herders, and explorers over centuries. Unlike commercial parks in Kenya, there are no gates, signs, or boardwalks here. Just raw earth, winding tracks, and an overwhelming sense of wild freedom.

🗺️ Top Hiking Trails on Mount Suswa

If you’re short on time or just looking for the best of the best, these trails offer maximum reward for your effort:

1. The Outer Crater Rim Trail

Distance: ~10 km full loop
Duration: 3–5 hours
Highlights: 360° views, geothermal vents, wildlife sightings
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Loop

This trail circles the outer caldera, offering some of the best panoramic views in the Rift Valley. On a clear day, you can spot Mount Longonot, the Aberdares, and even Lake Naivasha. Expect exposed sections, a few scrambles, and long grassy stretches ideal for breaks and photos.

2. The Inner Crater Descent & Forest Trail

Distance: ~6–8 km (in and out)
Duration: 2–4 hours
Highlights: Forest ecosystem, volcanic plug views, birdwatching
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Out and back
Route: A shorter trek leading to the summit at 2,356 meters above sea level.
Duration: The round trip to the summit and back typically takes about 4 hours.
Terrain: The ascent is gradual, making it accessible to hikers with moderate fitness levels.

The inner crater is an ecological surprise — cooler, greener, and filled with trees, hyraxes, and birds. The descent path is steep in parts, but the terrain at the base is gentle. This trail feels like entering a secret world inside a volcano.

3. The Lava Cave Trail (Baboon Parliament)

Distance: ~1–2 km loop
Duration: 1–1.5 hours (with cave exploration)
Highlights: Lava tubes, skylights, bats, baboon roosting areas
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trail Type: Loop with optional cave detours

This short loop takes you to the legendary Baboon Parliament, where olive baboons sleep in vast underground chambers. Bring a headlamp, watch your step, and go with a guide to navigate safely. This is Suswa’s most iconic cultural-wildlife experience.

🧭 Your Complete Guide to Trekking Mount Suswa

Essentials:

Guide required? Yes, highly recommended for orientation and safety
Best time to hike: Dry seasons (Jan–March, July–Oct)
What to carry:
- Water (3L+ per person)
- Packed snacks/lunch
- Hat, sunscreen, layers (can get chilly)
- Hiking boots with grip
- First aid, headlamp (for cave trails)
Entry Fee to Mt Suswa: 500 KES for citizens, $30 for non-residents. Read more on Mt. Suswa entrance fees here.
Camping Option: Yes, at the crater rim or caves

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Local guides can also help arrange transport, camping, and meals. Ask to combine hiking with cave visits or cultural tours.

Image of a hiker at the summit of Mt Suswa. Read his blog

🌳 Hiking Inside Mount Suswa’s Inner Crater

The inner crater is perhaps Suswa’s best-kept secret — a cool, shaded, green bowl surrounded by steep caldera walls. It feels worlds apart from the sun-scorched upper slopes.

What to Expect:

A silent, lush world with wild olives, acacias, and dense underbrush
Perfect for nature lovers, birders, and those seeking a peaceful trek
The view looking back up at the crater rim and central plug is unforgettable

It’s not an easy hike down — or up — but it’s absolutely worth it.

🏞️ Hiking the Crater Rim of Mount Suswa

This is the classic Suswa hike. The rim walk follows the volcanic edges with stunning drops into both the outer and inner craters.

Key Points:

You can do partial segments if you’re short on time or energy
There are natural lookouts, photogenic rock formations, and steam vents
Keep your eyes open for klipspringers, raptors, and hyena tracks

Most hikers begin near the Baboon Parliament or main cave camp, moving clockwise along the rim. Sunset here is simply magical.

🚶 Walking Trails Around Mount Suswa

Not all trails have to be demanding. Suswa offers plenty of gentle walking routes perfect for kids, beginners, or those just seeking fresh air and open space.

Easy Trails:

Camp to cave: 30–45 min walk, mostly flat
Steam vent stroll: Undulating terrain, amazing morning light
Village path walk: Short loop past local homesteads and viewpoints

These walks are great for sunrise, photography, or stretching your legs after a long drive.

🌄 What It’s Like to Hike Mount Suswa

Imagine starting your day with a 360° view over the Rift Valley — steam vents hissing nearby, distant peaks on the horizon, and nothing but silence. You hike through golden grass, past curious baboons and grazing goats. You duck into a lava tube, emerge blinking into daylight, then climb a ridge to look down into a crater within a crater.

The Suswa Experience Is:

Remote but reachable — only 2 hours from Nairobi
Wild but safe — no big predators, few other hikers
Culturally rich — guided by Maasai elders, staying at manyattas
Unscripted — trails shift, weather changes, discoveries happen

Every step at Suswa feels like an unfiltered connection to the Earth, as if you’re hiking through the bones of an ancient world still pulsing with heat.

✅ Final Tips for a Great Suswa Hike

Always check weather conditions before visiting — rain makes roads and trails tricky
Go with a licensed local guide who knows the landscape, caves, and culture
Pack out everything you bring in — there are no bins or shops
Start early to beat the heat and catch sunrise light
Combine your hike with a camping night, Maasai experience, or visit to nearby Longonot or Lake Naivasha

You can go on a hike with outdoorer.co here or reach out to Kambu Campers for a custom camping safari in Mt Suswa which can include visit to Masai Mara or nearby Mt. Longonot or Hell’s Gate.

Additional helpful resources:

Read about camping in Mt Suswa.