Mount Suswa offers one of Kenya’s last truly wild and untamed landscapes — a double crater shield volcano with lava caves, steam vents, and wildlife that thrives outside national park fences. But its beauty is fragile. As more travelers discover this hidden gem, it’s more important than ever to travel consciously and respectfully, leaving behind only footprints and good will.
🧭 How to Travel to Suswa Responsibly
Mount Suswa is not a developed park — it’s a community-managed conservancy with minimal infrastructure. This makes your travel choices even more impactful.
Tips for Low-Impact Travel:
- 🚗 Use a fuel-efficient or shared 4×4 to reduce emissions and road erosion
- 🗺️ Stick to established trails and tracks to avoid damaging vegetation and compacting soils
- 🔌 Unplug and go off-grid — avoid generators, limit device use, and enjoy natural light
- 🧼 Pack biodegradable soap and wipes for minimal water pollution
- 🛍️ Buy supplies locally in Suswa or Maai Mahiu to reduce packaging waste and support local businesses
🛑 Avoid single-use plastics, and always ask your guide or camp what local environmental practices they follow.
🏕️ Leave No Trace: Eco Ethics for Visiting Suswa
The wildness of Suswa is what makes it magical — but also vulnerable. Follow these Leave No Trace principles to ensure it stays wild for generations to come:
1. Pack It In, Pack It Out
Everything you bring — from snack wrappers to tissue paper — must leave with you. There are no trash bins on the mountain.
2. Respect Wildlife
Watch from a distance. Don’t feed, chase, or disturb animals. Suswa’s baboons, hyenas, and bats are wild, not tame.
3. Use Established Campsites
Don’t create new fire rings or trample vegetation to pitch a tent. Use the main cave campsite or crater-view sites.
4. Minimize Campfire Impact
Buy firewood from locals. Keep fires small. Never cut or collect wood from the bush.
5. Leave Natural Things Where They Are
Rocks, bones, plants — even ash and charcoal — should remain part of the landscape.
📸 Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but gratitude.
⛺ Best Sustainable Campsites in Suswa
While Suswa is mostly wild camping, a few areas have been gently prepared to accommodate visitors in a way that supports low-impact stays.
Top Eco-Friendly Spots:
- Baboon Parliament Cave Camp
- Sheltered site near lava caves
- Offers long-drop toilets and existing fire rings
- Great for families and first-timers
- Crater Rim Wild Camp
- Basic setup with epic sunrise views
- Very remote — pack in all gear and water
- Zero impact if Leave No Trace rules are followed
- Manyatta Homestay (Maasai Camp)
- Stay with a Maasai family in a traditional homestead
- Meals included, no need for camp setup
- Direct cultural exchange and community support
🎒 Ask your guide to recommend the least-disturbed site based on your group size and goals.
🤝 How to Support Local Communities While in Suswa
Mount Suswa is owned and protected by local Maasai families — not a government agency or private company. Your visit helps fund education, conservation, and livelihoods. But only if done right.
Ways to Give Back:
- 💰 Pay all conservancy and guide fees directly to local reps
- 🛍️ Buy beads, crafts, or food from local women’s groups or at Suswa market
- 🐄 Join a cultural experience or homestay — milking cows, bead-making, storytelling
- 💬 Ask your guide questions about life, herding, and local culture
- 📷 Tip for photos of people or homes, and always ask permission
💡 Avoid giving cash or sweets to kids — it encourages dependency. Support their families or community leaders directly.
🌍 Eco Tourism Projects in Suswa You Should Know About
Despite its remote feel, Suswa is becoming a model for grassroots conservation and sustainable development.
Current Initiatives:
- Suswa Conservancy Trust: Oversees land use, manages visitor funds, and runs educational outreach
- Maasai Women’s Tourism Group: Trains women in hospitality and earns income from beaded crafts and food
- Steam Vent Water Harvesting: Locals use geothermal condensation to gather water from steam vents — a brilliant low-tech solution
- Wildlife Monitoring: Informal tracking of hyenas, baboons, and birds to preserve ecological balance
- Zero-Fence Policy: Encourages coexistence between wildlife and livestock, rather than enclosure
🧑🎓 Ask your guide if there’s a community talk or site you can visit to learn more about local sustainability efforts.
🌱 Volunteer in Suswa: Nature & Community Projects
Looking to give back while exploring? Volunteering in Suswa is a powerful way to support conservation and culture.
Opportunities Include:
- 🏫 Teaching at local schools: English, conservation, or STEM subjects
- 🌾 Environmental education: Help lead nature walks or Leave No Trace workshops
- 🧵 Women’s group support: Share skills like digital marketing, photography, or accounting
- 🛠️ Camp infrastructure help: Assist with trail signage, waste bins, or water systems
- 📷 Content creation for the conservancy: Photography, social media, brochures
📧 Ask your host camp, guide, or the Suswa Conservancy team for short-term opportunities. Many programs are informal and flexible.
✅ Final Word: Protect What You Came to See
Sustainable travel in Suswa isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing better. Every time you camp clean, hike respectfully, or buy a bead from a local artisan, you’re saying:
This place matters. This culture matters. And I want it to thrive.
So pack smart. Walk lightly. Tip generously. And leave Suswa better than you found it — so that the next traveler sees it just as wild, raw, and unforgettable as you did.