Discover Nyahururu

Nyahururu: Waterfall and running history

Just outside Nyahururu are Thompson Falls on the Ewaso Narok. The waterfall plunges 72 metres and feeds the dense forest below.

A 2024 report described recreational businesses on the edge of Thompson Falls and reported that tourists and residents were visiting the landscape at the time. A report dated 28 May 2024 mentioned a carousel, horses and a swing at one operator in the recreation area. If you are planning specifically to visit these attractions, ask about current availability in advance.

Road races are another specific connection to the town: hundreds of local and international athletes took part in a 10 km road race in Nyahururu, sponsored by the Co-operative Bank of Kenya. Monica Wangari and Abel Maina won Nyahururu’s first 10 km race. A contemporaneous report dated 6 April 2007 announced that the race would be held annually.

The altitude training stadium offers another sporting perspective. A large group of Japan-based athletes were home for the year-end holidays and used the stadium to train for the new season. The reports thus cover both road competitions and training at the stadium.

Nature and wildlife experiences in the wider destination of Laikipia District

In the wider destination of Laikipia District, Borana Conservancy lies on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya on the Laikipia Plateau, north of the equator. The landscape there ranges from a dry area in the north to ancient indigenous forests in the south. Borana is a wildlife conservancy and habitat for black and white rhinos, as well as other endangered species.

At Borana Conservancy, visitors can mountain bike on wildlife trails and paths. At the Mazingira Centre, they can learn about conservation measures such as water storage, solar energy and tree nurseries. These offer different ways to engage with the landscape: getting active on the trails or learning about practical conservation measures.

Loisaba is also part of the region’s natural landscape: the conservancy provides a habitat for more than 260 bird species and 50 mammal species. These include lions, African wild dogs, reticulated giraffes and endangered Grevy’s zebras. Species numbers may change as monitoring continues.

Game drives at Ol Pejeta Conservancy vary by time of day and focus. Full-day drives offer opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural habitat; on night game drives, visitors explore the conservancy after dark and may encounter nocturnal animals. On lion-tracking tours, visitors search for radio-collared lions with an experienced tracker. Guided bush and bird walks with rangers provide information about routes, good places to spot wildlife and different species.

Other experiences at Ol Pejeta Conservancy focus on individual animals and conservation work. Visitors can observe chimpanzees up close behind the scenes and learn more about their daily care. An interactive tracking experience with the K9 unit and bloodhounds adds to the offerings. During an educational experience about rhino monitoring and identification, visitors learn that rangers know the animals individually by name and know their respective ranges. Check current availability for these experiences with the operator in advance.

Booking an experience with the Northern White Rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy supports efforts to preserve the species. Wildlife and conservation statuses may change. The conservancy also offers daily one-on-one talks with experts on conservation, community development, conservation technology and other topics; these can be booked three days in advance. Confirm availability and booking conditions ahead of time.

Getting to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Road access to Ol Pejeta Conservancy via Nanyuki is available. Alternatively, scheduled flights to Nanyuki Airfield are available, followed by a transfer to the conservancy; check current flight availability, as transport options may change. Ol Pejeta lies in the plains of Laikipia County, about 220 kilometres and four hours from Nairobi. Distance and journey time may vary depending on the route and conditions.

Explore more destinations: Ndaragwa, Ol Joro Orok.

Go to the wider travel overview: Nyandarua.