Nanyuki

Equator-straddling Kenyan market town beneath Mount Kenya, used as a base for Sirimon treks.

Nanyuki sits at about 1,900 metres on the northwestern slopes of Mount Kenya, straddling the equator — there is a sign on the main road marking the exact line. It is a market town of some size, with a distinctly military character thanks to the large British Army training base nearby, and it serves as the main gateway for the Sirimon and Burguret trekking routes onto the mountain.

The town itself is not a destination; it is a base. Climbers and hikers pass through to sort permits, buy supplies, and sleep before an early start. But the setting is extraordinary: when the cloud lifts you have direct views of the mountain's jagged peaks, and the surrounding landscape of highland forest and savannah supports wildlife including elephant, buffalo, and black rhino at the nearby Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Guide

Getting Around

Nanyuki is compact enough to walk. Matatus (shared minibuses) connect the town centre with outlying areas. Taxis are available for hire if you need to reach trailheads or the Ol Pejeta gate, where distances make walking impractical.

Buses and matatus connect Nanyuki with Nairobi (roughly 3 hours) and with other towns in the Central Highlands.

Guide

Getting There

Nanyuki is 195km north of Nairobi on the A2 highway, a drive of roughly three hours depending on traffic leaving the capital. Matatus and buses run frequently from Nairobi's Muthurwa Market and from Thika; journey times are two and a half to three hours. The road through Nyeri to Nanyuki passes through the foothills of Mount Kenya.

By air: Nanyuki Airstrip (NUU) has daily light aircraft connections from Nairobi Wilson Airport with Safarilink and Airkenya — the 40-minute flight is significantly quicker than driving and used by most lodge guests headed for Laikipia conservancies.

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Things to Do

The main draw is everything outside town: Mount Kenya's trekking routes, the vast conservancies of the Laikipia Plateau, and the equator crossing that every visitor seems compelled to photograph. In the morning light, when cloud hasn't yet climbed the slopes, the mountain fills the eastern sky.

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When to Go

The long dry season (June–October) is the best time for wildlife in the conservancies — grass is short, animals concentrate around water, and the roads are passable. Mount Kenya trekking is best in the dry seasons: January–February and July–September, when skies are clearest at altitude.

The long rains (April–May) make the Laikipia roads difficult and can close some conservancy tracks entirely; the short rains (November) are lighter and less disruptive. December and January can be surprisingly dry and uncrowded.

Avoid the mountain in March–May and October–November when cloud and rain reduce visibility and make summit attempts miserable. Year-round, mornings at altitude are cold regardless of the season below.