Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
Prominently lying above the Athi plains, Oldonyo Sabuk is referred by the local Kamba community as ‘The mountain of the buffalo’ and to the Maasai community as ‘The big mountain’. The Park can be indistinctly viewed from Nairobi and it particularly attracts day trippers, hikers or groups of friends and families yearning for some bit of adventure out of their normal routine and confinement.
The National Park was once an expansive farm and home to William Macmillan, a game hunter from America, who visited and decided to settle in Kenya in 1901. On different occasions, he hosted explorer and former American President Theodore Roosevelt and British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The renowned world leaders were on game hunting trips to Kenya.
Another interesting fact is that the late Tom Mboya, a popular politician in the President Jomo Kenyatta era was born at Ol Donyo Sabuk where his father worked as a casual laborer at Macmillan’s sisal farm.
The vegetation here is essentially comprised of the giant plants commonly associated with the Afro-alpine zone of Mt. Kenya and Mt. Elgon called giant lobelia.
By Road: 85 km north-east of Nairobi. From Thika town proceed 22 km along the main Garissa road to Makutano junction. At Makutano follow the KWS sign and turn right, proceeding 3 km on an all-weather murram road to Donyo town. At Donyo turn right and proceed a further 2 km to the main gate.
When to go
All year round,Daily 6.00 am - 7.00 pm including public holidays. No entry is allowed on foot and visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm
What to take with you
- Drinking water, picnic items and camping equipment if you intend to stay overnight.
- Also useful are: binoculars, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and guidebooks.
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OL DONYO SABUK NATIONAL PARK |
EAST AFRICAN CITIZEN (KSH) |
RESIDENT (KSH) |
NON-RESIDENT (USD) |
AFRICAN CITIZEN (USD) |
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Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
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500 |
250 |
675 |
350 |
50 |
25 |
20 |
10 |
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MODE OF PAYMENT: Through eCitizen (https://kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke) via MPesa, Visa Card
Special Services/Activities:
Security/Guided tour per guide:
• Ksh. 2,000 - up to 4 hours
• Ksh. 4,000 - Over 4 hours
Vehicle charges per day
No. of Seats KSH.
• Less than 6 seats KSH. 600
• 6 - 12 seats KSH. 1,500
• 13 - 24 seats KSH. 3,000
• 25 - 44 seats KSH. 4,500
• 45 seats and above KSH. 5,000
Wildlife
Includes; buffalo, leopard, mongoose, bushbuck, olive baboon, colobus monkey, vervet monkey, Sykes' monkey, Kirk's dik-dik, bush pig, common duiker, reedbuck, rock hyrax, bushbaby, tree and ground squirrel, aardvark, porcupine, python and monitor lizard.
More than 45 species of birds have been recorded.
Climate
January-March is hot and dry, April-June is hot and wet, July-October is very warm and dry, November and December are warm and wet
The 9km drive or hike up the summit from the main gate is majorly one of the activities visitors can enjoy in the great outdoors. The hike up in the company of an armed KWS ranger will take you approximately 3 hours. At 7kms towards the summit lies an ‘unusual burial site’. The grave of Sir William Northrup McMillan a wealthy African farmer whose initial wish was to be buried at the summit though this vision didn’t come into fruition. The site also holds the grave of McMillan’s wife, their maid and the family dog.
Game viewing is a must do here while buffalos are the dominant wildlife in the ecosystem. Other wildlife species include bushbucks, leopards, olive baboons, aardvarks, porcupines, rock hyrax, pythons and monitor lizard. Additionally, the park is a bird watchers paradise with 45 species of birds and rare butterflies. The mountain’s summit also offers visitors beautiful scenic views of Mount Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The Park offers great camping, picnicking and team building grounds for visitors looking for a more adventure and fun activities in the wild. Other attractions within the ecosystem include the famous fourteen falls which boasts of a 27 meter deep scenery where activities such as boating and fishing can be done.
There’s no self-catering accommodation provided in the Park but visitors intending to stay overnight can opt to camp.
Camping:
Public Campsite
Turacco
For this category standard amenities are provided; water, toilet/bathroom and kitchen area. Public campsites do not require prior booking.
Special Campsite;
Summit Lookout
For this category, only camping grounds are provided. The visitor has to reserve the campsite well in advance for exclusive use.
Visitors are required to bring with them personal effects, drinking water, source of fire and kitchen utensils.
Most special campsites are located near rivers in the park unless otherwise indicated.
*Reservation of special campsites should be done through the park warden or through KWS headquarters reservations desk;
*Prevailing camping rates apply per person per day for both
special and public campsites including other park charges.
*Request the Park for security services while camping.
Privately owned accommodation options:
Visitors looking for accommodation in close proximity to the Park can put up at:
Oldonyo Sapuk Resort located about 1Km drive from the Park. Book through +254 724 176 518
Beketa Holiday Home located about 200mts from the park booked through +254 722 383 076
There are other affordable accommodation options in Thika town.
Phone: +254-200 2062503
Toll Free: 0800 597 000
WhatsApp: +254 (0) 726 610509
Email: customerservice@kws.go.ke
KWS Reservations:
Tel: +254-20-2379407/15
E-mail: reservations@kws.go.ke or oldonyo@kws.go.ke
Postal Address:
The Warden,
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park,
P.O. Box 1514 - 0100,
Thika.
