Ngong Hills are a distinctive series of seven ridges southwest of Nairobi.
Legend has it, the hills are the remains of a giant’s clenched fist, after he was slain by a local tribe – hence the name “Ngong,” which translates to “knuckles.”
These days, Ngong Hills are a popular hiking, picnic, and all-round outdoorsy spot for Nairobians who need to escape the city for a day. You can challenge yourself to hike all seven peaks (it’s not as tough as you think), or relax and enjoy the stunning views of Nairobi and the Great Rift Valley.
On a good day, you can see as far as Mt. Longonot to the north.
And the windmill farm at the start of the hills, rather than spoiling the tranquil atmosphere, surprisingly adds to the experience. But once you’re past them, it’s all nature.
Location
Ngong Hills are located in Ngong town, 25 KM southwest of Nairobi in Kajiado County. From Nairobi, you can access the hills via Ngong Road.
How to Get to Ngong Hills
Self-Drive
If you’re driving to Ngong Hills, stay along Ngong road, past Ngong town and towards Kengen Wind Power Station. You’ll see the road to the main gate on your right before you get to the power station.
You can park outside the main entrance or drive further up to the third hill where there is another parking spot, for a shorter trek. Both spots are safe, and have Kenya Forest Service officers guarding them.
By Bus
To get to Ngong Hills via bus, you’d board matatu number 111 at the Railways Station Bus Stop in Nairobi city centre. It charges Kes 70 To Ngong town, which is the last stop for the bus.
Once at Ngong town, you need to take a motorbike to the main entrance of Ngong Hills. The motorbike trip costs you about Kes 100 for the two kilometre ride between the bus park and the main gate for the hills.
By Taxi
A taxi from Nairobi city centre will cost about Kes 1500 to the Ngong Hills main entrance.
Entry Fees
To get into Ngong Hills, you’d need to pay a small fee. The entrance fees contribute towards the costs of managing the area. They’re also pretty affordable, so don’t worry about Ngong Hills being an expensive day out.
| Ticket | Cost (Kes) |
| Citizen Adult | 232 |
| Citizen Child | 68 |
| Resident Adult | 464 |
| Resident Child | 174 |
| Resident Adult | 696 |
| Resident Child | 174 |
You’ll also be charged separately for a couple of other activities inside the hills. For instance, cycling costs Kes 116 extra (if you bring your own bicycle), while a professional photography session costs Kes 1,160.
Activities
There are plenty of activities in Ngong Hills to keep everyone happy, whether you want to relax and unwind, or you feel like being a little more active.
Hiking
This is one of the most popular activities at Ngong Hills. There are seven hills, 1,961 metres in altitude. You can hike all seven hills starting from the entrance and going all the way to the end, known as Kona Baridi.
But don’t worry, Ngong Hills are in a straight line, and you can turn back to the main entrance at any time.
Hiking all seven hills is about 11 km one way while going to the highest hill and back is about 15km. A hike up Ngong hills is considered beginner-friendly because the peaks aren’t too high, and the climbs and descents are pretty short in between the hills.
But don’t underestimate it.
You might struggle to finish if you’ve missed your workouts for a couple of months, like I had the last time I climbed Ngong Hills. I was out of breath, barely halfway through the hike. But, the views and experience make up for the struggle. To make it easier for yourself, get some work out in a few weeks before the hike.
Apart from working out, there are a few more tips that will make your hiking experience much better.
- Wear a hoodie to keep warm, especially if you’re going to the hills early in the morning. Ngong Hills are windy and it gets really cold and foggy in the mornings.
- Wear shoes with good grip and comfortable workout clothes. While full hiking gear is not necessary for hiking Ngong Hills, shoes with good grip will come in handy around areas with loose rocks.
- If there’s no one else hiking when you arrive, consider hiring a park ranger for protection. There have been a few mugging incidents, particularly on days when the trail isn’t as full of people, such as weekdays.
PS: While the official cost of hiring an armed ranger, as displayed on their cost list, is Kes 1160, you may need to pay a higher fee of between Kes 1500 and Kes 2500.
- Carry some loose cash with you. You might find some children and women selling handcrafted jewellery and snacks on the trails.
- Pack food and liquids in reusable packaging. Disposable bottles and packaging aren’t allowed inside Ngong Hills.
- Wear sunscreen. It can be windy and even a bit chilly throughout the day, but you can still get sunburnt if the sun is out.
Lastly, take some time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Rift valley and Nairobi City in the distance.
Picnics
Right past the windmills, you’ll find beautiful open spaces with lush green grass that make great picnic spots. You can walk to the picnic spot from the entrance or drive to the second parking spot just past the windmills to shorten the distance.
Take your family, significant other, or group of friends and enjoy snacks against the Great Rift Valley backdrop and a view of Nairobi CBD in the distance. Also, remember to use reusable containers to pack your food and drinks. Disposable bottles and wrappings aren’t allowed at Ngong Hills as a precaution to keep the place clean.
Ziplining
You can go ziplining, an activity provided at the Kompass Restaurant within Ngong Hills. The Zipline is short but fun to try out. It costs Kes 1000, which the Kompass Restaurant charges, separately from the entrance fee into Ngong Hills.
Cycling
To go cycling, carry your bicycle from home, preferably a Mountain Bike, to manoeuvre the hilly area. There are also bike rental options with companies such as Baiskeli Adventures and E-trails Kenya.
Baiskeli Adventures offers multiple trails for you to choose from, alongside a bicycle, and a guide to take you through the trail you choose. Etrails Kenya, on the other hand, provides a hiking plus biking trail where you would hike for a while and then cycle for the rest of the way, making a whole adventure out of it.
Other activities at Ngong Hills include:
- Team Building
- Camping
- Photoshoots (you’d go with a photographer of your choice)
Opening Hours
Ngong Hills’ gates open at 6 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.
If you’re camping, you need to visit in advance to book and get help from the KFS staff to plan for the camp.
Hotels and Airbnbs in Ngong Hills
When looking for a place to stay near Ngong Hills, you’ll find that there aren’t many great hotels. Ngong area is a city that’s still growing and has primarily residential areas. But there are some great hotels nearby; for instance, you can stay at a hotel in Karen or go further along on Ngong Road in the Dagoretti area.
- Orbitir Burrow Luxury Tent – Located about 7km from Ngong Hills, Orbitir Burrow Luxury Tent provides a luxurious stay in tented camps with fully built-in bathrooms and a kitchen. It also has a garden with fruit and veggies and a couple of bicycles that are available for guests to ride.
- The Red Container – Off Grid – 4km away from Ngong Hills, this container house is surprisingly spacious and comes equipped with shower gels, scented candles, toothpaste, and other little items that would reduce your load. It has a small kitchen to cook from, but you can always order from restaurants around Ngong and Karen areas.
Ngong Hills Contacts
Ngong Hills are managed by Kenya Forest Services. You’ll find their offices at the Ngong Hills Forest Station(located at the main entrance) and can reach them through the following contacts:
Ngong Hills Forest Station Telephone numbers:
Phone 1: 0797 480 784
Phone 2: 0755 838 360
Kenya Forest Services general contact info:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.kenyaforestservice.org
Frequently Asked Questions About Ngong Hills
Is food allowed in Ngong Hills?
Yes, food and drinks are allowed in Ngong Hills. However, alcoholic drinks are not. Disposable packaging is also not allowed, so carry reusable containers and bottles.
Are there wild animals in Ngong Hills?
Yes, there are a few wild animals in Ngong Hills. You may encounter dik-diks, buffaloes, and some monkeys on the trails.
Final Thoughts
Ready to try out Ngong Hills? You’ve got all the information you need. All that’s left is picking a day to explore the hills for yourself. Ngong Hills are open every day, including holidays, so you’ll be covered for whichever day you want.
For further inspiration, check out our guide to the best day trips from Nairobi. And if you don’t feel like leaving the city, but still need some nature, there’s always Karura Forest and The Arboretum.
