Oldonyo Sabuk National Park

Ultimate Panoramic Experience

Dominated by a small mountain covered in montane forest, the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park is home to 45 species of birds including the white-browed sparrow weaver, grey- headed sparrow weaver, African pied wagtail, mourning dove, augur buzzard, African hawk eagle and purple-breasted sunbird. Buffalo are the dominant animals in the ecosystem and other wildlife include bushbucks, leopards, olive baboons, aardvarks, porcupines, mongoose, pythons and monitor lizard.

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.

Attractions & Activities

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.