A trek up Mt Kilimambogo in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park this past Saturday. PHOTO | ANNIE NJANJA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
“When you feel out of breath or nauseated, make a stop and take a deep breath, take a sip of water then walk at your pace.” - Nelson Kanja, the hike organiser from Eco Trek.
Located 65 kilometres from Nairobi off the Thika-Garissa Road and 15 kilometres from Thika town, Mt Kilimambogo is at the heart of the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park – a park which has a rich history and beauty that stands out in contrast with its dusty neighbourhood.
The expansive farm that now hosts the national park was once home to William Macmillan, a game hunter from America, who visited and decided to settle in Kenya in 1901.
At the farm, Macmillan built a castle in which, on different occasions, he hosted explorer and former American President Theodore Roosevelt and British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The two renowned world leaders were on game hunting trips to Kenya.
But more interestingly is the fact that the late Tom Mboya, a popular politician in the Jomo Kenyatta era, was born at Ol Donyo Sabuk where his father worked as a casual labourer at Macmillan’s sisal farm. Far from its interesting history, Mt Kilimambogo is popularly becoming a workout ground for people in search of more challenging exercise terrains.
Therefore, at 7am last Saturday, together with a group of individuals on training in readiness for a mountaineering adventure up Mt Kilimanjaro, we set out on a one-hour drive from Nairobi to Ol Donyo Sabuk. Arriving in the morning ensured that we went up the mountain before the scorching sun was out. We paid a park fee of Sh350 per person and started our hike in the company of a guide.
Our climb up the 2,145m-high mountain began a few minutes past 9am but not before doing warm-up exercises to get our muscles ready for the long walk ahead. Instead of following the gravel road used by vehicles, we took footpaths and ascended a step at a time.
It was not long before I started running out of breath and sweating profusely as the steep path took a toll on my body.
Nausea
“When you feel out of breath or nauseated (which happened) make a stop and take a deep breath, take a sip of water then walk at your pace,” advised Nelson Kanja, the hike organiser from Eco Trek, a company that specialises in outdoor activities.
Keeping up with the leading pack in our crew of 10 was quite a challenge – to put it mildly. On several occasions I ended up trailing them, but it was comforting to have a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) guide present as this assured me of safety from the buffalos that are said to roam the park.
On the climb up, we met a group of men in their 50s who hike up and down the mountain every Saturday, without fail. Feeling challenged, I managed to get done with what the guide described as the harshest bit of the climb. From the footpath, we joined a gravel-paved road, which, fortunately was not as steep as the earlier sections.
Our first stop enabled us to have an aerial view of the surrounding community and minutes later, we made a second stopover at Macmillan’s grave site – a secluded area where his wife, maid and dog were buried, too. After catching a breather at the gravesite, we walked uninterrupted to the peak of the mountain successfully covering the over nine-kilometre climb.
We did simple stretching exercises to slowly cool down and prevent muscle injuries, before embarking on the descent. The journey back was more tolerable because we already knew what lay ahead and of course it’s easier going down. Once in a while, the momentum made us break into wild runs.
After five hours, we were done with the climb up and down Mt Kilimambogo. I may have felt weary at the end, but covering 19.2 kilometres gave me a tinge of excitement and pride.
Apparel
Climbing any mountain demands specific gear. Sturdy shoes with deep lugged soles of tough rubber to enable one to navigate steep terrains and prevent slips are a must-have. The footwear should be paired with socks to prevent blisters.
It was cold at the peak so when going for a hike up any mountain, carry a windproof jacket or a warm sweater in your backpack. By the end of the journey up, you will certainly be hungry. Therefore, carry a light snack comprising easily digested carbohydrates.
Additionally, carry plenty of water to rehydrate during the climb and a face towel to wipe off sweat. Fun seekers can pitch tent at the self-catering camping site near the main entrance or get booked in at the guest house that can host up to 10 people.
