Activities to do at Mount Suswa conservancy : Mount Suswa is located at the border of two counties in which majority of its habitants are the Maasai people. The North-western part of the mountain is in Narok County while the eastern and the Southern part are in kajiado county . It is a Stratovolcano mountain found in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. Suswa town is located on the slopes of the mountain, which is found between Nairobi the Kenya’s capital and the Narok town.
Mount Suswa has an height of 2,356 metres which is also equivalent to 7,730 ft. Mount Suswa is unique because it has a double crater with a moat-like inner crater surrounding a tilted block of rock. The mountain is also popular for its lava tubes on the northeast side of the outer crater .The inner crater is known to be home to a variety of snakes species. Other animals found at Mount Suswa includes zebras, giraffes, mongooses, turtles, hyenas, Bat, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, civet cats, barn owls, wild dogs and rock hyraxes and leopards. Hyenas and the genet cat are common at night.
The lava caves located on the east side of the mountain is the most visited site with some of these caves have been inhabited by baboons. The underground chamber in theses rocks has been nicknamed baboon parliament. There are no proper trail to access the summit of Mount Suswa but the mountain is best accessed from the mountain from the north and northeast. The peak of Mount Suswa can be ascended on foot by following Rauch’s Trail, which begins approximately one-and-a-half kilometres from the summit, from the northeast. Rauch’s Trail is marked with a wooden sign and it is overlooking the crater, Activities to do at Mount Suswa conservancy
Hiking Mount Suswa
Mount Suswa can be accessible using a four wheel drive vehicles because of its difficult terrain. Mount Suswa is ideal for hikers. The inner volcanic crater provides a beautiful ridge walk to the highest point which is 2,356m summit. There is Ol Doinyo Nyokie also referred to as the red mountain with breath-taking views of the landscape and the in the middle is the lost island which hosts adequate wildlife.
Hiking depends on ones fitness and pace but it takes approximately 4 hours . There is also another option of hiking around the entire inner crater passing through the forest and open grazing land where you’ll meet and interact with the local Maasai along the way, the hiking takes approximately 8 hours. From here you’ll have a great view from the campsite which is located on the inner rim of the crater.
The campsite is not well serviced therefore ensure you are self sufficient. There are a couple of long drop toilets, showers (no water) and three open bands for large groups. You have the option to hike to the summit which is approximately 5km from camp or appropriate 22 kilometres round trip of the crater rim. The campsite is accessed through Suswa or Duka Moja on a very dusty and rough road. There conservancy representatives who organize for guides either to hike or visit the caves. Very friendly Maasai locals stop by to say jambo often providing a good opportunity to learn about their culture, Activities to do at Mount Suswa conservancy
Cave exploration
Mount Suswa has caves which are one of its main attractions and one of the most visited sites in the Suswa conservancy .This lava cave are easily accessible and it has systems that comprises more than 70 collapsed holes and is considered to be the world’s most complex braided system of lava tubes. The caves are also believed to have provided refuge for the Kenyan Mau Mau fighters during the colonial era and the fight for Kenya’s independence.
These volcanic formed lava caves are home to large populations of bats that are believed to travel up to 30km in search of food at night before retreating to the caves in the morning. When exploring these caves during the day, these bat colonies can be seen hanging from the roofs of the caves.
In the evening baboons troops retreat to the caves, seeking refuge to hide from their predators especially leopards, this creates a two-way traffic with the departing bats. If you happen to visit these caves in the evenings, the troop’s leader can be found perched on rocks high up, seemingly addressing the rest of the baboons. The local Maasai have termed this spectacle ‘The Baboon Parliament’, and it was featured in a BBC documentary The Great Rift: Africa’s Wild Heart’
Camping
One of the best ways to enjoy the undisturbed nature of Suswa is by Camping which is the best way to enjoy the wild nature of Mount Suswa. Whether you sleep beside the caves hosting the ‘Baboon Parliament’, or up on the volcano overlooking the inner crater, you will feel tranquillity of it kind . In the absence of any lights on the entire horizon, you will see a spectacular night sky, as well as beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Visitors have often woken at dawn to the sounds of leopards fighting with wild dogs in the distance.
A camp site is being constructed at a spectacular point among tall acacias, overlooking the inner crater. It has wooden huts for cooking and sitting in the shade as well as toilets and showers, and will be finished in the coming months, Activities to do at Mount Suswa conservancy
Bonfires which are the fire lit in a designated area in the campsite is permitted, and cooking equipment can be provided upon request. Currently, there is no running tap water in the camp However, water tapped from the local hot steam jets can be arranged upon request.
Maasai culture
Mount Suswa conservancy is entirely owned by the Maasai, their culture is one of the greatest one can feel in Africa with their own life styles. The Maasai people are pastoralists who rare more animals in mobile way moving from one point to another looking for greener pastures and water for their animals. They are unique because of their culture which they have stuck with it for ages despite the change in technology and modernisation of the world. These people have lived near and around the major tourist attractions in kenya such as Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli national park mount Suswa conservancy, Mount Longonot National Park among other places in Kenya and parts of Northern Tanzania. The Maasai tribesmen are one of the Africa’s most intriguing ethnic groups, they are known for their colourful dresses and height, the Maasai believe that all cattle in the world at one point belonged to their ancestors, any that is not with them was stolen for them. The Mount Suswa conservancy just like other tourist attractions in Maasai regions of Kenya not only offer great wildlife safari but also gives memorable cultural encounters.
