Ngare Ndare is a beauty to behold, featuring magical waterfalls and the calmness of nature. The forest brings nature to you, from indigenous trees to birds and animals. Its proximity to Mt Kenya and several conservancies brings a diverse ecosystem which is pleasant for hiking and other sight-seeing adventures. 

The community around Ngare Ndare are involved in forest conservation, which brings communal responsibility. Needless to say, the forest is one of the few in the country with peaceful coexistence between the wildlife and the local population. The locals also benefit from the diversity, improving the livelihood standard. Essentially, it is the hidden gem in the north, after which the northern rangelands begin.

Ngare Ndare is 244km from Nairobi, taking close to 5 hours around famous Mt Kenya on the right. You can have stop-overs in Karatina and Nanyuki towns to catch a breather before delving deep into the hike. For a person going northwards, you have lots of sight-seeing to do. The Aberdare Ranges on the left horizon remind you of the trips early in the year.

There is also 11 km off the main road on a rough road towards Ngare Ndare Forest Gate, which is the hiking destination. On arrival, you meet a KFS guard who will take you around the park. The 7km trekking deep into the forest can be dangerous but fulfilling. The attraction points in the hike are the 7 waterfalls. Actually, the name Ngare Ndare means “waterfalls of the gods.” The 450m canopy walks in the trees are also breath-taking, creating a relaxing atmosphere for an excursion. Compared to other hiking destinations, the Ngare Ndare is the easiest in the pack. There is no steep climbing, harsh weather or rocky terrain. In fact, you can swim in some of the waterfalls and enjoy the freshness of nature. Besides the waterfalls, you can also catch a glimpse of wildlife within the forest, but different species of birds are more prevalent. Other activities include biking and camping. However, since ours is a normal hike, we dwell on the waterfalls, canopy walks and sight-seeing. 

The forest is along the Mt Kenya belt and borders the northern rangelands to the north. Depending on the time of the season, the weather can be hot or wet. In August, it will be between seasons, requiring you to carry warm and light attires. The canopies and waterfalls bring in the cooling effect, which balances the heat from the rangelands and the conservancies.