Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour
The Kereita Forest Hiking Tour is an adventure to the Kereita Forest, located in Lari District, Kiambu County, approximately 60 km from Nairobi. Our Forest day hiking tour from Nairobi offers a 6-7-hour adventure through the scenic Aberdare Forest Reserve.
Popular activities include hiking to the 60-foot Gatamaiyu River waterfall, exploring bat-inhabited caves, walking to Elephant Pool, and riding East Africa’s longest zipline.
The Nairobi–Nakuru Highway forms the forest’s western border, with a thin strip of forest extending parallel to the highway from Kijabe to Uplands, while to the east it borders the Uplands Forest.
The drive from Nairobi takes about 1.5 hours, including a quick stop at Viewpoint. Kereita Forest is part of the Aberdare Forest Reserve and is home to a magnificent waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River, caves, and wildlife.
The forest and surrounding areas are home to animals such as Elephants, leopards, and Colobus monkeys. The forest covers 47 square kilometers and is a designated Important Bird Area, home to several bird species.
Kereita Forest has 138 bird species recorded in both this forest and the Aberdare, of which 31 are from the forest, and 20 are considered rare. Activities in the forest include zip-line, archery, paintballing, mountain biking, guided nature walks, donkey rides, community tours, tree planting, and team building.
Highlights and Activities:
✓ Attractions: A 60-foot waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River, Mau Mau caves, and the Elephant Pool
✓ Location: Southern tip of the Aberdare Ranges, easily accessible from Nairobi via the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway
✓ Wildlife: The area is part of an Important Bird Area (IBA) with over 138 species, and is home to elephants and monkeys
✓ Hiking Experience: The 12-15 km, moderate-difficulty trail takes hikers through indigenous forests, valleys, and riverlines
✓ Adventure Activities: Ziplining (up to 2.4 km in length), camping, trout fishing, and archery are available at the Forest Adventure Centre
Itinerary Details (Typical Day Trip)
0800 Hours: Departure from Nairobi city center
0930 Hours: Arrival at Kereita Forest, briefing, and start of the hike
1000 Hours – 1300 Hours: Guided hike to the caves and waterfalls
1300 Hours: Picnic lunch by the waterfall or return to the base
1400 Hours: Optional activities like ziplining or relaxing in the forest
1600:Hours: Return hike to the starting point
1900 Hours: Arrival back in Nairobi
Planning Your Trip:
✓ Requirements: Comfortable hiking shoes, water, sunscreen, and snacks are necessary
✓ Best Time to Visit: Generally accessible year-round, but drier months (January-February, June-September) are best to avoid slippery trails
The Kereita Forest Hiking Tour is an adventure to Kereita Forest, located in Lari District, Kiambu County, approximately 60 km from Nairobi. The Nairobi–Nakuru Highway forms the forest’s western border, with a thin strip of forest extending parallel to the highway from Kijabe to Uplands, while to the east it borders the Uplands Forest.
The drive from Nairobi takes about 1.5 hours, including a quick stop at Viewpoint. Kereita Forest is part of the Aberdare Forest Reserve and is home to a magnificent waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River, caves, and wildlife.
The Walking/hiking duration is about 6 hours. Kereita Waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River drops 60 feet to the stream below. This is a moderate hike through the Kereita Forest to the southern edge of the Gatamaiyu Forest Reserve.
The hike starts with a slow descent to a waterfall through dense jungle, then slowly climbs back up to the open forest near the “The Forest” recreation center. The main attractions include rainforest vegetation, waterfalls, rivers, birds, butterflies, and woodland forests.
The forest and surrounding areas are home to animals such as Elephants, leopards, and Colobus monkeys. The forest covers 47 square kilometers and is a designated Important Bird Area, home to several bird species.
Kereita Forest has 138 bird species recorded in both this forest and the Aberdare, of which 31 are from the forest, and 20 are considered rare. Activities in the forest include zip-line, archery, paintballing, mountain biking, guided nature walks, donkey rides, community tours, tree planting, and team building.
Kereita Forest Day Hike Highlights
Donkey Rides: Primary source of transport around the forest – both ecologically friendly and providing income for local entrepreneurs
Tree Planting: Visitors to the area are encouraged to take part in tree planting and nurture the tree over the following years
Archery: Offering both range (shooting at fixed targets, at a fixed distance) and trekking archery (a walking trail with a number of varied targets)
Guided Nature Walks 6-hour guided hiking trail (the Carbacid trail) leads to Kereita Waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River, and the adjacent cave that is home to a small bat colony
Zip Line: Steel cables stretching across valleys (known as zip lines) provide exciting, safe rides with an unsurpassed adrenaline rush. A complete course takes about 1.5 hours
Paintballing: There are two sites set up for teams to battle it out with colored paintballs as projectiles, fun, and an excellent team-building activity that causes no harm to the environment
Mountain Biking: A series of graded courses (easy to hard) that are marked out using the existing network of forest trails for enthusiastic mountain bikers to explore the hills and forest
Community Tours: Local guides lead visitors through the wonders of nature in the forest and show how they live, grow food, and interact with the forest
Team building: A series of challenging courses established, which can only be completed if participants work as a team. This is one of the main reasons companies choose Kereita as their conference or team-building centre
The Forest Restaurant (open from 0830 Hours to 1730 Hours): Spectacular views over the valleys while you enjoy local produce and healthy food to match all budgets
Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour Itinerary
0700 Hours: After an early breakfast, we pick you up from the hotel/residence and depart by road to Kereita Forest, the southernmost part of the broader Aberdare forest ecosystem. Our scenic drive follows the new Nairobi/Nakuru road along the upper escarpment for about 47 kilometers to Kimende.
A further 10 km ride brings us to the Carbacid Forest Gate.
0800 Hours: Carbacid Forest Gate is our starting Point (It is a well-known starting point for guided hikes to the Gatamaiyu River waterfall and the adjacent, historically significant bat cave.)
This general area sits on top of an underground natural Carbon dioxide reservoir that is currently mined by Carbacid Limited for industrial and commercial purposes. The Forest Gate derives its name from the company that mines the Carbon dioxide–carbacid.
During the first hour, you’ll hike through large open clearings, and as you get further into the forest and descend into the first river valley, the clearings give way to indigenous trees. The trail then goes deeper into the forest, with the undergrowth now thicker and more varied.
Giant ferns and climbers abound deep in the forest, competing for the meager light filtering through old gnarled mammoth trees that stand tall and proud, untouched by human exploitation. The sounds of various monkey and bird species are increasingly common in the jungle. The trail is hardly noticeable due to the infrequent visitors to this part of the forest.
The guide, therefore, has to carry a machete to cut his way through some of the undergrowth, in addition to following animal trails in the general direction of the waterfall. After walking up and down two steep river valleys for about two hours, the trail passes by Elephant Pool, a large natural water body that Elephants love to frolic in.
1100 Hours: A further one-hour walk finally brings you to Kereita Waterfall on the Gatamaiyu River. This waterfall drops 60 feet to the stream below. To the right side of the waterfall is a cave with a small bat population.
Enjoy a short rest, then walk back to the Carbacid Forest Gate via an alternative trail that climbs out of the forest zone into the bamboo zone before descending to the Forest Gate.
1400 Hours: Enjoy a lovely, sumptuous lunch at the gate before driving back to Nairobi to arrive late in the evening. The whole round trip takes about 6 hours.
Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour Prices
Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour Rates Include:
✓ Lunch at the Forest Restaurant
✓ Guides, game rangers, and staff fees
✓ Professional English-speaking guides
✓ All entry fees, service charges, and taxes & Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to your hotel/ residence
| Dates From | Dates To | Price Per Person | Children Aged 8 to 11 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st January 2026 | 31st December 2026 | Request for rates | Request for rates |
Notes
* Picnics are not allowed in the Forest
Kereita Forest is Open from 0830 hours to 1730 Hours
* Reasonable standards of health and fitness are required
* The Forest is at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level.
* Other activities available include mountain biking, horse riding; Electric motors, forest rangers, Fly Fishing, Tree Planting, Foot Golf, Zipline, and Paintballing, Archery, Camping & playground, all at an extra cost
What to carry/ Bring:
* Camera
* Warm clothing, it gets chilly
* Rain gear – a raincoat, rain poncho, or umbrella
* Bring gloves if you can to make it easier on the hand
* Avoid shorts and sleeveless shirts due to insects and bugs
* Sun hat – to protect against the sun and overhead branches
* Water and snacks to provide you with the needed energy and hydration
* Comfortable shoes with grip – these are essential due to the slippery terrain
* Small Bag to carry your items (paper bags and handbags, leave them at home)
* Extra clothing (optional) to change into in case you get muddy or wet after the hike
* Suncream, outdoor shoes, trousers (no skirts), hats, and warm and rainproof clothing
* The hike is long, and we recommend you carry some snacks. Snacks can include fruits, nuts, and energy bars
* Trousers and long-sleeve shirts – due to the dense thickets and thorns, there are high possibility of being scratched
Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour Rates Do Not Include:
* Drinks
* Laundry
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)
Booking & Reservations, Kereita Forest Caves Waterfalls Nairobi Day Hiking Tour, Contact
Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp:
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com