Ol Donyo Lesatima hike: the Aberdares' highest peak

Section by section

• The Wandare road head: the path starts on a saddle between two small hills on the moorland, at about 3,600 m. Most other Aberdares trails start in the forest at about 2,500 m.
• Across the moorland: the path heads off on a fairly straight line towards the summit, curving slightly as you get closer. In places it is faint, so keep the peak in sight or follow a GPS.
• The first hour: the land falls away on the right to the Nyeri and Laikipia plains. On the left a V-shaped valley runs south, with stands of giant groundsel on its slopes and the Kinangop massif on the horizon.
• The base of the peak: the path contours round from the saddle between two hillocks to the foot of the summit. The last section is rocky.
• The summit: about two hours from the start. To the north, beyond the Aberdares, you can see Lake Ol Bolosat. You return the same way.

Terrain and how hard it is

On its own terms this is an easy hike: dirt paths over open moorland, about 500 m of climbing, and a rocky finish. The round trip takes about four hours.

The challenge is the height and the weather. You walk at 3,600 to 4,000 m, where the air is thin and the cold and mist can close in quickly. Above about 3,300 m the Aberdares are moorland of tussock grass, heather, giant groundsel and lobelia.

On our map the line from the Wandare road head to the summit covers about 6.4 km one way.

Best time of year

The drier months, from June to September and from December to February, are the best for hiking in the Aberdares, especially on the moorland. The heaviest rain falls in April, May and October, at the peaks of the long and short rains, when the park tracks can be hard to drive.

What to bring

KWS's own list for the Aberdares is a good starting point:

• Warm clothing: temperatures drop quickly, especially at night.
• Waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Walking boots.
• A compass and map, or a GPS with the route loaded.
• Clean drinking water and food.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a first aid kit.
• Extra fuel if you plan to drive around the park for longer.
• No single-use plastic: Kenya's national parks are plastic-free.

Getting there, entry and fees

The shortest way from Nairobi is through Mutubio Gate on the western side, about 130 km away: take the Nakuru road to the Flyover, then the Ol Kalou road past Njabini to Ndunyu Njeru and turn right to the gate. Inside the park, drive to the Fishing Lodge, turn left onto the Chania track and then left again onto the Wandare track to the road head. You can also come in by Kiandongoro Gate near Nyeri, about 170 km from Nairobi, or Wandare Gate near Mweiga, about 190 km. KWS says park gates open at 6:00 am and close at 6:00 pm, unless you are staying overnight.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) lists these daily entry rates for Aberdare National Park, effective from 1 October 2025: East African citizens KES 800 per adult and KES 500 per child; Kenya residents KES 1,100 per adult and KES 675 per child; African citizens USD 40 per adult and USD 20 per child; non-residents USD 70 per adult and USD 40 per child.

Hikers must be accompanied by an armed KWS escort from the entry gate, paid at the KWS tariff. The rangers are escorts, not trained guides, so go with someone who knows the route or navigate by GPS. Contact the Senior Warden in advance, and expect to pay by M-Pesa. Official page: kws.go.ke/park/aberdare-national-park

Checked on 8 November 2026 against the official KWS website; confirm current fees before you go.

Keep the hike

We print the route on the real terrain, so the Aberdares moorland and Lesatima's summit rise off the wall in 3D with your path raised in colour. Add the date and the names of everyone who stood on the top of the range.