The day? 30th December, 2024! We were on the brink of wrapping up the year, with less than 48 hours left on the clock.
You see, my adventures typically kick off when the morning’s still fresh — I’m talking about that sweet spot between 9.30 and 11 am when the light’s just perfect for capturing those jaw-dropping landscapes and greenery without the sun trying to fry me. And this particular one day, though? Talk about a total spur-of-the-moment. A night before I’m scrolling through YouTube, and the next minute I’m deep into clips showcasing Nyandarua towns, and bam! — I was hit with this unstoppable urge to finally check out the Kinangop side of Aberdare ranges. And just like that, I’m hitting the road on a whim.
I wasn’t packing much — after all, this was a pure day trip vibe. All I grabbed was my jacket (because trust me, Kinangop got a chilly surprise up its sleeve) and my lifeline, the power bank; you gotta keep that phone juiced up to capture the eye candy along the way, remember.
Nyeri to Ol Kalou Town
Google Maps, that trusty travel sidekick, plotted these winding roads through towns like Ndaragwa, Nyahururu, Ol Kalou, Miharati, and Ndunyu Njeru, right up to Engineer and Njabini, and then, a detour to Naivasha town and Gilgil.
Nyeri to Njabini route (via Nyahururu town)
Plus, there’s this off-the-beaten-path dirt road slicing through the Aberdare from the Nyeri side, connecting straight to Ndunyu Njeru on the Kinangop side, which would have been quicker and cheaper.
Nyeri to Ndunyu Njeru Route (via Aberdare forest)
I’m also informed that the Karuru Falls is tucked along the shorter route. However, I chose the crowd’s favorite, one that stretches to Nyahururu town from Nyeri.
The view of Aberdare Ranges from Nyeri-Nyahururu Hwy
Cruising along the Nyeri-Nyahururu highway, I’ve gotten used to the scenery. Nyeri’s Aberdares peek out in the distance, but they’re just a tease until you push past Nyahururu and Ol Kalou, which, by the way, is the administration center for Nyandarua County. It’s there that the Aberdare Ranges begin to show off, albeit from a bit distant horizon.
PS: Regarding the distance from Nyeri to Nyahururu, you’re in for a roughly 100 km trip, which an experienced driver will zip through in under 1.5 hours. And for those pondering the distance from Nairobi to Nyahururu via Nyeri, gear up for a sweet 250 km drive.
You’ll also stumble upon Nyandarua National Polytechnic, AHITI Nyahururu (Animal Health and Industry Training Institute), Ol Joro Orok, and Kasuku along this route.
Nyandarua National Polytechnic and AHITI Nyahururu
Ol Kalou to Engineer
Rolling on past Ol Kalou toward Ndiara, Miharati, and Githioro, the Aberdare got all up in my personal space in the best way possible. In the distance, a relatively tall waterfall casually made its presence known and the landscape unfolded in stretches of green, punctuated by rolling hills (some with scattered vegetation while others were dense) that beckoned us to pull over and soak it all. Not to mention Mt Kipipiri is clearly visible from the stretch between Miharati and Githioro. Honestly, it felt like nature was staging a private show for our eyes, with every corner we rounded unveiling an even more breathtaking scene.
More of the stunning views:
The thickly forested areas started playing peek-a-boo as we closed in on Ndunyu Njeru, with some stretches of the tarmac snuggling right up against some electrified forest fences. And the snaps I took? They’re worth a thousand words, the kind of storytelling better off done in visuals. And did I mention about the Nyandarua plums I bought? Think juicy, delicious, and larger, a total flex on those underwhelming little counterparts you might run into in Nyeri.
Just a heads-up: these areas, given their proximity to the forest, are cloudy (and cold) for a good chunk of the day. So, do yourself a favor and throw in a jacket or sweater in your pack.
Other surprises along this route include Olempiaus Garden and Mount Kipipiri Golf & Resort (Between Miharati and Githiro). A quick glance at the latter’s Instagram page, and you’re in for a visual feast, including the lush Mt. Kipipiri stretching out behind. However, it’s a bit of a mystery why Olempiaus isn’t on Google Business yet; no digital footprints like a social media page or website, either—maybe they’re just getting started.
Mount Kipipiri Golf & Resort area
Olempiaus Garden
A bit about Engineer Town
Engineer is the nearest town to Njabini on this route. Standing out as one of the biggest hubs in Nyandarua County, it’s better known to some locals as Kinangop town. Dig a bit, and you’ll hear that it started off as a vehicle repair center, set up by a ‘mzungu’ engineer who saw an opportunity with the surrounding farmers and their machinery. At this crossroad, you can branch off to Njabini, Ol Kalou, or even Naivasha.
Kinangop town has had its share of stories. It’s home to the infamous Sende Moto village, notorious enough to draw comparisons to the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah (if an article by Nation is anything to go by). But think about “Sende” and “Moto,” and you can expect nothing less than mischief. And despite a serious spiritual cleansing by local clerics hoping to rebrand it “Kirathimo”(a Kikuyu term for blessing), the old, kinda cursed name has a stubborn way of sticking around.
The Awe of 2 Major Attractions in Njabini
As we edged closer to Njabini town (17 km from Engineer), the show-stopping silhouettes of Elephant Hill and adjacent Satima Peak loomed into view, dominating the skyline in a way that’s hard to ignore. We rolled into Njabini town around 2 pm to find it’s split into the old and the new, with a sort of a valley playing divider — it’s hard to say which of the two buzzes with more activity. By the way, Nairobi city is 82 kilometers away from the old town.
Elephant Hill and adjacent Satima Peak captured from the Sasumua Dam area
Naivasha was the original mark, but then a friend suggested we make a detour to Sasumua Dam. And let me tell you, skipping that spot would’ve been a monumental blunder (I’ll leave the pictures to do the talking themselves). The dam is a vital supplier for Nairobi City, and it rests quietly and kinda hidden in a valley just below the home of Mukami Kimathi, the widow of the Mau Mau legend that was Dedan Kimathi.
When I first heard about Sasumua, the name was rather baffling. Depending on where you look online or who you chat with locally, it also pops up as “Sasumwa.” Yet, there it was, clear as day on a nearby cattle dip sign: “Sasumua.” So, I guess it might be one of those places known by two slightly different names, sort of like a local nickname or just a common typo that stuck around.
Check out the slideshow below:
Sasumua Dam
Off to Naivasha
Post a photo bursting at Sasumua, we were off to Naivasha, taking a sharp turn off the Njabini-Nairobi road right after Kinamba shopping center. I was pretty oblivious to the hidden gems this stretch had up its sleeve, apart from the Aberdares, of course. Several kilometers from Kinamba shopping center (enter mentions like Kinangop Technical and Vocational College, Githabai, and Maraigushu), and boom — a sprawling panorama of Naivasha and its lake rolled out in front of us. Words barely do it justice, so I reckon a few selected pictures will better tell the tale
(The water body in the background is L.Naivasha)
Below are the views from the second viewpoint below:
With my phone brimming with shots from two viewpoints, we merged onto the Nakuru-Naivasha highway before branching off toward Naivasha town. And there it was, this mystery, suddenly unfolding before my eyes. However, our stop in Naivasha was destined to be brief. For context, we hit the road from Njabini in the late afternoon, the clock ticking past 4 pm, and arrived in Naivasha just shy of 5 pm. With our sights set on Nyeri, and a 3-hour drive ahead, we couldn’t afford to linger.
PS: For anyone mapping the shortest distance from Nyeri to Naivasha via Nyahururu, take a straight shot from Nyahururu to Ol Kalou, then push to Gilgil, where you join the Nakuru-Nairobi highway— merely 29 km from Gilgil, a quick detour will land you in Naivasha town. You’re looking at 197 km for the entire trip (per Google Maps).
Naivasha to Gilgil
A quick search on Google Maps, and voilà, we were cruising down the Naivasha-Nakuru highway headed to Gilgil. Anyone familiar with this stretch will rave about the sprawling farms, rolling hills, and lush greenery peppering either side of the highway. While it’s a gorgeous drive, it’s also bustling with traffic, so stay sharp.
Not far from Gilgil town, the Kenyatta Barracks loom, and a few kilometers down a detour, Pembroke House School makes an appearance. There’s an almost tranquil feel to the drive, with sprawling ranges making you wanna snap pics non-stop. You’ll hear funny names like Cokereria and Ngecho along this stretch.
Gilgil to Karunga
The Aberdare Ranges, Yet Again
Before long (just past Karunga town and near the Nyandarua County signboard), we were treated to a nearly panoramic glimpse of the Aberdares peaks, with a plateau, kind of like nature’s table, sprawling proudly right in the foreground. However, dusk was creeping in too fast, blurring what could’ve been stellar shots. I’ll circle back there, and that time, I’ll be there with the sun up to fully immerse in and capture the beauty of the landscape.
Doubling Back to Nyandarua and Nyeri Counties
Finally, we circled to Ol Kalou town (the very junction where we had initially diverged toward Ndunyu Njeru on our way to Njabini), and made a beeline for Nyeri, rolling in at around 8 pm. And that, my fellow travelers, wraps up one epic tale of ticking a big box off my dream list—eyeballing the Kinangop stretch of the Aberdares, all while being pleasantly overwhelmed by the gorgeous views of the Naivasha environs. For those of you curious about the specifics, we racked up 433 kilometers on the entire adventure.
The evening sun glow near Nyahururu Town