1-Day Epic Hike of Mt. Longonot - A Lighthearted Story

Hiking Mt. Longonot, Kenya or the story of when I thought I would have a heart attack hiking a dormant volcano…

Once upon a relaxing time, Mark and I were relaxing in a very relaxing way…

and then, he basically said “This relaxation and enjoyment is too much! Would you like to suffer? Let’s go hike Mount Longonot!”

Me: “You mean a 5-hour hike? No, thanks! As stated many times before, I am an ‘enjoyment’ wife, not a hiking wife! Please find attached further evidence of the aforementioned.”

Watamu Marine National Park Snorkelling — Exhibit A

Obviously, my message did not get delivered because we began to plan for the hike to Mt. Longonot. Mark advised that I started exercising, so I put all my effort into it…

The D-day arrives and we drive out of Nairobi towards Lake Naivasha through the Great Rift Valley, stopping at a vista point to enjoy the views…

In another 30 minutes or so, we arrive at the Mt. Longonot National Park…

We get our bags searched, pay the entrance fee and begin our hike…

Five minutes in and I can feel my heart pounding and my breath becoming strained. Five minutes! Well, I am too ashamed to admit this after a week of bragging about my spectacular hiking and endurance skills, so I keep trudging on…

Here I am, suffering and smiling…

After one hour, we get to the top! At long last, we are at the summit!

Or so I thought! Anyway, I casually say to he group ‘You know, some people do a loop around the crater!’

They respond, “We are ‘Some People'” and just like that, our hike continues. A few hours later, we make it to the actual summit!

I couldn’t have been happier! I feel on top of the world!

We begin our descent shortly after that. They said it would be easier. They lied!

Five hours later, we end our ~~suffering~~ hike. The funny part is that we end at the same time as a Kenyan runner who had run around the crater 3 times! Can never be me! Anyway, goodbye Longonot! The evil you have done is enough!