Kajiado District combines contrasting landscapes with a distinctive geological profile: salt deposits shape the scenery at Lake Magadi, while Mount Suswa, a double-crater volcano, reveals another side of the region. The wildlife and birdlife of Amboseli National Park, as well as the rich Maasai culture, add to its appeal.
Salt Lake and Elevation Contrasts
Lake Magadi is a salt lake with solid and semi-solid soda ash deposits. It lies in an endorheic basin formed by a rift valley. At 595 metres above sea level, it is the lowest point in Kajiado County. The Ngong Hills in Kajiado North reach 2,357 metres, making them the highest point in the county. The difference between these elevations is 1,762 metres; later surveys may change the figures.
Ngong Hills: Picnics, Hikes and Wind Turbines
The Ngong Hills offer beautiful scenery for picnics and hikes. Thirty wind turbines are spread across the hills; the number of installations may change over time. The Ngong Hills thus offer two different perspectives: outdoor recreation amid scenic landscapes and a distinctive technological feature.
Volcanic Formations and Wildlife
Mount Suswa is a double-crater volcano with a complex, branching system of lava tubes and caves. Its unusual island-block and caldera structure is also found in the lunar craters Poseidonius and Gassendi.
Amboseli National Park offers a different natural attraction: it covers 39,206 hectares and is home to African wildlife as well as more than 400 bird species. Area and species figures may change following later measurements and surveys. While Mount Suswa stands out for its geological formations, Amboseli National Park is known for its wildlife and birdlife.
Culture and Practical Information
Kajiado County is known for its rich Maasai culture, which is recognised worldwide. The Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site has a campsite and bandas. If you are planning to stay overnight, check their current availability before travelling.
Further Context in Kenya
In the wider destination of Kenya, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests offer a distinct historical and cultural context. They comprise ten separate forest areas stretching approximately 200 kilometres along the coast and contain the remains of fortified Mijikenda villages, known as Kayas. The Kayas were established from the 16th century onwards and abandoned by the 1940s. The Mijikenda consider them sacred places and homes of their ancestors; councils of elders care for them.
Also in the wider destination of Kenya, the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is an important natural area. It is the world’s most important feeding site for lesser flamingos; about 1.5 million birds move between the lakes, although the number may vary. The system also provides the most important nesting and breeding grounds for great white pelicans in the Great Rift Valley.
Discover more destinations: Magadi, Ngong, Kiserian, Kajiado, Oloitokitok, Namanga, Homa Bay, Murang'a
For the main travel overview: Kenya.
