Ragia Forest – Sasumua River Hike

The objective of this hike is to traverse the bamboo section of Ragia forest, and descend to then ascend from the deep valley of the Ragia two waterfalls number 17 and number 18.

The Ragia forest trail may start from Ragia forest gate or from the Sasumua dam depending on the r
oute one takes from Njabini. You walk on a motorable road along the fringes of Sasumua Dam (that supply’s water to Nairobi), from where you will be treated to spectacular view of elephant hill.

About a kilometre from the dam, the trail abandons the motorable road and diverts into the thick bamboo, where you try to make out animal trails until you reach the clearing marking the water pipeline wayleave. Your struggle with the bamboo abates briefly until suddenly the guide turns left into the bamboo again and the struggle resumes but abruptly ends as the trail deeps as dramatically as the bamboo gives way to a rain forest.

From boots to butts

During the rainy season the place can be serious slippery and many a hiker gives up using boots and reverts to butts. As the roar of the waterfall assaults your ears, the trail drops vertically 2.5 metres into the Sasumua River from where you make a short but exiting riverine walk up to the magnificent Ragia waterfall (waterfall 17)

You camera comes handy on the centre rock.

Your journey back is as dramatic. Where gravity aided the descent it thwarts the ascent. Butts are replaced by knees and hands (sometimes ladies remember they haven’t paid the manicurist for the last visit). Once you get to the way leave, you decide whether to proceed to waterfall 18 or back to the gate.

Getting There

Public means: From Nairobi, take Njabini matatus at the junction of Keekorock road and the Nation House roundabout. Alight at Njabini town. At the Njabini matatu stage you will easily negotiate for a Matatu to Sasumua.

Private means: Drive towards Njabini and take a right turn just before the river sasumua bridge. Drive four kilometres to the forest gate.

Entry charges:

Guide

Local community organisation,

Kenya Forest Service

Make prior arrangement

The objective of the hiker is to traverse the section between the old to the new Nairobi-Nakuru highways. The hiker will go up Kijabe hill, then down Kijabe hill and then up the Kinari ridge and onward to the New Nairobi-Nakuru highway. This hike is ideal for a moderately paced hiker. A mix of slow and moderate speed hikers on this hike always leads to hikers crossing the notorious Kinari forest at dusk which is not advisable

The trail follows the Kijabe hill trail, as described in this post, up to the second crossing of the railway line. (the Lunatic express meadres round the hill)

To recap, the hike starts 9 km form Mai Mahiu just after the conspicuous IDP settlement. Starting at an altitude 2010masl, the  hiker trudges steadily up hill for two to three hours to be at the peak, that is 2659masl. After resting at the peak and doing what hikers do on peaks, you start your descent down the eastern slope. You walk past the place where the paragliders launch their escapades, into and past the farms and homesteads, then into the forest reserve again, and march on to a point near the railway line for lunch. In total you will have dropped down 467metres to 2192asl.  If your timing is good, but it won’t, you will have lunch under some trees as you rest and re-strap your boots. After lunch you walk downhill a few metres to the railway line then walk northwards along it up to two hundred metres off the station. After stopping for a breather it is time to tackle the Kinare ridge.

During the dry season the trail is easily visible. But during the rainy season the bush quickly reclaims territory and the hike is more like a test of wits between bush and man.  Make you’re your way through the barely discernible grazing tracks until the path opens to the rush expanses of Kikuyu grass. Cross the grass and into Kinare forest and on to soko mjinga or flyover.

Weather allowing you will be treated to a spectacular sunset on the escarpment before heading to soko mjinga for roast maize. Beware that the place is not called soko
mjinga for nothing

Requirements
Guide fee
Forest charges

Guiding
KENVO

1Kijabe Hill seen from the Mahi Mahiu Naivasha Highway

Kijabe hill is the second most salient feature north of Mai-Mahiu (Maĩ mahiũ) – means hot water. (It is important to get it right because a change of vowels can give the word completely different meanting). The objective of the hiker is to get to the top of the hill and over the other side then return to the Mai-Mahiu-Naivasha road. The distance to the peak is about 3.2 km, which should take the novice hiker between three and four hours.

The hike starts 9km from Mai Mahiu a point that is almost halfway to Longonot town. The starting altitude is 2010masl and hikers take a northerly direction on a trail that climbs straight and steady until the railway line. This maybe a good place to pause and take stalk of where you have come from as you sip some water and energise. The trail then changes direction north east and the gradient increases somewhat. The hiker is advised to stick to the path charted by the guide as gullies, from erosion and tectonic earth movement, are deep and treacherous. The thorn bushes do get quite shot but arrogant after this point attacking the ankles and lower legs mercilessly. But it is not all gloom because while it does not save you the cost of a tattoo, it means you are too busy evading the pricks to notice the tedious climb. As such you barely notice time pass as you get to the rocky part where the gradient ratchets a notch higher, hiding the true peak and thus making one believe that over those rocks is the peak.

After this false peak the climb is steady to the true peak, at 2659masl.

A brief rest is well earned. Unfortunately up that hill there is nowhere to hind from the vagaries of the weather, be it the chill of July, the windy March or the sun. However you are well rewarded by the view all around you as you soak in the beauty of the surrounding country. But what catches the eye of the hiker is the hiking opportunities displayed all around:

There is Suswa to the South, Longonot to the West, Elephant hill to east and the ridges of the Eastern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley Kinare, Kiharu, Nathan’s, and William’s hill)

As you enjoy the peace up there and the apparent calm below you cannot help but marvel at the IDP camps down below and the resilience their gallant dwellers. Theirs is an island of green tall trees in the middle of stunted grass all round.

The return journey is quick two hours downhill. You the walk eastwards down the hill, cross the railway line, and trudge on to the abandoned old Kijabe town. From here, walk another one hour west along a motorable road until you get two the highway about four kilometres from where you stared.

If you are using private means, the vehicle will be waiting here. Otherwise, you should easily hail down a Matatu to Mai Mahiu for late lunch.

Requirements

Guide fee

Guiding

Local Community