Trek to Ol Donyo Le Satima via Dragon’s Teeth and Table Mountain.

Full board accommodation in tents


The northern moorlands of the Aberdares Ranges accessed through Shamata Gate, offer some of the best trekking in Kenya. Very few hikers ever come to explore this delightfully isolated wilderness, with landmarks like Dragon’s Teeth, Ol Donyo Le Satima summit, and Table Mountain.

The Aberdare (or Nyandarua) mountains are an isolated volcanic range that forms the easternmost wall of the Great Rift Valley, to the east of the high Kinangop/Laikipia plateau. They are around 160 kilometers long from north to south (the northern end almost reaching the equator). There are two main peaks, Ol Donyo Le Satima (3,999 m) to the north and Kinangop (3, 906 m) to the south, separated by a long 'saddle' of land above 3,000 m. The small peak of Kipipiri (3, 349m) flanks the main range to the west, linked to it by a formerly forested valley at around 2,700 m.

Deep ravines cut through the forested eastern and western slopes and there are many clear streams and waterfalls. The park is renowned for its torrential waterfalls plunging from cloud-shrouded heights to spray-filled ravines. They include the magnificent Karuru falls, which drop 300m, the impressive Gura falls which torrent from the opposite side of the same Gorge, the drop of the Chania falls and the enchanting Gura falls which cascade across the yawning mouth of the Queen's Cave. Mist and rain occur throughout much of the year, with precipitation varying from around 1,000 mm on the drier north-western slopes to as much as 3,000 mm in the south-east. The vegetation varies with altitude. A rich alpine and sub-alpine flora, including species of Senecio spp, Lobelia spp, Erica spp, Helichrysum spp and tussock grasses, gives way at around 3,000 m to bamboo Arundinaria alpine and then montane rainforest. The peaks are open tussock moorland, with some areas resembling the highlands of Scotland.

DAY 1 SHAMATA GATE (2,850M) TO TWIN PEAKS CAMP (3,450m).
Drive from Nairobi to meet your African Ascents team at Shamata gate. From there, it is an 11 km drive southbound into the National Park on a dirt road that climbs from 2850m to 3450m through an indigenous forest, ending at the forest edge near the Twin Peaks. This is where you will camp for the night. Depending on when you arrive, there will be time for an evening walk and sundowners.

DAY 2 TWIN PEAKS CAMP TO DRAGON’S TEETH CAMP (3,750m).
Trekking time: 2 hours.
After breakfast you will ascend the lower moorlands through Giant Heather and open grassland. As you work your way further southwards this vegetation gradually gives way to tussock grass and marshes. Breathtaking landscapes soon unfold ahead as interesting rock formations dot the landscape. Standing tall on the plateau is the Dragon’s Teeth and the surrounding high points. We often use a camp site in the central part of the Dragons teeth which has some incredible views.

DAY 3 DRAGON’S TEETH CAMP TO OL DONYO LESATIMA (4,001m) & TABLE MOUNTAIN (3,791m) DESCEND TO SHAMATA GATE (2,850m).
Trekking time: 8 hours
An early start will see you ascend the 8 km trail to Ol Donyo Le Satima and Table Mountain beyond. As you climb higher the trail contours along ridges which then lead you towards Satima. A final short steep climb gets you to the summit at 4,001m in about 3 to 4 hours. The trail goes over the top of a ridge as you drop about 250m and contour around small hills to another marshy area dotted with the majestic Giant groundsel trees and Giant lobelia plants. You then head across the marshes to a final 100m climb through a small saddle that gets you to the plateau of Table Mountain and the ponds on top. After a picnic lunch, you will descend back to the Twin Peaks where the cars will be waiting for your trip home.