Oldonyo Sabuk National Park
Oldonyo Sabuk National Park is a Maasai word that means “large mountain,” or “Kyanzavi” in Kamba, and is both a mountain and a town in Kyanzavi Division, Machakos County kenya. The distance by road from Nairobi via the Embu-Nairobi highway is 75.5 kilometers. It is also 18.5 km southeast of Thika Town via Thika-Garisa Road. On this road there are pineapple plantations on both sides of the road, well known here in Thika.
In Thika town, going east about 18 km, there is a junction going south marked with Kenya wildlife service markings 2 kilometers from this junction going south is the famous Fourteen Falls, described as one of Kenya’s most spectacular landmarks. By the river is St. Johns Kilimambogo Teachers College and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission hospital. Donyo Sabuk town is a kilometer away from Fourteen Falls, just across the Athi River, with one junction leading to the game park, which has an area of 20.7 km² and the other junction to the great house of Donyo Sabuk.
William Northrup McMillan was the first white man to settle here and he greatly influenced the area. Near the summit lie the graves of Sir William Northrup McMillan (1872–1925) and his wife Lady Lucie and their dog. Also, there is an extra grave of one Louise, who started working for the Macmillans when she was 13 years old and worked until her death. In the rural area is a multi-ethnic community of farms owned by people who were former squatters and his farm laborers.
The mountain peak is inside the game park, and the rest of the land is partially owned by the Kenyatta family. William Northrup McMillan was a philanthropist and a multi-millionaire who owned farms in British East Africa. He acquired a 99 year lease in 4000ha 10,000 acres in 1905 which became the Juja farm.
He constructed the five-bedroom Juja House, a three-bedroom manager’s bungalow, a two-bedroom bungalow called “Lucie’s bolthole,” and three other bungalows housing the post and telegraph office and rooms for chauffeurs and gardeners. The buildings were fitted with electricity and running water and a sewage system and in later years, it became a popular location for film crews.
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park was established in 1967 and managed by kenya wildlife service. The mountain has its highest peak in the park. It is very attractive for hikers or families wanting some freedom and exercise outside their vehicles. One approach to the park is via the Fourteen Falls on the Athi River. The park’s scenery is beautiful, with views of both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro, making it one of the regions with spectacular views in kenya.
Attractions of Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
1: Wildlife
This is a taste of what a wonderful Kenya safari tour has to offer in terms of the variety of Wildlife species that can be spotted here they include buffalo, colobus monkeys, baboons, bushbuck, impala, duiker, leopards, bush babies, porcupines, water bucks, dikdiks, bush pigs, aardvarks, and abundant birdlife they include bronze sunbirds, ring-necked doves, helmeted guinea fowl, white-browed sparrow weavers, augur buzzards, mourning doves, purple-breasted sunbirds, grey-headed sparrow weavers, African hawk eagles, speckled mousebirds, yellow-vented bulbuls, African pied wagtails, great sparrow hawks, grey tits, starlings, Mackinnon grey shrikes, and bateleurs. The Ol Donyo Sabuk mountain rises to 2,145 m (7,037 ft), rising from a relatively flat area the steepy side requires a 4WD (4×4) vehicle.
One of Kenya’s most colorful politicians, Tom Mboya, was brought up here. His father used to work on the sisal farm as a laborer. Tom Mboya attended Kilimambogo Primary School, a Catholic Missionary Sponsored institution, within the larger St. Johns Kilimambogo Teachers College.
2: The McMillan Castle
The building that was McMillan’s home, a fort by any definition, sits in splendor. More than three-quarters of the house is under key and lock. A part of it houses the Muka Mukuu Farmer’s Co-operative Society Ltd., a farmer’s cooperative. The land around the home is currently used for the production of pineapples.
The villagers are still wondering why a couple that had no children would put up such a huge dwelling place. So large is the building that Lord Macmillan and his wife would spend one year in one wing of the house, then migrate to the other in the second half of the year. The locals are yet to figure out how they can benefit from such an obvious tourist attraction site.
3: Clubhouse (Kilavu)
During the First World War the castle served as a military hospital for British officers. The wild parties were held in the castle, where the notorious colonial maverick Colonel Ewart Grogan reputedly led the wine-tossing and supervised wife-sharing orgies, attracting international media. The castle was baptized “Kilavu” by the locals, meaning Clubhouse in Kamba.
4: Fourteen Falls
The Fourteen Falls has historical and religious importance both to the residents and Asian immigrants. The Asians use the site for recreation and spiritual rites, disposing of cremated ash in the river in the belief that it will go all the way to India through the Indian Ocean, hence acting as a shrine. Others come for recreation, retaining the Happy Valley theme that was first introduced by Lord McMillan; the adjacent community still farms the land just like Lord Macmillan.
Entry fee
Adult child
Citizen kshs 300 kshs 215
Residents kshs 300 kshs 215
Non-residents 26 USD 17 USD
The best Time to visit
Most of the activities to be done in Ol Donyo Sabuk national park are best done during dry season and these include game-watching, hiking, nature walks and mountain climbing because the trails are drier and the vegetation is lower. The driest seasons are from January to March. April to June is wet and hot, and from July to October it is warm and dry. November to December is warm and wet. Bird watching is best during the rainy season for there is plenty of food in the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park.
Activities to do at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
1: Hiking
Hiking is done on Mount Ol Donyo Sabuk and the peak of this mountain is reached on a 10 kilometres hike and it is achievable in 2 or 3 hours based on one’s fitness and speed.
2: Game Drives
It is driving through the plains of Ol Donyo Sabuk national park in search of Kenya wildlife safaris during the game drives, you might spot animals such as leopards, bushbucks, bush babies, porcupines, water bucks, dikdiks, bush pigs, aardvarks, rock hyraxes, tree squirrels, buffaloes, and impala, among other animals in the plains or at the water points.
3: Bird Watching
During bird watching in the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park, you will be able to spot several bird species, including the bronze sunbird, ring-necked dove, helmeted guinea fowl, white-browed sparrow weaver, augur buzzard, mourning dove, purple-breasted sunbird, grey-headed sparrow weaver, African hawk eagle, speckled mouse bird, yellow-vented bulbul, African pied wagtail, great sparrow hawk, grey tit, starling, Mackinnon grey shrike, and bateleur, among others.
4: Camping
There are designated camping sites at the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park where you can camp with your friends and family. During the camping experience, you will be able to enjoy sunset and sunrise and hear sounds of wildlife hosting in the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park.
5: Nature walks
Nature walks are ideal activities in Ol Donyo Sabuk national park for tourists seeking to enjoy nature to fullest, during this activity, you will be able to enjoy the magnificent views and rivers, explore the forests and take a walk along the foothill of Ol Donyo Mountain.
Picnicking can also be done in Ol Donyo Sabuk national park, one of the best picnic sites in the park is at The Fourteen Falls.
Accommodations available at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
There are a wide range of available options for accommodation in Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, ranging from camping to midrange, economy, and luxurious accommodation some are: Fourteen Falls Lodge, Ol Donyo Sabuk resort, Malazi Thika, Eton hotel, The coconut Grill among others
