Walking and running
If you have plenty of time, walking is highly recommended and gives you unparalleled contact with local people. In isolated parts, it’s often preferable to waiting for a lift, while in the Aberdare, Mau and Cherangani ranges, and on mounts Kenya and Elgon, it’s the only practical way of moving away from the main tracks. You will sometimes come across animals out in the bush, but buffaloes and elephants (the most likely dangers) usually move off unless they are solitary or with young. Don’t ignore the dangers, however, and stay alert. You’ll need to carry several litres of water much of the time. You might prefer to go on an organized walking safari, at least as a starter. Such trips are offered by a number of companies in Nairobi and by most of the smaller lodges and camps in the private game sanctuaries and conservancies, especially in Laikipia.
Popular parks where lions are normally absent and you can hike include Hell’s Gate and Lake Bogoria. Parks inhabited by lions, but in which you can generally hike, include Aberdare and Mount Kenya.
Kenya produces some of the world’s top long-distance runners, and jogging and running are popular. If you’re a marathon runner, there are several events to tie your trip in with, which usually offer fun runs and half-marathons too. The Safaricom marathon is the best known, on account of its location, in the prestigious Lewa Wildlife Conservancy north of Mount Kenya, and altitude (an average of more than 1600m), both of which make for a tough and exciting race. Marshals ensure your safety in the wildlife areas, but you’ll be running on dirt tracks through the bush. It usually takes place in June. The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon takes place in October, starts and finishes at Nyayo National Stadium, and runs on roads in a circuit around the city.
Climbing
Apart from Mount Kenya, there are climbing opportunities of all grades in the Aberdare, Cherangani and Mathews ranges, in Hell’s Gate National Park and on the Rift Valley volcanoes, including Longonot and Suswa. If you intend to do any serious climbing in the country, you should make contact with the Mountain Club of Kenya,which has its clubhouse at the Nairobi Sailing and Sub Aqua Club, behind Langata Shopping Centre, Langata Road, near Wilson Airport. A good source of advice and contacts, they usually hold club meetings on the second and last Tuesdays of each month. Safari companies in Nairobi offer everything from simple hikes to technical ascents of Mount Kenya.
Cycling
Cycling is more popular in Kenya than you might expect, given the often steep terrain, and you will even see hardy road riders and mountain bikers – both locals and expats – braving the traffic-clogged streets of Nairobi. But the real joy of cycling in Kenya is out in the bush, on quiet roads in the Rift Valley or Laikipia, or on the coast. Hell’s Gate National Park is a popular place to cycle with the wildlife. One or two companies sometimes offer tours and you can usually rent bikes at several places on the coast, notably in Diani Beach, Malindi and Watamu; some visitors even bring their own.
Caving
Kenya’s big attractions for cavers are its unusual lava tube caves, created when molten lava flowing downhill solidified on the surface while still flowing beneath. Holes in the surface layer allowed air to enter behind the lava flow, forming the caves. Lava tubes in Kenya include the Suswa caves near Narok, and Leviathan cave in the Chyulu Hills, one of the world’s biggest lava tube systems, with more than 11km of underground passages. For more information, contact the Cave Exploration Group of East Africa (CEGEA) or one of the lodges in the Chyulu area.