Serving as a gateway to Mount Kenya, Nanyuki is a lively market town north of Nairobi that was settled by the British in 1907. Its name derives from the Maasai word “Enyaanyukie”, which translates as “resemblance”. In addition to being a trekking hub, Nanyuki is home to the main base of the Kenya Air Force.
Things to do in Nanyuki
No visit to Nanyuki is complete without having your photo taken at the Equator Marker, where you can see the Coriolis Effect in action. Locals set up experiments on both sides of the equator, illustrating how water drains clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Adjacent is the Equator Market, where you can pick up souvenir T-shirts and locally made handicrafts.
Want to scale Kenya’s highest mountain? Join a multi-day trek from Nanyuki up the slopes of Mount Kenya, which has three main peaks - Batian (5,199 metres), Nelion (5,188 metres) and Lenana (4,985 metres). Taking in montane forests, gushing rivers and spectacular alpine landscapes are the scenic Sirmion Route and the more challenging Burguret Route.
Nanyuki also serves as a gateway to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 360-square-kilometre private game reserve on the Laikipia Plateau. It’s home to the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa and a handful of endangered white rhinos, as well as the orphaned and rescued primates of Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Game drive safaris offer up-close encounters with African wildlife, including the “Big Five”.
Getting around Nanyuki
Nanyuki is just over three hours’ drive from Nairobi and 3.5 hours from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Long-distance buses connect to Nanyuki while matatus travel throughout the town. The centre of Nanyuki is compact enough to explore on foot.