Field Guide · South Rift Valley
Eleven ways to spend a day here.
Hikes, hot springs, tubing, game drives and a genuine afternoon with the Maasai community next door — all within reach of the riverbank.
More Than A Place To Stay
The land here does most of the entertaining.
The escarpment, the river, and the community around them are the reason most guests come back. The itinerary here is designed around moments, not movement — no rushing between stops just to tick a list. Some experiences are included in your stay; others are booked on-site with a guide. Rates for guided activities are further down this page.
The hike up the escarpment — breathtaking.
The signature trek: up the escarpment face on foot, through gorge and boulder field, to a waterfall most guests end up standing under. Led by a local guide who knows every foothold on the way.
Olkiramatian, bordering Shompole conservation area.
This stretch is home to the Big Four, and to animals rarely seen elsewhere in Kenya — caracal and striped hyena among them. It also sits along a little-known elephant migratory corridor running between Amboseli and the Mara. Night game drives are done too, alongside the standard dawn and dusk runs.
A day out to the soda lake at the border.
Lake Natron sits further south, across some of the starkest scenery in the Rift Valley — salt flats, flamingos, and volcanic backdrop. A full-day excursion, best arranged a day ahead.
Like gorilla trekking, on a smaller scale.
A guided walk with someone who has spent over ten years with this baboon troop — close enough to see individual behaviour, with the guide explaining family structure and dynamics as you go, at a respectful distance.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of water.
A float down a calm stretch of the Ewaso Ng'iro on inner tubes, guide alongside. All water safety measures are taken — life jackets and a guide in the water with the group throughout.
An afternoon on the riverbank, line in the water.
A quiet counterpoint to the more active days — fishing spots along the river, gear available on-site. Good for an easy afternoon between hikes.
Mother nature's healing, direct contact.
Natural mineral mud near the hot springs — guests who've done it call it the best skin treatment they've had for free. Usually paired with a soak at the springs on the same trip out.
A gentler way to see the same ground.
For anyone who wants the scenery without the scramble — a walking route along the river and lower gorge, plant and birdlife pointed out along the way. Nguruman Waterfront Resort also serves as a base camp for longer walking safaris in the area.
Be one with our authentic culture.
Evening boma visits, timed around the herders bringing livestock home from grazing — dust, low light and sunset, a Moran walking the herd in. Daily life, craft and tradition in the South Rift, hosted by the community itself rather than staged for visitors. It's widely considered the most authentic thing to do here.
A natural jacuzzi, nature all around you.
Warm mineral pools near Lake Magadi — a genuinely strange, wonderful thing to sit in after a day on the trail, especially once the sun's gone down and the sky opens up.
Where some of what's on your plate comes from.
A walk through a local farm growing mangoes, pawpaw and vegetables in the shadow of the escarpment — a look at how the area's fed itself long before any resort showed up.
Guided Activities
Activity & guide rates
Prices for the 2026/27 season. Most activities are priced per person (PP); guide fees and group visits are flat rates. Room and camping rates are on the Stay page.
| Activity | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking | KSh 500 PP | $10 PP |
| Guide for hiking | KSh 3,000 | $30 |
| Hot springs | KSh 1,000 PP | $10 PP |
| Mud bath | KSh 500 PP | $10 PP |
| Fishing | KSh 500 PP | $10 PP |
| River tubing | KSh 1,200 PP | $15 PP |
| Guide for river tubing | KSh 2,000 | $20 |
| Village / boma cultural visit | $ 100 per group | $100 per group |
| Baboon & nature walk | KSh 1,000 PP | $10 PP |
| Conservation fee | KSh 1,500 PP | $20 PP |
| Tour transport (7 pax, 4x4) | KSh 25,000 | $300 |
| Game drive | Arranged on request | |
| Drive to Lake Natron | Arranged on request | |
| Farm visit | Arranged on request | |
Camping ground and tent hire are priced on the Stay page →
Good to know
- Tubing, bush dinners, bonfires, sundowners, camping and guided activities depend on weather and river conditions
- Let us know dietary requirements, allergies or medical conditions when booking
- Communicate check-in and check-out times in advance
- We practise eco-tourism — please respect nature, wildlife, local culture and community guidelines
Liability
- Guests take part in adventure activities at their own risk
- All water safety measures are taken for tubing and river activities
- The resort is not responsible for loss of valuables, personal injury, or delays caused by weather, road conditions, or other circumstances beyond management's control
Tell us what you're after, we'll build the itinerary.
Hikes, waterfalls, tubing, game drives, culture — mix and match, or leave it to your guide.