A perfect picnic site in nature trails around Nairobi, Kenya for a day trip!!
We didn’t explore Nairobi the way we had to. So now we are getting the opportunity during this lockdown period and thinking of exploring some of its amazing and unexplored places around the city. Our days now are pretty occupied with googling these offbeat places in and around, for a daytrip/overnight. Oloolua Nature Trail was suggested by one of our friend who is residing in Kenya for almost 8yrs now. Later we researched a bit and found this place to be convincing as well. So without further ado marked our visit to this place with some of our friends on a weekend. As we stay in Nairobi so this Nature Trail was not more than 45mins of drive for us. Basically we started around 10 in the morning and reached by quarter to 11. On reaching we learned that the management didn’t allow any car parking’s inside the main gate so being on foot is the only option. The entry fee was 400 KES for adults and 200 KES for kids.
The plan was to spend the entire day there until dusk and so had to carry snacks and eatables as the duration was supposed to be long. We all entered the premises, it was quiet and lush green all around. The sky was clear but the sun escaped. We inhaled some fresh air you see!! Haha!! The Oloolua Nature Trail is humongous and guys make sure you wear suitable shoes for the hike. After almost walking for 20mins here and there found a suitable place in isolation and without much crowd. All though there were not many people, apart from some joggers and kids playing around, so don’t worry you will feel safe. Also the entire boundary was in good shape without any disposals and litters around. Finally we laid our picnic mats and in no time everyone bumped in to stretch. One of our friend, Sophie got some tea which we relished sipping like never before along with some sausage rolls for breakfast.
At around 12pm the sky turned little gloomy and as now it’s winter in Kenya the weather turned chilly. Sophie’s husband Subrata took some trouble to accumulate dried up leaves and twigs so that we could lit some fire. Surprisingly after all the hardship was done we realized no body was carrying a match box, it was funny and all of our efforts went in vain. Though Subrata tried his best to impress us with his ‘Bear Grylls’ trick of ancient method of lighting fire with rolling dried up twigs. No no it didn’t work, it was just a trial, but we were lucky enough as one of the security stuff at the right time came over to check on us if everything was fine and comfortable. That gentleman finally helped us lighting the fire(with match sticks off course) and finally we all felt revived.
The kids had a great time, running around in that exposure and even the adults joined later to play some games. Definitely it was fun for all getting together after so long. The previous night we all decided to carry some packed food from home for lunch as well. The menu was quite elaborate stating noodles, pizzas and sandwich. Post lunch it was almost 4pm and we started winding up things as we were supposed to hike to the waterfall which was almost 2kms of walking from where we were. The climb was rough but amazing. Some wooden and natural root bridges here and there really excited us.
On our way to the fall we came across a small dark cave with slugs around. We tried to enter a bit but it was all damp and stinked hell. Crossing on huge bamboo shades we reached the waterfall, we sighed on reaching but it was beautiful. The waterfall was pretty wide and clicking 100 of pictures came into action.
Being there for 10/15mins rested on the bench under the bamboo shoots and we all finished the second flask of tea. In the evening while everything started to get silenced around, the water flowing downstream appeared to be very soothing and relaxing.
The Oloolua Nature Trail closes by 6pm and by then even we returned back to our car. Reaching home we realized we had a wonderful day and have already decided on a place for the upcoming weekend. Will be writing soon. Thanks!!          Â
