Oltyiani Trail – 3 nights
4 days - 3 nights trail
Jan’s camp - Oltyiani camp – Jan’s Camp
How do our longer forest trails work?
Jan’s camp also acts as our base for all of our longer trails in the Loita forest. It is here that
our Maasai guides will come to meet and greet you before the trail begins. Our guides will
talk you through your upcoming trail. The pack donkeys will be brought in from nearby
enkangs on your first day’s walk; the equipment will be weighed, measured and packed in
preparation for your foot safari.
Once all the provisions and camp equipment have been packed, the donkey caravan will set
off into the forest to set up the next camp.
You will also set off with a donkey caravan but a much smaller one, which carries personal
luggage and a packed lunch. Due to the altitude of the Loita area and the terrain that we
traverse, we do not plan to walk for longer than 6 hours a day. Within very short distances
you can walk through very different ecosystems and habitats. So we normally walk for 3
hours in the morning, stop for a leisurely lunch then a further 3 hours in the afternoon. This
is only a guideline though and we will adapt the length of the walk to your wishes.
Day 1: Depart from Nairobi at 9:00am, picnic lunch en route.
Arrive at Jan's Camp between 4 and 5pm. Briefing on the
following days’ trail.
Overnight at Jan’s camp.
Day 2: Walk to Oltyiani, the highest point in the Loita
overlooking the Rift Valley. After breakfast the donkey’s are
brought and the equipment is packed. Leave around 10.00am, lunch break around 12.30
for an hour and arrive in the camp around 4-5pm. The morning and afternoon walks are
both around 3 hours long.
Overnight Oltyiani trail camp.
Duration of walk: 5 – 6 hours
Difficulty level: Gentle to steep climb. Moderate fitness level.
Day 3: Walk back to Jan’s Camp [or Ossasini for another trail camp]
Leave at 9:00am from camp and walk slowly back to Jan’s Camp or walk to another point
at Ossasini for another trail camp.
Day 4: From Jan’s Camp or Ossasini the Maasai Trails vehicle will collect you and drive you
out of the Loitas back to Nairobi.
Personal equipment
Our trails are based on the slack packer approach. This means you only carry a small
daypack with you (camera – drinking water - trail mix or snacks etc.). Your other larger
pack with clothing is transported for you on a donkey.
Items you might choose to bring:
• Walking boots
• Change of shoes for the evening
• Flip-flops
• New socks for each day
• Wide brimmed hat
• Long sleeved shirts
• T-shirts
• Swimming costume
• Windcheater
 Long trousers
 Shorts
 Fleece (for at night as it does get cold!)
 Walking stick (optional)
 Gaiters (optional)
• Binoculars
• Head torch
• Camelback (Or water bottle)
• Personal medication
• Re-hydration salts
• Headache pills
• Blister bandages (We carry a first aid kit and recommend that you also carry your own)
• Sunscreen (even on cloudy days you get sun-burned!)
• Insect repellent
Walking camps
Having spent the last 10 years leading walks through the forest, we take great pride in
setting up light but comfortable camps in some of the remotest parts of the Loita forest.
The camping party will clear the ground. A small thorn kraal (enclosed area) is made for the
donkeys and fires are lit, tents set up and the kitchen prepared for your arrival.
Guides
Our guides are members of our local Maasai community who will offer you unique insights
into the local fauna and flora. The Maasai will show you the local plants that their tribe use
for ceremonial purposes and share their extensive knowledge of the trees and their
medicinal uses. You can gain a valuable insight into their culture and community life. The
guides will take you through the ancient elephant trails that descend through the forest
down into the Great Rift Valley. We use a minimum of three guides that walk with you on
the trail, but that number will increase depending on the size of the group. The guides will
carry a satellite phone while on safari in order to contact our Base camp, along with vhf
radios.