Ngare Ndare had been on my bucket list for so long, and finally experiencing it was nothing short of magical!
The name Ngare Ndare translates to “Goat Water” in Maasai, but in Kikuyu, it can also mean “counted leopards,” though this isn’t its original meaning.

The first thing that catches your eye is the striking turquoise blue of the water—a color that remains even after you swim and stir it up. The 7km trail leading to the waterfalls winds through a lush forest, making the journey as breathtaking as the destination itself. The water, fed by glaciers from Mt. Kenya reacts with minerals to create its stunning hue.
We hiked to the waterfall first, soaking in the serene beauty before heading back to the canopy walk, which is just near the start of the trail. The water was warm enough to swim in, and we couldn’t resist diving in!

Why Ngare Ndare

I love chasing waterfalls and I hope I get to experience more Waterfalls this year. I have been to Ragia Waterfalls twice, Kamweti Waterfalls, and Kijabe hills and I have to say Ngare Ndare was the best.

Although Ragia Waterfalls is blue in colour, it’s very cold because it’s in the Aberdare Ranges making it unsuitable for swimming. Ngare Ndare waters are warm in comparison because it sits near the hot Laikipia county, although it geographically lies in Meru county.

It felt good to be in the water. I didn’t fully utilise the water as I was not trying to get my locs wet due to how weighty they become but it was a great nature pool and I’ll definitely be back. It’s also shallow towards the margins so one can stand and enjoy the pool. The surface of the pool has smooth and friendly rocks unlike Kamweti Falls whose surface was a bit rough for me.

Conquering the Canopy Walk

Because we’d left Nairobi early and arrived at Ngare Ndare early, we had the pool pretty much to ourselves where we took pictures, swam, dove into the water and really enjoyed the waterfall.

After spending time at the pool we headed back to the Canopy for the canopy walk. The canopy is said to be 500m, but it felt longer than that. It’s prohibited to swing or run on the canopy walk.

At the canopy exit is a wooden stop where we enjoyed lunch, blew bubbles and watched to see if there’d be any elephants drinking water that day. Unfortunately, there were no elephants but we had some good time bonding after a relaxing time at the pool.

Best Tips for Visiting Ngare Ndare

• Leave Nairobi early so you have time alone at the pool. On our way to the canopy we left a family of 5, and met a group of more than 10 heading there.
• Carry water, snacks, and sunglasses because it can get a bit hot there.
• February is a good month to visit. Avoid rainy seasons as water from upstream might turn the turquoise water to brown.
• Have fun!