Depart Nairobi in the early in the morning and stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint to see the reason why this area is called the Great Rift Valley. View the Loita Plains and then proceed to Mount Longonot for a 5-hour hike. You will hike around the crater and down to the Gate. The height gain during the hike is rapid and this makes for a stiff climb. Alternatively, you can also decide to circumnavigate the crater rim. The hiking trail features some rest points, but it also includes some narrow points - especially on the crater rim. The total length of the hike up, around the crater rim, and back, is 10.3km. The hike from the Gate to the crater rim is 3.1km in length.