Thomson's Falls

In 1883, Scottish explorer Joseph Thomson stood at the edge of this gorge and became the first European to set eyes on what would bear his name. Over a century later, Thomson's Falls still stops people in their tracks; a wall of white water plunging into a lush, mist-filled valley in the heart of the Kenyan highlands. Thomson's Falls sits on the outskirts of Nyahururu, at 2,360 metres above sea level, one of the highest towns in Kenya, where the Ewaso Ng'iro River reaches the edge of a dramatic escarpment and plunges 74 metres into a deep, forested gorge below. The falls were named in honour of Joseph Thomson, the Scottish geologist and explorer who passed through this region in 1883 during his pioneering journey from Mombasa to Lake Victoria, becoming the first European to document this extraordinary natural feature. Cool, misty, and surrounded by lush indigenous forest, Thomson's Falls offers a landscape that feels worlds apart from Kenya's sun-baked savannah; a refreshing, highland encounter with nature at its most elemental.

The area surrounding the falls is alive with wildlife and birding opportunities that surprise even seasoned travellers. The forested gorge and riverbanks shelter Olive Baboons, Bushbuck, and Warthog, while the river upstream hosts one of Kenya's highest hippo pools; a remarkable sight at this altitude. Notable bird species recorded in the area include the African Fish Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Verreaux's Eagle, Hartlaub's Turaco, and the Red-winged Starling; making the falls a rewarding stop for birdwatchers of every level.

Nyahururu itself adds a quiet, unhurried charm to any visit. A genuine highland town largely untouched by mass tourism, it offers an authentic window into everyday Kenyan life; local markets, friendly communities, and the kind of easy pace that encourages lingering. The nearby Thomson's Falls Lodge, one of Kenya's oldest and most characterful highland retreats, has been welcoming travellers since the colonial era and remains the perfect base from which to explore the falls, the forest, and the surrounding Laikipia landscape. 

Thomson's Falls can be visited year-round, but the two dry seasons: January to February; and July to October, offer the most pleasant conditions, with clear skies, dry forest trails, and comfortable highland temperatures that make hiking to the base of the gorge and exploring the surrounding area most enjoyable. The falls are at their most dramatic and thunderous during and immediately after the rains, when the Ewaso Ng'iro River runs full and the volume of water cascading over the gorge is at its peak. 

The long rains from March to June and short rains from November to December bring lush, green surroundings that transform the valley into an extraordinarily vivid landscape; rewarding those who visit in the wet season with a more dramatic waterfall and fewer fellow visitors. Being a highland destination at 2,360 metres above sea level, Nyahururu is cool throughout the year; a light jacket or fleece is advisable whenever you visit.

Hike to the base of the 74-metre gorge; walk the forested trails above the falls; watch hippos at one of Kenya's highest hippo pools; birdwatching along the river & forest edge; visit the Nyahururu Rhino Sanctuary; explore the surrounding highland landscape on nature walks; and enjoy picnics overlooking the falls with views across the Ewaso Ng'iro valley.