𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐌𝐭. 𝐎𝐥𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐤𝐰𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐮
Long weekends are for doing something wild and freeing, and this Madaraka one, we answered the call of the north with the Mt. Ololokwe hike in Samburu. With bags packed and spirits high, we set off for a weekend of hiking the sacred mountain, swimming in the natural springs of Buffalo, and sleeping under the stars at Sabache Camp.
The Mt. Ololokwe hike in Samburu promised not only breathtaking landscapes but also cultural stories and spiritual moments — and it delivered in every sense
The journey began in the dark stillness of early morning 4Am sharp. Everyone was surprisingly punctual, eyes half shut but spirits quietly high. The drive was smooth, and with the hum of the vehicle, most people drifted back to sleep, the excitement paused for a few more hours.
Our stops were well-timed — quick bites, leg stretches, and laughter-filled fuel-ups. The final stop in Isiolo was a purposeful one: last-minute essentials. Top of the list? Torches. Later that evening, we’d chuckle at how good they actually turned out to be.
𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 – 𝐀 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
By 11 AM, we rolled into Buffalo Springs. To our joy, it was quiet — no crowds, no noise, just us and the shimmering pool. Nestled like a gem in the middle of the arid reserve, the spring was all ours. Warm, clear, and beautifully inviting. As we soaked and floated, something deeper settled in — peace, connection, a rare kind of silence that says, this moment is just right.
Then came the inevitable question — how did this pool get here?
Ahmed, our unofficial history professor (and storyteller-in-chief), had the answer. He’d been here over a decade ago, and with a glint in his eye, he told us a story that took us back to 1940, during World War II. According to local lore, Italian fighter planes dropped bombs near the springs while targeting buffalo herds — one of those explosions created the crater that now holds the spring water. A strange twist of history birthed something so serene. Did you know that?
Though modest in size, the pool can comfortably hold a good number of people. It felt like nature’s own Jacuzzi — no chlorine, no walls, no noise — just warm, healing water in its most natural form.
𝐎𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞 – 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬
As we headed to Sabache campsite, we picked up our local guides — Jackson and Simon. Their energy was calm, grounded, and full of quiet wisdom.
When we finally arrived at the base of the mountain, Sabache Camp welcomed us with something truly special: 4Am tea and fresh snacks — prepared with love by our mountain chefs. Tents had already been pitched. We each chose our own little canvas homes, tucked our bags in, and gathered to enjoy the food.
Then came orientation time. Simon took the lead, weaving stories and facts into an introduction that felt both grounding and humbling. He told us about the mountain rules — not just practical ones, but spiritual ones. Elephants roam here freely, and yes, sometimes a lion or leopard may appear. We asked if they would attack us. He chuckled gently and said, No. The animals are kind and here we coexist.
And it was true — children grazed goats and cows nearby as elephants lingered in the distance. There was something unshakably peaceful about the coexistence here.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 – 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞
Simon then shared the sacred stories behind Mt. Ololokwe — why it’s known as a Sacred Mountain.
This mountain,” he said, “is not just stone and earth. It is sacred.”
He spoke of how, during times of drought, the Samburu women would hike to a river at the top with calabashes of milk. There, they would pray ,pouring the milk as an offering. And always, without fail, the rains would come.
Then he shared a tale that hushed even the rustling wind , the story of a child mistreated by a stepmother. One day the child with other villagers went up the mountain and mysteriously the child disappeared in a rock. The villagers could still hear the child’s voice when they called but see him, they could not. To the community, this was a divine intervention — the mountain, and by extension, God, had took the child to protect him from the mistreatment. Here I remembered the story of characters in the Bible who never died but were taken up by God, the story of Enoch.
And then there was Sabache himself — a revered holy man, said to be buried at the mountain’s peak. His spirit, Simon told us, watches over the land.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 – 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
By now, the moon was glowing above us, and our mountain chef, Mwangi, had dinner ready. A three-course meal under the stars, surrounded by laughter, stories, and the crackle of fire.
We talked about everything — pyramids, history, ancient animals (yes, even mammoths). The debate got heated, the facts got fuzzy, and in the end, we all agreed: to be continued next camping trip.
Then the night settled in, and so did we — into our tents, into our dreams, into the quiet heartbeat of the wild.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐰𝐨 – 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭
The Mt. Ololokwe hike in Samburu starts early, and the sacred trail rewards every step with breathtaking beauty and cultural insight. At 3:30 Am, the camp slowly stirred. Light breakfast, headlamps fixed, water bottles filled — by 4 Am, we were on the trail.
The first 3 kilometers were steep but manageable. Conversation gave way to concentration. Boots crunching the path. Deep breaths. Silent prayers.
By 5:50 Am, we reached the viewpoint — hoping to catch the sunrise. But nature, as always, had her own timing. So we continued upward. Then at 6:17 Am, the sky burst into color. The sun peeked through the horizon, washing everything in gold. One word: magical.
By 7 Am, we were at the summit.
Some hikers had spent the night up there, their tents dancing in the wind. The breeze was fierce, but the views — breathtaking. To the north, the road curved gently through endless plains. Every direction offered a painting.
We clicked away — phones, cameras, minds — capturing it all.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 – 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞
Before heading down, Simon asked each of us to pick a stone. We didn’t know why — until he led us to a spot marked by reverence. “This,” he said softly, “is where Sabache is buried.”One by one, we placed our stones in silence. Then Simon, eyes closed, whispered a prayer in Samburu as we all anwered “Nkai” Samburu name for inviting God. You could feel something shift. A peace. A connection. A moment of something greater than us.
Why the Mt. Ololokwe Hike in Samburu is More Than a Climb
We came for the hike, but we left with so much more. The Mt. Ololokwe hike in Samburu left us with more than views — it left us with stories, silence, and soul. The journey up wasn’t just a physical challenge — it was a spiritual and cultural experience. Every step revealed layers of Samburu heritage, every story shared deepened our connection to the land. Hiking here was less about reaching the summit and more about discovering the soul of the mountain — and maybe a piece of ourselves along the way.
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐭. 𝐎𝐥𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐤𝐰𝐞
In a heartbeat. For every backpacker, seeker, wanderer, and soul in need of reconnection — this mountain is for you.