The upper viewpoint
The falls straight ahead.
Raidarmax — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mbuvi sam — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nmitei — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shyamal — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SeanTwice — CC BY-SA 4.0
Thomson's Falls is a 74 m waterfall on the Ewaso Ng'iro River, about 3 km from the town of Nyahururu at 2,360 m. It is an easy stop in the central Rift Valley and a powerful sight, with the water dropping into a deep gorge lined with green trees. Joseph Thomson reached it in 1883, a Scottish geologist who was the first European to walk from Mombasa to Lake Victoria, and named it after his father. He described the thunder of the water plunging into a gloomy gorge, with plants hanging from the crevices. The falls are now an important source of income for Nyahururu, as visitors pay at the gate. The upper viewpoint looks straight at the falls, with grassland to one side. From there a stepped path goes down to the bottom of the gorge, where you get close to the spray, trees and rocks. The flow is stronger after rain, and its colour changes with the season. It is 36 km in a straight line from Lake Bogoria. Going down means a tiring climb back, made harder by the altitude, so take your time and wear suitable shoes, as the steps are slippery. It is fairly cool here, so bring a jacket. Agree any guide's fee in advance.
The falls straight ahead.
Steps down to spray and rock.
Dense trees around the water.
Ewaso Ng'iro River, about 3 km from Nyahururu
Going down is easy, but the climb back is tiring because of the steps and altitude.
Joseph Thomson named it after his father when he reached it in 1883.