KWS rescues tourist after spending night trapped inside Mt Longonot crater
By Kiprono Keileb, December 1, 2025A visitor who fell into the Mt Longonot crater on Saturday was rescued after spending the entire night stranded on a narrow rock ledge, in what Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has described as a delicate and carefully coordinated operation.
Speaking through a statement posted on X on Monday, December 1, 2025, KWS said the tourist, identified as Bildad Simiyu, had slipped while hiking and tumbled into the crater, landing on a rocky outcrop that made it extremely difficult for rescuers to reach him before nightfall.
According to the statement, the steep terrain and fading daylight forced rescue teams to halt the extraction effort to avoid further danger. Instead, officers remained at the crater rim through the night, keeping constant communication with the stranded hiker to reassure him and monitor his condition.
“On Saturday at Mt. Longonot, visitor Bildad Simiyu slipped and fell into the crater and landed on a rock ledge, making it difficult for rescuers to reach him. As darkness fell and extraction became too risky, our KWS team stayed at the crater rim, kept talking to him, reassured him, and monitored his condition throughout the night,” the statement read.
At daybreak, more support teams joined the mission, turning the rescue into a multi-agency effort. Officers from the Kenya Red Cross, Nakuru Fire Brigade, Kenya Police, and ITARC Hospital worked alongside KWS to navigate the steep crater walls.
“At first light, KWS officers teamed up with the Kenya Red Cross, Nakuru Fire Brigade, Kenya Police and ITARC Hospital to continue the rescue. After several hours of careful work, they reached him and safely brought him out at around 1500hrs,” KWS stated.
Simiyu, who suffered a fracture to his left leg from the fall, was stabilised at the scene before being taken to Naivasha County Referral Hospital, where he is reportedly in stable condition.
“He sustained a fracture to his left leg and is now stable and receiving treatment at Naivasha County Referral Hospital,” KWS added.
In their closing remarks, the Service expressed gratitude to all teams involved in the challenging operation.
“We thank all the officers and partner agencies involved for their teamwork, professionalism and dedication,” the statement read.
The incident highlighted both the risks associated with mountain hiking and the commitment of emergency responders who often brave extreme conditions to save lives.