Kajiado county has a beautiful and diverse topography ranging from volcanic hills and valleys to expansive plains.

Kajiado sits on an area of 21,901 square kilometers and borders Nakuru, Nairobi and Kiambu to the north, Narok to the west, Makueni and Machakos to the east and Taita-Taveta and Tanzania to the south.

The name Kajiado is derived from the Maasai word ‘Orkejuado‘ which means ‘the long river‘ in reference to a seasonal river that flows west of Kajiado town.

Major Towns in the county

Ngong: – Located on the slopes of Ngong hills, about 20km from Nairobi, Ngong is a well-developed suburb offering a quiet residing place. Ngong is a fast growing town with modern buildings, supermarkets, wholesale shops, petrol stations and other amenities that are being put up within the township.

Kajiado: – Kajiado is the capital town of Kajiado County. The town is located about 80km south of Nairobi along the Nairobi-Arusha road. Kajiado is a flourishing trading center where commodities such as spices, millet, beads, jeweler, sandals and clothing are traded.

An open-air market in Kajiado town, which opens on Wednesdays and Thursdays, is an ideal place to go shopping for vegetables, fruits, spices, millet and other commodities.

Other major urban centres in Kajiado include Kitengela, Rombo, Loitokitok and Namanga. Rombo and Loitokitok are near the Tanzania border and they offer excellent views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Climate :-  The average annual temperature in the county is 18.9°C.

Economic Activities

Livestock rearing is a major economic activity in Kajiado County, providing a source of livelihood for many residents. Dairy farmers mainly sell their milk to neighboring hotels and households, with the surplus being sold in Nairobi. The county also provides a huge market for beef and goat meat, with over 2,000 animals being slaughtered daily for its market.

Irrigation farming – Crops that are grown under irrigation include kale, cabbages, onions, tomatoes, pepper, beans and maize. Other major economic activities in Kajiado County include tourism, particularly in the Amboseli National Park, commodity trading which is carried out both in shops and open-air markets, sand harvesting, quarrying and soda ash mining at Lake Magadi.

Attractions and Places of Interest

Kajiado has several tourist attractions including the Amboseli National Park, Ngong Hills, Nyiri Desert, Lake Magadi and Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site.

Amboseli national park is one of Kenya’s most popular safari destinations. The park is located about 260km from Nairobi at the foot of mount Kilimanjaro. It offers rewarding opportunities to view African lions, elephants, zebras, hyena and other wild animals.

Located about 22km southwest of Nairobi, Ngong Hills are a popular weekend destination for visitors from Nairobi and beyond. There is a walking trail along the peaks of Ngong Hills – which offer a great walking safari experience. Athletes can be spotted in the mornings running up and down the slopes.

Nyiri Desert lies some 80km east of Lake Magadi between Amboseli, Tsavo West and Nairobi national parks. Parts of the desert, which is on the rain shadow of mount Kilimanjaro have dense growth of thorny trees that provide shelter to a sizeable population of elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, impala and other animals.

Lake Magadi which lies about 120km from Nairobi, is the most mineral-rich of the Rift Valley soda lakes. The lake offers a beautiful landscape and rewarding birdwatching opportunities.

Olorgesailie pre-historic site located about 70km from Nairobi, is said to be a camping site of early men. The site has an accumulation of human tools that were used about 200,000 years ago.