Kenya · Laikipia County
Thomson's Falls
Thomson's Falls is a 74-metre waterfall on the Ewaso Ng'iro River in Central Rift Valley Kenya, a few kilometres from Lake Ol Bolossat, which drains from the Aberdare Range. It is situated 3 kilometres from the town of Nyahururu, at 2,360 metres elevation.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Thomson's Falls drops 74 metres (243 ft) on the Ewaso Ng'iro River. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Nyahururu, Kenya. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Thomson's Falls is number 2 on our list of the highest-altitude waterfalls. As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Thomson's Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Nyahururu are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Rain-season fed: the falls are at their biggest towards the end of the main rains and can shrink dramatically in the dry months.
Getting there
- Base town Nyahururu, Kenya
- Country Kenya
- Region Laikipia County, East Africa, Africa
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Thomson's Falls
Kenya
Height74 mWidth—
Most similar
Akaa Falls
Ghana
Height76 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Ghana
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 13× taller than Thomson's Falls. Victoria Falls is 1.5× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Thomson's Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
0.04417, 36.37028
Quick answers
Where is Thomson's Falls?
Thomson's Falls is in Kenya (Laikipia County). The nearest base is Nyahururu, Kenya. Its coordinates are 0.0442, 36.3703.
How tall is Thomson's Falls?
Thomson's Falls drops 74 metres (243 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall on the Ewaso Ng'iro River.
When is the best time to visit Thomson's Falls?
Peak flow is April to May and October to November. Rain-season fed: the falls are at their biggest towards the end of the main rains and can shrink dramatically in the dry months.
What can you do at Thomson's Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Thomson's Falls?
The usual base is Nyahururu, Kenya. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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