The Hidden Gems of Kenya: Exploring the Baboon Parliament in Suswa

A baboon will mostly sleep on trees to stay out of harm’s way especially from predators like lions and leopards which hunt even at night.

However, 50 kilometers away from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, lies deep and mysterious underground tunnels where olive baboons choose to roost in caves. The troops are known as the “Baboon parliament”.

The baboon parliament is located about 20 kilometers from Mount Suswa, where underground tunnels were formed thousands of years ago by rivers of molten lava.

The name “Baboon parliament” was given by the Maasai people.

Extraordinarily, Suswa is the only known place in the world where olive baboons roost in caves. Although there is no scientific explanation or adequate exploration of the phenomenon, tourists have often found it fascinating.

In 2010, the BBC made a two-minute documentary on the baboon parliament, opening up the hidden gem to the rest of the world.

Exploring the Baboon Parliament

The caves where the baboon troops gather is known as the dwelling place of Enkai (God). The caves are considered by the local Maasai as passages to the belly of the earth.

Mount Suswa is located in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. It is positioned between Narok and Nairobi.

The northwestern section of Mount Suswa falls within Narok County, while the eastern and southern portions lie within Kajiado County.

Strikingly, the baboons arrive in the evening when the local bat colonies depart, their arrival results in a two-way traffic.

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Legend has it that if you look down at the opening in the roof early in the morning, you may spot the troop’s leader seated on a stack of rocks in the middle of the chamber.

From there, it appears as though the leader is addressing the rest of the troop, who are perched on ledges high up the cave walls.

To watch and experience this phenomenon, tourists can travel to Suswa town, then Mount Suswa. From there, the caves are 20kilometers.

Also, there are other animals at the caves including rock hyrax, bat-eared fox, African wild dog, spotted hyena, Kirk’s dik-dik, klipspringer, large-eared free-tailed bat and the African elephant.

Ruto Speaks About the Parliament

President William Ruto has several times now encouraged global leaders to visit the hidden gem anytime they are in the country.

His first mention of the parliament was in May 2023, when he hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The German Chancellor and the rest of the delegates burst into laughter when the head of state mentioned the phenomena.

“You will be pleased to know that we have the only Baboon Parliament. There is a place here in Kenya where baboons meet to deliberate on issues affecting their lives.

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“If you had enough time, I’d have taken you to witness baboons having a debate in their Parliament,” Ruto said. 

Later on February 29, during the 6th session of the United Nation’s Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), Ruto told the delegated that they deserved a holiday after the summit, recommending the baboon parliament. 

“You’ve done a very good job, and you deserve some holiday after this meeting. I just want to give you some hints on where to find a place to enjoy your time after this very committed service to humanity,”

“If you thought its only humans who elect members of parliament and have a legislative body, I invite you to go to Suswa and you’ll find a phenomenon called the baboon parliament where baboons meet regularly at a particular place and time and discuss their legislative issues,” he said as the crowd chuckled.