About Suswa
Suswa is a shield rising to 2,356 meters (7,730 feet) in Kenya's Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Suswa is located in Kenya, within the Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province of the broader Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. Situated at 1.15° S, 36.36° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At 2,356 meters above sea level, Suswa rises above the surrounding terrain into montane or subalpine conditions. The elevation creates distinct ecological zones along its flanks, from forested lower slopes to exposed rocky terrain near the summit. The volcanic landform is characterized as a shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Suswa is situated along a rift zone, where tectonic plates are pulling apart. As the crust thins and fractures, magma rises to fill the gap, creating volcanic activity. Rift volcanism typically produces more fluid lava flows rather than explosive blasts, which means communities near Suswa in Kenya generally face slower-moving hazards like lava flows and ground fissures rather than sudden pyroclastic events. However, rift volcanoes can still generate significant ash emissions and gas releases that affect local air quality. The dominant rock type is phonolite, an alkaline volcanic rock that indicates a distinct magma chemistry linked to unique tectonic conditions. This composition can produce both effusive and explosive eruptions, with magma viscosity depending on specific mineral content and gas concentrations at the time of eruption.
GVP Reference Summary
The phonolitic-to-trachytic Suswa volcano in the Kenyan Rift, ~50 km WNW of Nairobi, is notable for its 8 x 12 km caldera. Construction of an early shield volcano was followed by eruption of voluminous Pleistocene pumice and lava flows that accompanied incremental formation of the caldera. The post-caldera lava cone of Ol Doinyo Onyoke ("The Red Mountain," also known as Ol Doinyo Nyukie) is on the south side of the caldera. A large elongated summit crater is truncated on the north by a ring graben. This unusual 5-km-wide circular graben at the center of the older caldera isolates a tilted island block of caldera-floor lava flows. Some lava flows from flank vents remain unvegetated and may be only a century or so old, but have not been dated.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Suswa.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Suswa
Is Suswa an active volcano?+
Suswa is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Suswa?+
Suswa has a summit elevation of 2,356 meters (7,730 feet) above sea level. At 2,356 meters, it is comparable in height to many significant mountain peaks and stands well above the tree line.
What type of volcano is Suswa?+
Suswa is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Suswa located?+
Suswa is located in Kenya, in the Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Kenyan Rift Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -1.151° latitude, 36.357° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Suswa?+
Suswa can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Kenya may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
