Near Thika, the river forms the Fourteen Falls and turns south-south-east under the wooded slopes of the Yatta ridge, which shuts in its basin on the east.
The valley is low and flat, covered with forest and scrub, containing small lakes and backwaters connected to the river during the rainy season.
During the rainy season, the river rises as much as 10 metres (33 ft) in places, now strongly flowing with a turbid yellow colour; navigation is interrupted by the Lugard Falls, actually a series of rapids.
Flowing east, it enters the Indian Ocean 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Malindi.
[1] The river flows through the Tsavo East National Park and attracts diverse wildlife, including hippopotamus and crocodiles.