Overview
Highlights Of Your 7-Days Mount Kenya Climbing Safari
-This is the tallest of all Kenya Mountains, Mount Kenya rises just over 3,800 metres (17,000 feet) and is the second highest mountain in Africa.
-Packed and ready to climb the second highest mountain in Africa? The trek up Mount Kenya might look challenging but it rewards all the way to the peak.
-Made up of 3 main peaks, Batian – Nelion and Point Lenana, it all depends on which one you climb with all the three having different elevations.
-Batian and Nelion are the highest peaks and require advanced rock climbing and mountaineering skills to conquer.
-Batian being Mount Kenya’s highest peak, rises to 5,199 meters followed by Nelion slightly lower with a peak of 5,188 meters then third in place is Point Lenana rising up to 4,985 meters.
-There being five (5) different main routes to climbing Mount Kenya, namely Sirimon (Offers one of the most beautiful approaches to the peaks), Burguret (You’ll be navigating through the rainforest overnighting at wilderness campsites. The route is often muddy and rough under foot), Naro Moru (The most popular descent route, fast and easy), Chogoria (The Chogoria route passes by waterfalls and an incredible gorge) and lastly Timau, the most common are the first four respectively.
-Most hikers go up and down a combination of routes – which generally take about five (5) to six (6) days to complete.
-These routes have security gates which make them the most frequently used.
*NB* some of the routes require special permission from the Kenya Wildlife Service to hike due to poor weather patterns and risk/danger involved during hike.
-Mount Kenya remains the best trekking tour because it offers hikers breath-taking mountain scenery of glaciers, lakes, mineral springs, and alpine forests to trek through, as well as spotting some wildlife compared to Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is considered a more scenic trek.
Highlights
- Mount Kenya climbing through the Sirimon route.
- Breath taking views of Gorges Valley.
- Point Lenana at 4,895m is the destination.
- Africa's sunrise from the above.
- Moorlands scenary.
- Snow capped Mt. Kenya.
Itinerary
Expand allCollapse all1: Nairobi – Nanyuki Town
Depart Nairobi on a scenic road transfer to Nanyuki Town. Overnight at a Nanyuki hotel on half-board Bed and Breakfast basis.
Your trip starts with a full briefing and kit inspection by an experienced Mount Kenya climber. After the meeting, fuel up on a hearty dinner and get a good night’s rest ready to start your climb tomorrow.
2: Nanyuki – Giant Bamboo Camp
Meet your guide after breakfast and take the opportunity to organise your gear before proceeding to Gathiuru Forest Station, where you will begin a 4-hour hike, equivalent to 10km through dense groves of towering bamboo to a Giant Bamboo Camp at 2600m. Elephants and buffalo are widespread in this area.
3: Giant Bamboo – Highlands Castle
Today’s pathway will lead you to a dense rain- and bamboo forests to the highland swamps and moorlands of Mt. Kenya, giving way to a massive podocarpus and pencil cedar forest before you rise to the hagenia rosewood zone on the moorlands’ border.
This is where you’ll eat before walking up through the incredible gigantic lobelia and groundsels. At 3,700 feet, you’ll spend the night beside the sheer lava cliffs of the “Highland Castle.” Today’s tour lasts 5-6 hours, translated to approximately 8km and includes a 1,100m elevation.
4: Highlands Castle – Shiptons Campsite
We start off at 8:00 AM with spectacular scenery as the jagged volcanic peaks and shimmering glaciers tower above our trek around the summit circuit. Turquoise tarns nestle in the valleys, while eagles and buzzards soar above — it’s hard to believe you’re on the equator! You may meet other trekkers for the first time here as you travel for 5-6 hours, (translated to 10km) to Shiptons Campsite at 4,200m.
5: Shiptons Campsite – Pt Lenana – Hall Tarns
The summit attempt begins at predawn. To reach the summit, climb steep screes and a bare rocky pathway. It will take an amazing 3-4 hours(6km) from here to reach the hiker’s summit, Pt Lenana at 4,985m, in time for sunrise – Kilimanjaro is normally visible 340 kilometers to the south, followed by a 2-3 hour descend to Hall Tarns (4,300 meters), where you will have a hearty breakfast and spend the day resting and relaxing. Your campsite is positioned near (but not too close to) the top of a 300m sheer cliff overlooking the Gorges Valley.
6: Hall Tarns – Mt Kenya Bandas
Gentle climb along a large ridge with spectacular views back up the valley to the snow-capped peaks, and down to waterfalls, tarns, and lava flows in the Gorges Valley itself. Overnight in the Meru Mt. Kenya cabins with log fireplaces, hot showers and beds. Evening wildlife viewing is accessible, with elephants and buffalo frequently grazing outside our cabins, as well as a significant number of forest and moorland birds.
7: Departure to Nairobi
3 hours walk down through the bamboo forest to meet our vehicles for the return journey to Nairobi, drop of at the hotel or airport to catch your flight back home.
What’s Included
- Park fees to the mentioned park.
- Accommodation in mountain huts / camping where applicable.
- Services of expert English speaking local mountain guides, porters and skilled cooks.
- All meals while on safari as per itinerary.
- Emergency evacuation cover – rescue services (not flying doctor).
- Road transfers to and from the mountains.
- Statutory taxes and local levies.
- Laundry, drinks & meals not specified.
- Passport and visa costs.
- Travel insurance.
- Accommodation pre and post the safari.
- Tips & gratuities for porters and guides.
- Hiking gear.
- Medical and personal insurance cover.
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. Activities etc.)