Overview
Highlights Of Your 4-Days Mount Kenya Trekking 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 – Sirimon Gate – Old Moses Camp. (3,300m)
After pick up in Nairobi, drive to Nanyuki town for lunch crossing the equator en route to the Sirimon Park gate (2660m). Picnic as your guide signs in the park.
From the gate, we trek up through magnificent montane forest, bamboo and giant heather zone before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first campsite (Old Moses campsite 3,300m) for dinner and overnight.
This is a gentle trek that takes 3 – 4 hrs. Gaining an elevation of 680m.
2: Old Moses – Shipton Camp (4200m)
After breakfast, follow the track uphill, forking right at the junction. After a water break, you continue on the track crossing Ontulili River before turning right contouring through the Moorland and crossing Liki North River.
We will continue uphill to Mackinder’s Valley from where there are panoramic views up the valley towards the Shipton Campsite. This camp is a surreal setting below the towering peaks and glacier. Resident population is of Rock hyrax and sun birds.
3: Shipton - Pt Lenana (4985m)- Mt Kenya Bandas (2800m)
(11-12 Hrs, 29km, 785 Ascent, 2,085m Descent)
Full Day Acclimatization
Kick-off at 3.am to reach pt Lenana in time for the African sunrise.
The climb starts on frozen scree and continues on a rocky track with some very minor scrambling. With a good Moon, you barely need a torch. Without a Moon, then the pollution-free sky bangs on the ground giving you as good a view of the stars as almost anywhere on Earth.
The climb takes 3 -4 hrs and to add to the exhilaration, Mt. Kilimanjaro is also visible from the horizon.
Descend to Minto's hut for full breakfast. After a short rest descend further to Mt Kenya bandas along the gorges valley where you can enjoy good views of The Temple, Lake Michaelson, Mushroom rocks and Giant billiards table. Dinner and overnight at our campsite. You can enjoy log fires, hot showers, and bed at the Bandas!
N.B: Climbing high and sleeping low is excellent for acclimatization – but you can do that almost as well toughing in the sun watching the eagles!
4: Meru Bandas - Chogoria Town - Nairobi.
After breakfast drive down through dense Mt.Kenya rain forest to Chogoria town where you will connect with a shuttle van back to Nairobi, signaling the end of our amazing trekking safari, arriving in Nairobi in the late evening hours around 16:00hrs.
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.)