Overview
Highlights Of Your 6-Days Mount Kenya Rock 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
- Proper rock-climbing equipment needed for Batian.
- Breath taking views of Gorges Valley.
- Batian being Mount Kenya’s highest peak, rises to 5,199 meters.
- Africa's sunrise from the above.
- Moorlands scenary.
- Snow capped Mt. Kenya.
Itinerary
Expand allCollapse all1: Nairobi – Sirimon Gate 2650m – Judimeer Campsite 3300m
After breakfast at 8:00 am leave Nairobi to Sirimon gate where you will start your hiking to Judimeer campsite. Trek from Sirimon gate to Judimeer campsite is a distance of 9km that take about 3-4 hours trekking, passing through the forest of indigenous trees like Podo trees, Douglass fire, Cinder, pine e.t.c and then to Bamboo and finally to Heath part. Dinner and overnight at Judimeer Campsite.
2: Judimeer Campsite – Shiptons Camp 4200m
Wake up at 6:00am in the morning, pack your belongings, and then have after breakfast at 6:30am. Leave Judimeer campsite with a picnic lunch exactly at 7:00 am to shiptons camp a distance of 14 km a journey that takes 6-7 hours. Shiptons camp is located at the base of the highest peaks in Mt Kenya. Dinner and overnight at Shiptons campsite.
3: Acclimatization Day
Optional//: you can opt to hike to shiptons col 4585m for acclimatization or hike to 3rd highest peak point lenana 4985m.
4: Shiptons Camp– Batian Summit 5199m - Shiptons Camp
Technical Climbing Day
Leave the camp at 2:30 am for technical Batian attempts that takes about 9-10 hours of serious technical climbing. After enjoying the summit descend back to Shiptons camp where you will spend the night
5: Shiptons – Chogoria Anabas Bandas
After breakfast change direction toward chogoria with great view of gorges and valley to Anabas bandas for warm shower and nice bed. Lunch will be served enrout.
6: Chogoria - Nairobi
After breakfast drive through dense Mt. Kenya tropical rain forest where by lucky chance you might see wild animals like elephants, buffalos, leopards as you say goodbye to Mt.Kenya on your way back to Nairobi where your tour ends.
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 - Proper rock-climbing equipment needed for Batian peak.
- Medical and personal insurance cover.
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. Activities etc.)