Mount Kenya – Africa’s second highest mountain – offers a choice of exciting treks and climbs through its varied scenery of volcanic ridges, deep valleys and rugged landscape. To climb Mount Kenya is an experience of a lifetime, highly recommended to the adventurous traveler willing to forego some of life’s luxuries for a few days.
Point Lenana (4985m) can be achieved by any physically fit person and no climbing experience is necessary.
Mount Kenya has three main peaks, the two highest are highly technical (Batian and Nelion) and are rarely climbed in comparison to the third peak called Point Lenana which is a trekking peak. Other peaks on the massif also present interesting rock climbs
There are three main routes on the mountain that cater for 90% of all trekkers visiting the mountain- Naro Moru to the West, Sirimon on the North West and Chogoria on the South East. Most people go up and down a combination of these three. You can camp or use huts on all three and the trek is normally 5 days to go up to Point Lenana and back down agai.
A number of huts are found on all the main routes. The mains camps on the western ascent routes are:
Sirimon – Old Moses Camp, Liki North Camp, Shiptons Camp
Naro Moru – Met Station, Mackinders Camp and Austrian Hut just below Pt Lenana
SIRIMON ROUTE
The Sirimon Route is accessed via the North West corner of the mountain and the Kenya Wildlife Service have the Sirimon National Park Gate at the road head where you can pay your fees, there is also accommodation available here. The route is usually considered one of the easier routes as it climbs relatively gradually with only a couple of steeper sections to reach the top camp. It is also currently the most popular route, though it is by no means busy. There are two Huts with dormitory rooms as well as toilets and camping sites; Old Moses (3400m) and Shiptons (4200m). The route follows a vehicle track for the first day, open moorland and the MacKinder Valley for the second day and then the North approach to Point Lenana on summit day.
The forest is relatively sparse on this route and the bamboo zone is not really evident. Most of the second day is spent in the alpine heathland moorland. Crossing the ridge into the MacKinder Valley is a good viewpoint if it is clear and te approach to the peaks along classic u-shaped MacKinder Valley can be spectacular in clear conditions. The MacKinder Valley shows quite a lot of the giant Lobelia and Groundsel which are the classic Mt Kenya Flora.
NARO MORU ROUTE
The Naro Moru Route approaches from the West and KWS have a National Park Gate there and also their main headquarters for the mountain. There is accommodation available here also. This route used to be by far the most popular route as it is relatively short and has huts at Met Station (3050m) and MacKinders (4200m). However, it has been overtaken by the Sirimon route as the most popular. The huts are good at both locations and they also have camping space. The first day up to Met Station is on a vehicle track through the forest and bamboo. The second day goes through more bamboo and forest before emerging onto the alpine heath and following the Teleki Valley to MacKinders. You would usually then use the South approach to Point Lenana, passing another hut (Austrian Hut) at 4790m.
The forest is still dense on this route, as is the bamboo zone. You are quite likely to see bushbuck, Colobus monkey and Sykes Monkey and also evidence of Buffalo and Elephant. The hygenia forest is also in good condition with a lot of flowers and other plants. The giant heathers above the forest were heavily damaged by a fire in 2013 but the alpine moorland has a lot of Giant Lobelia as well as MacKinders Gladiolus higher up. The Teleki Valley has a lot of the classic Tree and Cabbage Groundsels as well as Lobelia Telekii and Deckenii. Some of the cabbage groundsels in particular absolutely massive.
CHOGORIA ROUTE
The Chogoria route approaches from the East and there is a National Forest Reserve gate near the village of Chogoria and a National Park gate further up. The route is often described as the most attractive route on Mount Kenya. However, there is no hut for its high camp and it is quite a bit longer unless you use 4×4’s to cut out the lower part. It is normal to drive 4×4’s through the forest until close to or as far as the Meru Bandas (3000m). The next stage is following a 4×4
track a bit further up to the “Roadhead” where you can either branch left for a more direct route, or right to pass Mugi Hill and Lake Ellis. Both tracks re-converge near the head of a spectacular amphitheatre of cliffs know as The Temple, in the bottom of which is Lake Michaelson and at the West end, a large notch where the Nithi River enters. Just above the junction (4300m), is an old rickety hut that porters often sleep in, but clients have to camp. From here the path continues to rise, up to Simba Tarn, here it splits to head either North or South for Shipton’s or Austrian huts respectively.
The physical landscape on this route is its biggest attraction. Whereas the other routes above generally follow a U-Shaped glacial valley for much of the way, the Chogoria traverses around the head of the spectacular ‘Temple’ with the Hall Tarns perched on the rock ledge above it and Lake Michaelson in the base of the amphitheatre. The additional features of Lake Ellis, the Giant’s Billiard Table and the Nithi Falls further add to its interest. The Chogoria is very often used as a descent route after ascending one of the other routes.
6 DAYS SIRIMON – NARO MORU ROUTE
DAY 1: Fly Nairobi | Nanyuki
Fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Nanyuki. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to Kongoni Camp for 1 night including Lunch and Dinner. (Optional upgrade to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club).
DAY 2: Trek to Old Moses – 3,300metres
Breakfast at camp / lodge. You will be collected at approx 09.30 for the 45-minute transfer to the Sirimon Gate where your Guide will register with KWS, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and pay the park fees. The Cook and porters will organize the distribution of the packs and provisions and then set off for the first camp.
This is a four-hour trek up a fairly steep vehicle track through the forest where you will see evidence of elephant and buffalo and possible sightings of bushbuck and baboons. If you are setting off around 11, you will have a picnic lunch on the way, weather permitting. If your departure is delayed, you may have an early picnic lunch at the gate. This walk takes you up to 3,300 metres to Old Moses camp.
DAY 3: Trek to Shipton’s Camp – 4,2336metres
Your climb continues up to Shipton’s Camp (4,236 m). This walk is 14 km and takes about 6-7 hours. You cross three rivers and two valleys before reaching one of the main U-shaped glacial valleys. You then walk along Mackinder’s valley to Shipton’s Camp, where you will be staying for two nights.
You are now deep in the Afro alpine zone with large stands of giant groundsel and lobelia, and in camp you will see rock hyrax sunning themselves.
DAY 4: Shipton’s Camp – Acclimatization to 4,600metres
A rest day in Shipton’s Camp and an opportunity to do an acclimatization walk up to the Hausberg Col at nearly 4,600 m, with spectacular views of the main peaks up close. Supper and bedtime are early, so that you are well prepared for your dawn ascent the following morning.
DAY 5: Summit to Point Lenana at 4,985metres
You leave Shipton’s Camp between 2.30-3.00 a.m. for your very early morning ascent of Point Lenana (4,985 m). This 4 km walk takes 3-4 hours, as you are now at very high altitude. The aim is to reach the summit by sunrise.
You walk down to Mackinder’s Camp for breakfast, via Austrian Hut, a 2.5 hour walk covering 4.5 km. Then you continue down to Met Station which takes another 4 hours, covering 12 km. You reach Met Station (3,048 m) by mid-afternoon, where you will be staying overnight.
DAY 6: Nanyuki | Nairobi
After breakfast, you walk down to the Naro Moru Gate, a 2 hour walk covering 9 km, where you will be met and transferred to Nanyuki Airstrip, a drive of 40 minutes. Fly back to Nairobi Wilson.
7 DAYS SIRIMON - CHOGORIA ROUTE
DAY 1: Fly Nairobi | Nanyuki
Fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Nanyuki. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to Kongoni Camp for 1 night including Lunch and Dinner. (Optional upgrade to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club).
DAY 2: Trek to Old Moses – 3,300metres
Breakfast at camp / lodge. You will be collected at approx 09.30 for the 45-minute transfer to the Sirimon Gate where your Guide will register with KWS, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and pay the park fees. The Cook and porters will organize the distribution of the packs and provisions and then set off for the first camp.
This is a four-hour trek up a fairly steep vehicle track through the forest where you will see evidence of elephant and buffalo and possible sightings of bushbuck and baboons. If you are setting off around 11, you will have a picnic lunch on the way, weather permitting. If your departure is delayed, you may have an early picnic lunch at the gate. This walk takes you up to 3,300 metres to Old Moses camp.
DAY 3: Trek to Liki North – 3,900metres
After breakfast, you leave at around 7.30. An early start is advisable for the best views, as the weather can close in during the afternoon. The walk crosses two ridges and several streams and in 3-4 hours, you reach the beautiful valley of Liki North dominated by the peaks of Sendeyo and Terere. This walk takes you from the moorland to the Afro alpine zone with its giant groundsel and lobelia, evoking the Jurassic age. There is a small mountain hut for cooking, and you camp overnight.
DAY 4: Trek to Shipton’s Camp – 4,2336metres
After an early breakfast, you climb out of the Liki North Valley, crest a ridge and descend into Mackinder’s valley, dropping down to pick up the trail on the valley floor. You then climb up the other side of the valley to reach Shipton’s Camp at 4,236 metres. This 6km walk can take about 5 hours. Shipton’s Camp has a large bunkhouse and campsite. It is one of the main bases for summit attempts, mainly by trekkers but also by mountaineers.
DAY 5: Shipton’s Camp – Acclimatization to 4,491metres
This is a rest and acclimatization day at Shipton’s Camp to prepare for the ascent of Point Lenana. It is well worth walking up to the Hausberg Col from where you get spectacular views of the peaks including Point Peter and Point Dutton. This is a good dry run as you reach 4,591 metres, only 394 metres lower than Point Lenana. Then an early supper and bed to get some sleep before the next day’s very early start.
DAY 6: Summit to Point Lenana at 4,985metres
You leave Shipton’s Camp between 2.30 and 3am for your early morning ascent of Point Lenana (4,985 m). This 4 km walk takes 3-4 hours due to poor light and high altitude. The aim is to reach the summit by sunrise.
Then it’s a steep descent down a scree slope towards the spectacular Gorges Valley. Dotted with giant groundsel, this is the most extraordinary landscape. Breakfast is near Hall Tarns, a distance of about 4.5 kms, then continue to the Meru Mount Kenya Lodge, a simple mountain lodge near the Chogoria Gate.
This is a long day as the walk covers 14 km and takes about 6 to 7 hours, but the rewards are a hot shower and supper in front of a log fire.
DAY 7: Chogoria | Nairobi
After a leisurely breakfast, you walk about 10 kms down through the forest to meet a Landrover to take you down the rest of the track and on to Chogoria town. From here you take an onward road transfer (approx 4 hours) to Nairobi.
7 DAYS CHOGORIA – SIRIMON ROUTE
DAY 1: Fly Nairobi | Nanyuki
Fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Nanyuki. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to Kongoni Camp for 1 night including Lunch and Dinner. (Optional upgrade to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club).
DAY 2: Nanyuki | Chogoria Bandas – 2,950metres
Breakfast at camp / lodge. You will be collected at approx. 9.30 for the transfer to Chogoria via Meru, which takes about 2.5 hours. Then you continue to the Chogoria Park Gate (2,950 m) and the Chogoria Bandas (just near the Gate) where you’ll be staying overnight. This transfer takes about 1.5 hours and covers 32 km, including 22 km up a steep track through the forest.
On arrival, you have a late lunch followed by a gentle stroll in the surrounding parkland. You have your own room with attached bathroom, and hot showers are available in the early evenings. Supper is served in front of a log fire in your sitting room.
DAY 3: Trek to Lake Ellis – 3,405metres
After breakfast, you set off along the Chogoria route towards the conical Mugi Hill. Then you turn off the main route and walk to Lake Ellis at 3,405 m, where you’ll be camping overnight. This walk takes 4 hours and covers 10 km. One option is to take a detour to the Nithi waterfalls for a picnic lunch, or alternatively have lunch by the lakeside.
DAY 4: Trek to Lake Michaelson
You walk to Lake Michaelson at 3,900 m, and camp overnight. This walk is 8 km and takes about 6 hours as you are now climbing steadily, although the last section of the walk is a steep descent down to the lake.
DAY 5: Trek to Shipton’s Camp – 4,2336metres
You walk to Shipton’s Camp where you’ll be camping overnight. This is a lovely 3 km route via the Simba Col at 4,620 m, and if the weather is good, you can aim for a daytime ascent of Point Lenana at 4,985 m, a 2-3 hour detour from below the Simba Col.
If you didn’t make a daytime ascent, supper and bedtime will be early, in preparation for your night-time ascent of Point Lenana.
DAY 6: Summit to Point Lenana at 4,985metres
If you didn’t walk via Point Lenana on the previous day, you make a very early start at 2.30 a.m., with the aim of reaching the summit by sunrise. This walk covers 4 km and takes 3-4 hours. You descend to Shipton’s Camp for breakfast and then continue down to Old Moses Camp. This walk is 14 km and takes a further 5-6 hours, depending on your pace. You arrive at Old Moses Camp by mid-afternoon.
If you made the ascent of Point Lenana on the previous day, you walk down to Old Moses Camp after breakfast, arriving around lunchtime.
After a snack lunch, you transfer from Old Moses Camp back to Nanyuki via the Sirimon Gate, which takes just over an hour. You are staying overnight at Kongoni Camp on Full Board.
DAY 7: Nanyuki | Nairobi
Breakfast at camp. Later in the morning, transfer to Nanyuki airstrip for flight back to Nairobi.
