4 Days Foot Safaris; either Sirimon Route or Naromoru route.
Day 1
Depart Nairobi after breakfast 0800 hrs and be transferred to Mt. Kenya region. Arrive at Naromoru town for lunch where you meet the guide for briefing and sorting of trekking equipment. Then be driven to the Sirimon Park Gate where you check in the the park and start a 3hrs hike through the equatorial forest to the camp for overnight (3,300m) Packed lunch is served on route. An easy trek in the afternoon to help acclimatization. Overnight Old Moses hut (3300m, 3 hours walk)
Day 2
After breakfast hike up through Sirimon Track to Likii North Valley where you have good view of peaks of Teleki and Sendeyo, the proceed further out of the Likii North Valley and into the Mackinders Valley, one of the broadest valleys on the mountain, with many giant groundsels. Camp at the head of the Mackinder’s Valley, just below the main peaks of Batian and Nelion (4,300m- 6-7 hrs walk). Overnight at Shiptons Hut- Full board.
DAY 3.
Predawn attempt to the third highest peak, Pt. Lenana (4985m) to be on top of the peak for the sunrise for good view of the peaks and environs. Four hours of walking to the summit. Then descend to Teleki Valley on the opposite side of the main peaks, to Mackinder’s Camp for breakfast and rest. Afternoon proceed down to Met.station for overnight. (3080m, 8-9 hrs walk).
Day 4.
After breakfast begin a 3 hour descent through the forest to the parkgate where you are picked and be transferred back to Nairobi.
Naromoru route.
Day 1.
Depart Nairobi after breakfast 0800 hrs and proceed by road to Naromoru town where you meet the guide for briefing and sorting of the trekking equipment. Then be driven to Naromoru park-gate on Naromoru route where you start the trek. The guide sets a leisurely pace through the equatorial forest, where you enjoy seeing fascinating vegetation zones, animals and bird life. Packed Lunch is provided en-route. The trek takes 3 hrs to the Met station where you spend the night in the Mountain log cabins.
A good day for acclimatization hike is taken in the afternoon to gain and loose altitude.
Dinner & overnight at Met. Station, Alt. 3080m.
Day 2.
After breakfast hike up past forest line to moorland zone covered by tussock glass and Heathers zone onto the Teleki valley to the crest of the ridge from which vantage point you have a splendid view of the main peaks and Aberdare rangtes on East side. Packed lunch is provided en-route. Walking time approximately 6 – 7 hours to the teleki lodge arriving at the camp late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at Teleki lodge, Alt. 4,200m.
Day 3.
A per-dawn start is made to ensure a successful summit bid and in time for clear view of the majestic scenery after sunrise. With the help of the guide ascent to the third highest peak –Pt. Lenana -4985 m, 4- 5 hr to the summit. Enjoy beautiful views of the main peaks and environ, then descend down to teleki lodge for breakfast and rest. Afternoon proceed hike down though the moorland to Met. Station arriving for dinner and overnight at Met. Station.
Day 4
After breakfast descend through the forest to park gate for a pickup and be transferred to Nairobi arriving late afternoon.
5 Day Sirimon –Naromoru Route- camping.
The Sirimon Track, is one of the finest approaches to the peak area. It offers some of the best views of the main peaks, with a gradual climb which can be done leisurely. We traverse the mountain by ascending the Sirimon Track and descending through Naromoru track. Camping route.
Day 1
Depart Nairobi after breakfast and proceed to Mt. Kenya region then Nanyuki where you meet guides and porters and start sorting personal equipment for the mountain trek. Then be driven to the Sirimon Park Gate where you sign and start a 3hrs hike through the equatorial forest to the camp for overnight (3,300m) Packed lunch is served on route. An easy trek in the afternoon to help acclimatization. Overnight Judmaier Camp (3300m) in the high altitude mountain tents.
Day 2
After breakfast hike up through Sirimon Track to Likii North Valley and camp overnight in this beautiful little valley below the subsidiary peaks of Teleki and Sendeyo, two ancient parasitic vents of the main peaks. (3990m) Overnight in high altitude tents- Full board.
Day 3
After breakfast trek out of the North Valley and into the Mackinders Valley, one of the broadest valleys on the mountain, with many giant groundsels. Camp at the head of the Mackinder’s Valley, just below the main peaks of Batian and Nelion (4,300m). Overnight at Shiptons Camp in high altitude tents- Full board.
Day 4
Predawn attempt to the third highest peak, Pt. Lenana (4985m) to be on top of the peak for the sunrise for good view of the peaks and environs. Four hours of walking to the summit. Then descend to Teleki Valley on the opposite side of the main peaks, to Mackinder’s Camp for breakfast and rest for an hour. Then proceed down to Met. Station for dinner and overnight. (3000m.).
Day 5
After breakfast descend through the forest to parkgate and be picked and transferred to Nairobi.
05 Days Chogoria- Sirimon or vice versa- camping.
Day 1: Nairobi – Mt Kenya Bandas (2,900m).
Depart Nairobi by 0700hrs and proceed by road to the Eastern part of Mt. kenya, be driven through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we take 4×4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for distance of 10 km up to the Mt Kenya Bandas.
Dinner and overnight in high altitude tents- F/B.
Day 2. Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite ( 3,600m)
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni and the Giants Billiards Table, whilst if we follow the river near road head, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful.
Lunch on the banks of a stream, then it’s time to cut up the left hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.
Overnight in tents – F/B.
Day 3: Lake Ellis- Mintos Camp. ( 4,200m) Similar early start. Again well off the beaten track to follow a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to eventually join the tourist track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of about 4,100m. Breath taking views over the Gorges Valley and back over towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands. Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m and our night's rest. Afternoon is spent relaxing at camp, though a 10 minute walk to the "Temple" is well worth the effort. This is a 150 meters vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge - they look as if they are praying. Day 4: Mintos – Pt. lenana – Old Moses.
Pre dawn start from the Minto’s camp and attempt the 3rd highest peak – Pt. Lenana, 4,985m to be on the top of the summit by sunrise for good view of the main peaks and mountain environs. The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp
Hike down through North side to Simba col down to Shipton’s camp for breakfast and rest. In the afternoon proceed down through the moorland to Judmaier camp for dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 5: Old Moses camp- Sirimon Park gate- lodge.
After breakfast hike down through the forest to Sirimon gate- 3 hours walking. Where you find vehicles to transfer you to Nairobi or proceed to the next destination.
06 Days Land of contrast on Mt. Kenya- camping.
This trek offers some of the best views of the main peaks with a gradual ascent which can be done leisurely, we traverse the mountain by ascending the Sirimon track, join the best of Timau, then join the best of Chogoria and Descend the Naro Moru track.
Day 1.
Depart Nairobi after breakfast. Then be driven to Mt. Kenya region where you meet guides and porters who assist you to sorting mountain equipments. Proceed to the Sirimon gate for checkin to the mount kenya national park on the sirimon route. The Guides set a leisurely pace through the equatorial forest to the Judmaeir camp. Packed lunch is served on route. An easy walk in the afternoon to help acclimatization, overnight Judmaier’s Camp (3,300m) in the high altitude mountain tents.
Day 2
After breakfast trek up the moorland and break away from Sirimon track at altitude of 3,940m, contouring into the Sirimon Valley. This is a seldom visited area with a tremendous amount of wildlife. Overnight in Sirimon Valley, altitude 3,940m.
Day 3
An early start out of the Sirimon Valley and into the head of the Hinde Valley. We then cross the Nithi and Gorges Valleys. This is undoubtedly one of the most scenic areas of the mountain with its 1,000 – vertical cliffs, its virgin valleys and cascading water-fall, is one of the most spectacular trekked areas in Kenya. Night camped at Hall Tarns(4,300m).
Day 4
Descend to Lake Michaelson, in the depth of the Gorges Valley. See the incredible cave formation known as the Temple. Walk down the valley to Vivienne falls (named after the famous author of Speak to the Earth). Return to camp in the afternoon. Overnight at Hall Tarns (4,300m.).
Day 5
Pre dawn ascent on the third highest peak Pt.Lenana (4,985m) to be on the summit for sunrise and a clear view of the main peaks and environs. Takes 04 hours of walking to the summit. Then descend down through the West side to Austrian hut down to the Teleki Valley and spend the night at our Mackinders Camp (4,150m).
Day 6
Descend the mountain via the Naro Moru route completing a fine circuit of Mt. Kenya, and be picked from the gate to Nairobi or option of staying at the Naro Moru River Lodge for a well-earned rest- Extra.
07 Days Chogoria Traverse on Mt. Kenya.
Day 1: Nairobi- Mt Kenya Bandas (2,900m)
Depart Nairobi after breakfast and be driven to the eastside of the mountain through enjoying the good view of the mountain in various view point and agriculture field with the area up to Chogoria town arriving for lunch. After lunch, we take 4×4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for distance of 10 km up to the Mt Kenya Bandas.
Dinner and overnight in high altitude tents.
Day 2. Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite ( 3,600m)
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni and the Giants Billiards Table, whilst if we follow the river near road head, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful.
Lunch on the banks of a stream, then it’s time to cut up the left hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.
Overnight in tents.
Day 3: Lake Ellis- Minto`s Camp. ( 4,200m)
Early start. Again well off the beaten track to follow a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to eventually join the tourist track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of about 4,100m. Breath taking views over the Gorges Valley and back over towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands.
Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m and our night’s rest.
Afternoon is spent relaxing at camp, though a 10 minute walk to the “Temple” is well worth the effort. This is a 150 meters vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying.
Overnight in tents.
Day 4: Minto`s camp – Acclimatization day.
After breakfast visit the gorges valley, down to the Vivian falls and Lake Michelson. Return to the camp in the afternoon for lunch and overnight in tents at the Mintos camp.
Overnight in tents.
Day 5: Minto`s – Pt. Lenana –Shiptons camp (4,300 m).
Pre dawn start from the Mintos camp and attempt the 3rd highest peak – Pt. Lenana, 4,985m to be on the top of the summit by sunrise for good view of the main peaks and mountain environs. Then descend down through the Northface to Simba col down to Shiptons camp for breakfast and rest. Overnight in tents.
Day 6: Shipton – Teleki Valley- Met. Station.
After breakfast hike over the Mackinders valley down to Hausberg tarn, Two tarn down to Mackinders camp for lunch. The Mackinders is set on eastside of the mountain with clear view of the three main peaks Batian, Nelion and Lenana. The hike makes a complete circuit of the main peaks and views, sceneries from all main routes.
Afternoon proceed down through the moorland down to forest to Met. Station arriving at the camp late afternoon. Overnight at Met. Station in mountain hut, 3,100m.
Day 7: Met. Station – Naromoru river lodge
After early morning breakfast, descend for 3 hours through the forest to Naromoru park gate for a pickup transfer to Nairobi or your next destination.
Rock climbing itineraries on Mt. Kenya
TECHNICAL CLIMBING ON THE MAIN PEAKS OF MT. KENYA
(Batian 5,169m and /or Nelion 5158m.)
Because of Mt. Kenya’s unique position on the equator, climbing seasons and route conditions vary with the sun’s position. For example, a climber interested in doing one of the best ice routes, which are on the south side of the mountain, should climb when the sun is in the north, between the months of June and December.
However, during the same period the east and north sides are in the best condition for rock climbing. Conversely, when the sun is in the south, the south side offers the best rock routes and north the better ice climbing conditions.
Recommended routes
December-March
Normal Route, Standard IV (rock: South West Ridge, Standard V (rock routes).
June-September
North Face, Standard IV (rock Route).