Mount Kenya is a mountaineers' mountain.
Steep, craggy, and with twin summit spires, it's the kind of peak mountaineers might conjure up when they dream of serious climbing adventures. It resembles some of the legendary peaks of Patagonia, the Matterhorn, and certain mountains in the Canadian Rockies.
At 5,199 meters (17,058 feet), Mount Kenya is also the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kenya is much more intriguing to mountaineers than Kilimanjaro. For one thing, it took until nearly the end of the last century for explorers to even confirm the existence of the mysterious peak. Felice Benuzzi's famed 1953 story of three Italian prisoners of war escaping from a British prison camp near Nanyuki so they could climb the mountain, then their "escape" back into prison after bagging
Point Lenana, adds to the allure.
The Embu called the mountain Kirenia ("mountain of whiteness"), and the Masai called it Oldonyo Eibor ("white mountain") and Oldonyo Egere ("speckled mountain").
Anthropologists and linguists believe the modern name Kenya comes from the Kamba or Wakamba tribe, who called the mountain Kiinyaa ("mountain of the ostrich") because the dark rock and speckled ice fields closely resemble the tail feathers of the male ostrich.
The three highest points on Mount Kenya - Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana - were all named by Halford Mackinder after legendary Masai laibons, or medicine men, following the first ascent of the mountain. The Masai who live around Mount Kenya believed that their divine ancestors lived on Mount Kenya and that their people came down from the mountain at the beginning of time.
Most of the other subsidiary summits around Mount Kenya are named for more contemporary European explorers and climbers.
CLIMBING MT. KENYA
4 DAYS : SIRIMON DOWN SIRIMON
DAY 1
Leave Nairobi at 8.00 am through the central highlands to Nanyuki arriving at 11.00am.Have lunch and proceed further with a four-wheel drive to Sirimon Park Gate. Check in here and start hiking through the rain forest which is 9km to Old Moses camp. (3,300m)
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 2
Breakfast is served at 7.00am after which you start hiking through the Liki valley via Mackinder valley to Shiptons camp (4200m). This distance takes you 6 - 7 hours Lunch is served en route.Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 3
Wake up at 2.30 am,have tea and biscuits and start attempting the summit Pt. Lenana (4,985m). This takes 3hrs.Arriving at 6,30 in the morning for sunrise, if its clear Mt. Kilimanjaro highest peaks KIBO and MAWENZI are visible,Afterwards descend down to Shiptons camp for full breakfast.After
breakfast Leave at 10.00am to Old Moses for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
After breakfast leave camp to the park gate,which is 2 hours walking and drive to Nanyuki for lunch.After lunch drive back to Nairobi arriving late afternoon.
5 DAYS : NARO-MORU TRAVERSE SIRIMON.
DAY 1
Leave Nairobi at around 8.00am for Naro-moru arriving in time for lunch. Take a four-wheel drive and leave for the Naro-moru park gates after checking in proceed through the rain forest 9km to Met station.
(3,050m).dinner/overnight.
DAY 2
Breakfast is served at 7.30am. After breakfast, proceed to Mackinder camp through the vertical bog and the Mackinders valley. The walk takes 5-6hrs.Dinner and overnight at the camp. (4,300m).
DAY 3
At 3.00 am have a light breakfast and proceed the way up to attempt the summit. The hike to Pt. Lenana (4,985m) takes 3hrs arriving in time for sunrise. From here you can see Mt Kilimanjaro . After taking some
photos descend down to Shiptons camp for full breakfast.Dinner and overnight at the camp. (4,200m).
DAY 4
Breakfast is served at 8.00 am.After breakfast proceed the way down to Old Moses. The walk takes around 5 hrs. Dinner and overnight at the camp. (3,300m)
DAY 5
Breakfast is served at 8.00 am;after breakfast leave the camp to Sirimon Park gate, (9km) arriving at 11.30am to connect your vehicle to Nanyuki.Lunch in Nanyuki town and connect your vehicle to Nairobi
arriving early evening.
6 DAYS : SIRIMON OUT CHOGORIA ROUTE OFFERING PEAK CIRQUIT.
DAY 1;
Leave Nairobi at 07,30 hrs driving towards Nanyuki town about 3 hrs.This town is to the Northern side of the Equator and a base for mt.kenya climbing. It is where the porters join you for the trip. Finalise the
preparations and drive in a 4wheel to the Sirimon Gate 2,650m.After picnic lunch start walking via the rainforest to join Hagenia-Hypericum zone before reaching Old Moses-3,300m for Dinner overnight.
DAY 2;
After an early morning Breakfast proceed the ascent to the peaks across a rough moorland past Giant Heathers to join Liki North Valley in the upper part before getting at the Camp. The Hike is short and takes 3 hours. Likii North hut 3,993m is a simple shelter, which is not manned but only the Rock Hyrax who dwell in it. It is more interesting for visitors to sleep in Tents.
DAY 3;
Breakfast is served late at 0800hrs in the morning before packing your baggage. Having prepared, cut along the ridge behind the campsite to join Mackinders Valley after an hour's walk. Continue the direction upwards past the Shipton Caves to arrive at Shipton Camp-4200m for dinner overnight
DAY 4;
After a relaxed night have breakfast at 0800hrs.Walk up the ridge towards Hausberg Col 4600m.Walk down the valley passing via the Hausberg & Oblong Tarns up the Tooth-Col.Walk alongside a vertical wall towards Two Tarns-4,500m and down to American Camp before scrambling up a sharp
ridge to arrive at Austrian hut-4790m. The Western side of mt.kenya offers a great excitement with the jagged impression experienced by many peaks on this side. Dinner overnight in the Camp.
DAY 5;
Wake up at 0500hrs for Tea & Cookies.Scramble up the ridge alongside the Lewis Glacier to Point Lenana-4,985m arriving at 0630hrs for sunrise. The Dome [Kibo] of Kilimanjaro is likely to be seen from far South with good weather conditions. After a timely view and photographing, descend down via the Harris Tarn to Mintos Hut 4300m for breakfast. A walk to the Gorges [temple] is amazing with Lake Michaelson at the base of the Canyon.Continue the way down to Chogoria Bandas-3,017m for Dinner Overnight.
DAY 6;
After breakfast at 0730hrs walk down 15km through thick bamboo forest via partial but thick rain forest to connect a 4-wheel to Chogoria village. After lunch board a car back to Nairobi having conquered mount Kenya.
8 DAYS : MT.KENYA (TECHNICAL CLIMBING: NELION,BATIAN)
DAY 1
NAIROBI- NARO-MORU.
Leave Nairobi at 9.00am accompanied by our mountain guide arriving at Naromoru in time for lunch. After lunch drive to the youth hostel for the rest of the day acclimatizing, dinner and overnight in the hut.
DAY 2;
MET STATION.
After breakfast you leave the youth hostel and drive to Naromoru Park gate (1600m), then start ascending through the bamboo zone and rain forest. This is 10km hike to Met station, which usually take 4 hours.
DAY 3;
MACKINDERS CAMP.
After breakfast you continue through the vertical bog and giant heather to Mackinders camp (4300m)Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 4;
MACKINDERS CAMP.
Spend the whole day for acclimatization whereby you will be walking around the peaks. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 ;
AUTRIAN HUT.;
Depart after the morning breakfast and do the hardest part of the scree arriving at the Austrian hut (4700m) in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon arranging your climbing gears.Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 6;
NELION
Leave Austrian hut at 4.30am crossing the Lewis Glacier, to reach the climbing base, after 1hr, start your climb by donkey walking whereby, you will take 3 hrs to reach at Baillies Bivi, Then traverse One o'clock
gully to reach at the graph valuation, this is three pitches, then climb the last pitch to the top of Nelion (5100m). Option, you can either cross the gate of mist to Batian or you can spend a night at Ian Howell hut to summit the on the 7th and then abseil down about 18 pitches and then walk down to Austrian hut for dinner/overnight.
DAY 8
After breakfast descend down to Met station to connect your bus to Nairobi.
5 DAYS : CHOGORIA/ NARO-MORU ROUTE
A spectacular and beautiful route up Mount Kenya ascending down Chogoria Route and descending the Naro Moru Route. This is only possible during the dry weather as the road to Chogoria road head is impassable during the wet months.
Day 1
Leave Naro Moru River Lodge at 10.00 a.m. after preparing your equipment. You are driven through Nanyuki, Timau and Meru to Chogoria town and then up the eastern slopes of the mountain via the Forest Gate to the road head at 3,200 ft. Overnight at gate cliffs in tents.
Day 2
After breakfast walk to Mintos Hut at 14,400 ft. for overnight. Lunch is served on the way. Walking time 4-5 hours.
Day 3
Walk along Gorges Valley descending to Lake Michaelson, then lunch at Viviana Falls. After lunch trek through the magnificent castle rocks to Mintos Hut for overnight. The whole day is spent hiking.
Day 4
Hike up through Square Tarn to Point Lenana at 16,355 ft., the third highest peak on Mount Kenya. Descend via Austrian Hut to MacKinders Camp for overnight in Teleki Lodge at 14,200-ft. Walking time 5-6
hours.
Day 5
Descend along the Naro Moru Route and vertical bog to arrive at Met. Station before 12.00 noon to meet your vehicle, which will return you to Naro Moru River Lodge.
5 DAYS : SIRIMON DOWN CHOGORIA
Day 1
Leave Nairobi at 9.00 o'clock arriving at Nanyuki lunch time at 1.00 o'clock.We will be having lunch and later after proceed to the forest for nature walk and for aclimatization.dinner and overnight at the
campsite.
Day 2
After breakfast, take a 4wheel drive up to sirimon gate 2650 metres.Here we will pack all the gears in our luck sack and start hiking to Old Moses camp 3300 meters which is 9 km.Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
After breakfast, leave at 7.30 am and proceed via Liki north and down mackinders valley arriving at Shipton 4200 meters at 3.00 pm.Dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Leave at 3.00 o'clock at night to the summit, which normally take 3 hrs,arriving at 6.30 in the morning for the sunrise. After the sunrise, descend down to Mintos hut 4200m for full breakfast. Later after, descend down to the gorges valley to Chogoria bandas, dinner and overnight.
Day 5
After breakfast we will be picked buy 4wheel drive through bamboo forest which is 32km,where you are going to connect our mini bus to Nairobi. We will be arriving in Nairobi at 4.00 pm.
5 DAYS : SIRIMON OUT NARU-MORU
Day 1:
After breakfast at Naru-moru River Lodge , proceed to Sirimon gate, this is where the walks start, we will be having picnic lunch on the way. After lunch, proceed towards the dense forest,9 km walk,3hrs walk,
dinner/overnight at Old Moses (3300m)
Day 2:
After breakfast, leave at 7.30 hrs to Shipton camp, a long walk which will take 6-7 hrs,up and down the hills,picknic lunch is served on the dinner/overnight at shipton 4,200 meters.
Day 3:
After morning breakfast, start the peak circuit, ascending to a steep ridge through Kami hut, Hausberg tarn and two Tarns Lake. This will take 4 hrs to Mackinders camp 4300 m, dinner/overnight.
Day 4:
Wake up at 2.00 at night and have tea and biscuits and leave at 3.00 to the summit of Point Lenana 4985m; this is tough and steep, 3 hours walk, arriving at 6.30 in the morning for the sunrise. Kilimanjaro is visible if the weather is clear, after taking photograph, descend down to Mackinders camp for your full breakfast. Then descend to met station 3050m, 5 hours walk, dinner/overnight.
Day 5:
After breakfast, descend down to the gate through rain forest, 2 hrs walk, to connect your transport back to Nairobi.
