What is the altitude of Mt Kenya?

It is 4895m or 16355 ft above sea level.

Is Mt Kenya easier than Kilimanjaro?

The only thin that makes it "easier" is the altitude gain as it is not as high as Kilimanjaro but it is still a very step climb to summit. Different routes also offer different degrees of difficulty

Will we see much game and wildlife on Mt Kenya?

Mt Kenya is in a national wildlife park and so the chance of seeing animals like Giraffe and Buffalo as well as monkeys is high.

How many routes are there on Mt Kenya?

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 again.

How long does it take to climb Mount Kenya?

Typically Mount Kenya Climb takes a minimum of 3 days along the shortest routes, but it is best done in 5 days to get the most out of the trek and ensure better acclimatization.

When is the best time to climb Mt Kenya?

Like Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru in Tanzania, June to October is the best. Kenya is equatorial which means minimal variation between the seasons. However, there are two rainy seasons; the first is from March to May (short rains) and November to December (longer rains) which can make the forest track very muddy and of course, snow and/or rain higher up.

Do we stay in tents or huts on Kenya?

It really depends on which route you take as some have shared mountain huts and others use tents. 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 and Shiptons Camp and then on Naro Moru route there is Met Station, Mackinders Camp and Austrian Hut just below Pt Lenana. On the Chogoria route there is also the Chogoria Bandas

CHOGORIA

CHOGORIA ROUTE

The Chogoria route approaches the summit of Lenana from the East near the village of Chogoria. The route is often described as the most scenic and beautiful route on Mount Kenya.

It is the driest route up the mountain and the walk beside the Gorges Valley truly spectacular. It starts at Meru Bandas at the base of arguably one of the beautiful Lake Michaelson. As it is a slower ascent it offers more prospects for acclimatisation and also time to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

However, there is no hut for its high camp and it is quite a bit longer unless you use 4x4's to cut out the lower part. It is normal to drive 4x4's through the forest until close to or as far as the Meru Bandas (3000m). The physical landscape on this route is its biggest attraction with massive protea groves in flower during season. The Chogoria is very often used as a descent route after ascending one of the other routes.

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CHOGORIA route at a glance

Overnight in tents and huts on the mountain

From 4 trekking days but best done in 7 days

Starts from the East near the village of Chogoria

Longer but more scenic approach

Summit via Simba Tarn and Austrian Hut

CHOGORIA ROUTE ITINERARY

Day 1: Nairobi- Mt Kenya Bandas (2,900m) 3 hrs, 10km, 950m ascent.

Depart from Nairobi at 0800hrs, driving through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we take a 4x4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for a distance of 10 km up to the Mt Meru Bandas. Dinner and overnight at the Mount Meru Bandas.

Day 2. Mt Meru Bandas - Lake Ellis Campsite ( 3,600m) 3hrs, 9km, 700m ascent.

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 the 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.

Day 3: Lake Ellis- Minto's Camp. ( 4,200m) 4 hrs, 12km, 600m ascent.

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. Breathtaking 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.
The 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.

Day 4: Minto's - Austrian hut (top hut) 4 hrs, 7km, 500m ascent.

Today we begin our trek ascending up along the foot of huge rock walls. From the top, we'll have an excellent view of Mt. Kenya. After ascending for a couple of hours you reach Tooth Col. From here you traverse until you reach the Austrian Hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Austrian camp - Pt Lenana(4,985m) - Mintos. 5-6 hrs, 285m ascent, 785 descent.

Leave at 5.00 am for predawn attempt, climbing for 1 hour across bare rock and scree slopes characteristic of the alpine region up to Pt Lenana - the hiker`s summit, arriving in time to catch the African sunrise. Descend to Austrian hut( Top hut) for breakfast. After breakfast, we go clockwise, first through America camp. Then we climb up to Two Tarns and Nanyuki Tarns, and then pass between Oblong and Hausberg Tarns before descending to Mintos for dinner and overnight.

There is an option to head all the way down to Meru Bandads today to make the trek one day shorter.

Day 6: Shipton - Old Moses camp. 5 hrs, 14km, 900m descent

After breakfast, we begin a 5-hour descent via Mackinder`s valley to the Old Moses camp (3,300m). The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp.
Dinner and overnight at the Old Moses camp.

Day 7: Old Moses camp - Nairobi. 2 hrs, 680m descent
After early morning breakfast, descend for 3 hours up to the Sirimon Park gate to catch a vehicle for the return journey to Nanyuki. Later transfer back to Nairobi arriving by 1700 hrs.

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bELOW ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED about mount KENYA

Is Mt Kenya a technical climb?

Mt Kenya comprises three peaks, two of which are technical climbs and one which is a trekking peak. The two major technical rock and ice climbing peaks are called Nelion and Batian. The third peak is known as Point Lenana and is a trekking peak, easily achieved via hiking or walking. Our Mt Kenya treks all go to Lenana, so our tours are to the trekking peak where no technical expertise is needed.

What is the highest peak of Mt Kenya?

The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian 5,199 metres (17,057 ft), followed by Nelion 5,188 metres (17,021 ft) and finally Point Lenana 4,985 metres (16,355 ft).

How long does it take to climb Mt Kenya?

The shortest number of days required to climb to Lenana on Mt Kenya is three days. The longest trek is around 6 days. It all depends on which route you choose. As a general rule of thumb, any trek where the ascent is very quick makes the overall success rate,lower, so it is better to add on extra days to increase your chances of success.

What are the routes to climb Mt Kenya?

• The following are the major and frequently used routes:-
• The Chogoria route leads from Chogoria town up to the peaks circuit path
• The Naromoru route is taken by many of the trekkers who try to reach Point Lenana in a few days.
• The Sirimon route approaches Mount Kenya from the plains in the Nanyuki Timau area on the north-west.

When is the best time or months to climb Mt Kenya?

The warmest months with the clearest trekking days, are from mid to late December, January, February, September and October. The rains often come in April and the start of May with the possibility of some snow. June through to August are superb trekking months, though evening temperatures tend to be colder. The wettest months are November and early December, where snowfalls are likely. Note however, that as this is a mountain it is not impossible to get sporadic snow or rainfall at odd times throughout the year, although the snow normally only falls above 4800m.

How will the altitude affect me?

This is a really difficult one to answer directly - "how will I cope with the altitude". To be honest, this is an ' unknown' factor as no-one can predict how your body will cope at altitude. People who have been to altitude many times in the past without problems, may on one climb suddenly develop problems. There are many factors that play a role. The only way to help combat this, is to take all of the necessary precautions, and walk slowly, pole pole.

Where can I get climbing Insurance for Mount Kenya?

If you are going hiking or climbing or trekking then you need extra cover for your activities. Hiking and Climbing have become popular for many adventure seekers looking to add a climb up Kilimanjaro or a trek to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna or even Island Peak to their list of amazing adventures. But any climb to high altitude carries with it a number of risks and having the correct and good trekking insurance is an absolute must. We recommend two different groups depending on which country you reside in. For further details, click on the icon