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

Naro
Moru

NARO MORU ROUTE

Naro Moru Route is a 46.5 kilometer moderately popular out and back trail that starts off from Nanyuki in Kenya. It approaches from the west side of the mountain and is also one of the steepest routes. The first part of the route takes you along a gravel road through farmlands for some 13km. The forest is quite dense and so are quite likely to see bushbuck, Colobus monkey and Sykes Monkey . The forest leads into the Teleki Valley to the moorland around so-called Vertical Bog. It describes its name well as it is pretty much wet and boggy.

The Teleki Valley has a lot of the classic Tree and Cabbage Groundsels as well as Lobelia Telekii and Deckenii. The valley was names after Count Samuel Teleki, who led the first expedition to penetrate the forest zone of Mount Kenya in 1887. Naro Moru 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). This trek ascends and descends via the same route.

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NARO MORU route at a glance

Overnight in huts on the mountain

From 4 trekking days but best done in 7 days

The track starts in Naro Moru town and heads past the Park Headquarters up the ridge between the Northern and Southern Naro Moru Rivers.

Short fast approach

Summit via Teleki Valley and Met Station

NARU MORU ROUTE ITINERARY

Day 1: Naro Moru to Meteorological Station

After an early morning breakfast, transfer from Nairobi to Naro Moru Park gate 2400m, where you will meet your trekking crew. From Naro Moru town a well signposted mostly paved road leads 17 km to the Park entrance (2,400 m). There are often baboons and bushbuck wandering around the start of the trek near the gate. We then trek up to 3050m, to Met Station for our overnight stay.

The met station campsite is located inside mount Kenya's rainforest zone, albeit just about a kilometre shy of the edge and the start of the heathland zone of the mountain. Climbers at the campsite have the choice of either using the cabins for accommodation, that are privately owned and run by the Naro moru river lodge. These are dormitory style wooden houses with bunk beds in each room capable of accommodating up to 20 people, with toilets being external latrines. It is a good day for acclimatization as the huts are at an altitude of 3,050m. We suggest a short hike in the afternoon to gain and loose altitude.(3-4 hours)

Day 3: Met Station to Mackinders Camp

Today, we trek through the Teleki valley towards Mackinders Camp 4200m for our overnight stop. Mackinder’s Camp (4,200m) in the Teleki Valley has a hut accommodating 66 people.

The day heads through the moorland zone covered by tussock grass and into the Heath zone. About half way, we will come across a steep section known as the vertical bog, before finally reaching Mackinders camp after about 5-6 hours or trekking.

Day 4: Summit day

Rising early, we will shuffle off into the morning at about 03h00to make our pre dawn attempt of Point Lenana 4985m. The view from the top is incredibly rewarding. The route will take us via two screed sections up to 4600m before the final ascent to Point Lenana. We descend through Teleki Valley for your overnight stop at the Met Station (6-7 hours)

Day 5: Departure

We will eat breakfast at the meteorological station before hiking back out to the entrance of the park and transferring back to Nairobi.

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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

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