What is the altitude of Mt Kenya?

It is 4895m or 16355 ft above sea level.

Is Mt Kenya easier than Kilimanjaro?

The only thing 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 days 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

SIRIMON-NAROMORU

SIRIMON NARO MORU ROUTE

The Sirimon Naro Moru route offers the optimum balance of good acclimatisation and scenery. The trail follows the stunning Sirimon route up through dramatic glacial valleys and descends down the pretty Naromoru trail - the most direct traverse on the mountain. Sirimon coming off the west of Mount Kenya passes through the dry side of the mountain with its giant trees and rocky terrain, and the descent onto the Naro Moru path. Sirimon is the most popular ascent with fantastic glacial scenery and a nice steady rate of ascent. Naro Moru is a fast descent route. Due to the prevalence of altitude sickness on the mountain we include an extra day’s acclimatisation the day before summiting at Liki North Hut.

The trek heads up from the park gate along an old 4x4 road track from the dusty lowlands, and gradually enters a forest on a single track to Old Moses Hut. Old Moses Hut (3,350 m) at the Sirimon Route roadhead offers self-service accommodation. From there the path leads directly upward for 300m up the to an communications station. Just beyond this point the track splits with the left hand route proceeding to the Mackinder Valley direct, and the right hand route going via the Liki North Hut. The route that adds Liki North is our favoured route as it gives you a better chance to acclimatise though it does mean one day of camping. The descent is through attractive vegetation on the windward side of the mountain. The trail winds through the infamous vertical bog, dense bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet the vehicles at the park headquarters at Naromoru gate.

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SIRIMON NARO MORU route at a glance

Overnight in Tents and huts on the mountain

From 5 trekking days but best done in 6 days

Starts from the West and end in the west at Naro Moru

Longer but more scenic approach

Summit via Liki North and Shiptons Camp

SIRIMON NARO MORU ROUTE ITINERARY

Day 1: Nairobi to Old Moses Hut (3340m) 10km
You’ll be picked up from airport or Nairobi hotel in the morning and journey north past diverse agricultural lands and landscapes to the slopes of Mount Kenya. After meeting your crew you’ll have a full briefing and equipment check. Today is a short walk to the first hut at 3,340m, a total ascent of 740m in just 2-3 hours. On this route, you will pass through zones of dense forest, bamboo, giant heather and out onto high open moorland. The trail follows a dirt road that has recently been put in by the Kenya Wildlife Service to reduce response times to emergencies on the mountain. The dense vegetation is home to buffalo, elephants and is teeming with birdlife. Whilst there will be evidence of large game everywhere, your chances of seeing them are small.

Day 2: Old Moses Hut (3340m) - Liki North Camp (3990m)

Today is a moderate day which leaves plenty of ttime to enjoy the surroundings. We srart with a short 300m climb up the hill behind the hut to an old communications station. Just beyond this point the track splits with the left hand route proceeding to the Mackinder Valley direct, and the right hand route going via the Liki North Hut. The route via Liki North hut is tougher but also more beautiful with better acclimitisation chances.

Liki North routes heas up towards a rounded hill called the Barrow and then along a marshy tril down to the Liki North Hut (3,990m). The hut no longer exists but there is a campsite. Reach camp by early to mid afternoon and recommend taking a short afternoon walk higher for altitude gain and descend back to the camp.

Day-3: Liki North to Shiptons Camp 4200m 5-6 hours

Our hike today climbs the ridge and then descends into the Mackinder Valley to join the direct route. This will take us along the standard route from the valley floor to join the Mackinders Valley, as we trek up to an altitude of 4200m, to Shiptons Camp. On the way, we will come across the giant groundsel and sunbirds, as well as various streams which tend to make the ground quite marshy in places.

Day 4: Shiptons to Pt Lenana to Mackinders/Met Station (4300m)

We start early at 3am with a quick cup of tea and biscuits and head out into the pitch dark. The early start is designed to get you to the summit just in time for sunrise. The climb is a steady ascent up scree and rock, with a scramble up the last 30m. The views from Point Lenana are superb, showing off the tarns, glaciers and jagged peaks of Mount Kenya at their resplendent best. After a 2 hour walk past the glacier down loose scree you will reach Mackinder’s Camp and a very welcome hearty breakfast. If you are feeling up to it after a couple of hours rest you can head on down the further 9km to Met Station for the overnight, if not you can rest and stay the night at Mackinder’s.

Day 5: Descend and return to Nairobi
A long descent through attractive vegetation on the windward side of the mountain. The trail winds through the infamous vertical bog, dense bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet the vehicles at the park headquarters at Naromoru gate. There will be time for a shower and lunch at Mountain Rock Lodge at the foot of the mountain before proceeding with your onwards plans. If you are heading back to Nairobi expect to get there by early evening. Walk 22km / 6 hours from Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) to Naro Moru Gate (2,600m)

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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 whcih contry you reside in. For further details, click on the icon