Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya, 180 kilometers North of Nairobi, and the second highest mountain in the African continent. Mount Kenya has three peaks, Batian (5,199m - 17,058ft), Nelion (5,188m - 17,022ft) and point Lenana (4,985m - 16,355ft) and is one of the most popular climb after Kilimanjaro. It is an extinct volcano, located in the Mount Kenya National Park established in 1949 to preserve the ecosystem and the culture of the different tribes as Kikuyu, Meru, Embu and Maasai.

 

You reach point Lenana via the Sirimon Route, a non-technical trail that allows all trekkers to enjoy a magnificent view of east africa without any climbing skills. The other two routes, Naro Moru route and Chogoria Route are more suitable for climbers familiar with rock climbing, belaying and rope techniques.

- Day 1 : JOMO KENYATTA AIRPORT – NAIROBI - KENYA
Arrive at kanyatta airport. Transfer to your hotel in Nairobi. Evening briefing at hotel. Dinner & Overnight hotel on B&B basis.

 

- Day 2 : SIRIMON PARK GATE TO OLD MOSES CAMP - 9 KM, APPROX. 3/4 HOURS
You leave Nairobi at 8.00am and drive through the Central Highlands to Nanyuki by 11.00 am. We allow sufficient time to have lunch and then get to Sirimon Park Gate a comfortable four-wheel drive vehicle. Check in and start hiking through the beautiful rain forest to Old Moses Camp at alt. 3,300m.

 

- Day 3 : SHIPTON'S CAMP - 16KM, APPROX. 7/8 HOURS
Early breakfast at 7.00am. You hike through the Liki Valley via Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp at alt. 4,200m. Have lunch served en route. At Shipton's camp you enjoy a splendid wiew of the north faces of Nelion and Batian peaks. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

 

- Day 4 : PEAK CIRCUIT FOR ACCLIMATIZATION – 4 HOURS
After breakfast you start the peak circuit to help acclimatization, ascending to a steep ridge through Kami Hut, Hausberg Tarn and Two Tarns Lake. It will take approx. 4 hours walk through some of the most spectacular sceneries . Return to Shipton's Camp. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

 

- Day 5 : POINT LENANA AT 4,985M AND BACK TO OLD MOSES – 4 HOURS
You wake up at night at 2.30am for hot tea and biscuits. Ascent to Point Lenana at 4,985m for approx. 3 hours to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Mt. Kilimanjaro's highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. You start your descend back to Shipton's camp for a full breakfast. Leave at 10.00am for Old Moses. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

 

- Day 6 : DRIVE BACK TO NAIROBI
After breakfast you leave camp to reach the park gate via the Sirimon route. Drive to Nanyuki for lunch and then to Nairobi arriving in the late afternoon to celebrate your success. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel on B&B basis.

 

- Day 7 : INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE
Transfer to Nairobi Kenyatta International Airport for your International flight.

This route starts from the east around the Mount Kenya from Nanyuki. You reach the about 10 km North along the track on 4WD vehicule. The Simiron route is remote, less frequented and easy to climb.

 

The trail climbs up through an astonishing forest that gradually turns into moorland covered with giant heather. At Old Moses Hut the main track becomes a path that a gently gets uphill before splitting into two routes. The vegetation becomes more sparse, with giant lobelia and amazing groundsels.

 

The path climbs over a ridge and you reach the point Lenana for sunrise for a magnificent views of the surroundings.

1 - THE GUIDE

Our climbing team is native from kenyan and live in the region close to Mt Kenya. Our main guide is a strong and outgoing woman who has extensive experience of the climbing routes. . The all staff is very experienced and speak fluent english and local dialecte. Each of them have the passion of climbing and will always make your trip enjoyable and agreeable. They will be pleased to share their experience and their knowledge about the flora, the tribes and the local customs. For your safety, our team is also close to you at any time to assist you during your climb.

 

2 - THE COOK

The cook is the key point to make your trip enjoyable. We provide experienced cooks who are able to prepare tasty and balanced meals in altitude kitchens. They are very concerned about hygiene, clients requirements about food and do their best to always provide fresh food during your climb. You will have to inform us about any allergy or diatery. With extra acclimatization days, you will have plenty of time to enjoy proper lunches and dinners everyday and avoid snack-meals or sandwich lunches.

 

As you climb, water will be less and less available. At lower camps, porters will climb up to provide enough clean water for the group. In high altitude camps, water will be filtered or boild. It is also advisable that you use Micropur as a precaution to eliminate bacteria. Pills reaction time is approximately 30 minutes to clear your water.

 

Vegetation is a rich alpine and sub-alpine flora and has an encredible diversity that varies with altitude and rainfall. On the west and north side of the mountain, the bamboo forest is less dominant or in some part inexistant. Up to 3,400m, the moorland zone has a great richness and diversity with astonishing varied flora. The upper alpine zone at alt. 3,800m is still an amazing land with huge lobelia growing between the tussocks, groundsel (Senecio) and many other endemic species. In the uppermost elevations, vegetation is not built to resist very cold temperature, ice and altitude.

Mt Kenya is located in the tropics and then benefits from equatorial climate. A typical day on trek is a sunny crystal clear morning with temperatures around 25oC in low altitude and around 10°C as you slowly climb up.

 

As the temeprature raise, the ground warms up, heats the air and generate fog and clouds by mid day. The wind generated by the warmth brings the clouds to the summits to slowly cover the surrounding peaks. With clouds, temperature slowly drops down and the air become colder.

 

At dawn, the ground surface gets cooler and the clouds slowly get back downhill leaving the peaks uncovered. As a consequence, in high altitude, temperature easely gets under 0°C and can drop down to -10°C during the night. The generated winds and clouds resulting from the ground heating and cooling is called the anabatic effect and you should expect more strong winds in the morning and in the evening.

 

The mountain has two rainy season. The main rainy season is from late march till june followed by a small rainy season from October to December with less rain and snow falls and shorter showers.

 

The best climbing season is December – March and July – September. Mt Kenya, as well as Mt Kilimanjaro, is covered by glaciers that provide water to populations leaving in the region at the feet of the mountain. With the global warming and the decrease of rain falls, glaciers are rapidly melting and retreating.

Sirimon route is a non-technical ascent that requires no mountaineering skills. We provide an additional day to help acclimatazation with our special designed “Peak Circuit” that gives you one of the most awe-inspiring views of the peaks around.

 

Altitude remains the main challenge and you should prepare yourself physically and mentally for the summit bid. You start at night and walk for approx. 4/5 hours to reach Point Lenana for a breathtaking sunrise. The climb is less strenous than the Kilimanjaro summit attempt but still remains a challenge due to altitude.

 

Walking, climbing, running, cycling or/and swimming several times a week before your climb is recommanded to be in an excellent physical condition. Altitude has to be considered as you can suffer from AMS.  We will require a medical certificate that allows you to climb in high altitude.
 

 

Please keep in mind that you are not allowed to pollute or leave your garbage in the park. Your guide will collect your rabbish every morning to be brought back at the end of the trip. Ask your guide to pick up your small plastic bags, bottles or litter. Use the toilets facilities provided in huts  to reduce the impact of pollution in streams. Always respect this splendid valley.