The Sirimon route is considered a gentler approach with its slightly longer path gaining altitude from the northwest of the mountain more slowly than the Naro Moru route. However a huge forest fire recently means that the first day is no longer through beautiful forest, but on an open track through a recovering landscape to Old Moses Camp. The path then follows the line of the long classic glacial MacKinder Valley up to the high camp (Shiptons) under the summit spires of Batian and Nelion. The summit itself is reached on scree and rocky paths (leaving in the dark at about 2am), which eventually become snow covered as they edge alongside the Lewis Glacier. The final few metres requires a bit of a scramble to reach the shapely summit from where dawn shows the plains of Kenya far below and the amazing silhouette of the two main peaks of the mountain just close by.
The ascent by the Naro Moru route starts from the west side of the mountain near the market town of Naro Moru. There is a track that can be driven from the local hotel we use (Blue Line) up to the park gate which passes through farmland and small villages on the lower slopes of the mountain. At the park gate we continue on foot up to the Met Station which is just at the top of the dense bamboo forest and offers a much better chance of seeing some wildlife than the Sirimon route. The campsite here has huts and is a perfect place for even a short overnight weekend trip to Mount Kenya if you don’t intend to summit. From Met Station the path continues up the notorious Vertical Bog, which is not vertical at all but can be quite boggy, particularly in the afternoon! It opens out onto open alpine heath with beautiful views of the summits from Picnic Rocks on the edge of an escarpment that drops down into Teleki valley and a few hours walk up to Mackinders Camp. The final ascent to Point Lenana requires a 1am start and a short trek to reach the start of the scree slope that leads to the Austrian Hut. From here the ascent has an exposed path on the summit ridge but they’ve recently put in fixed lines (making Mount Kenya the highest current via ferrata route in the world) to give people that confidence to reach the summit without any issues
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1
Departure time will be at 08;30 a.m from Nairobi,3hrs transfer to the Sirimon Gate 2600m where your Guide will register with KWS, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and pay the park fees. The Cook and porters will organize the distribution of the packs and provisions and then set off for the first camp.
This is a four-hour trek up a fairly steep vehicle track through the forest where you will see evidence of elephant and buffalo and possible sightings of bushbuck and baboons. If you are setting off around 11, you will have a picnic lunch on the way, weather permitting. If your departure is delayed, you may have an early picnic lunch at the gate. This walk takes you up to 3,300 metres to Old Moses camp.
DAY 2
Your climb continues up to Shipton’s Camp (4,236 m). This walk is 14 km and takes about 6-7 hours. You cross three rivers and two valleys before reaching one of the main U-shaped glacial valleys. You then walk along Mackinder’s valley to Shipton’s Camp, where you will be staying for two nights.
You are now deep in the Afro alpine zone with large stands of giant groundsel and lobelia, and in camp you will see rock hyrax sunning themselves.
DAY 3
A rest day in Shipton’s Camp and an opportunity to do an acclimatization walk up to the Hausberg Col at nearly 4,600 m, with spectacular views of the main peaks up close. Supper and bedtime are early, so that you are well prepared for your dawn ascent the following morning.
DAY 4
You leave Shipton’s Camp between 2.30-3.00 a.m. for your very early morning ascent of Point Lenana (4,985 m). This 4 km walk takes 3-4 hours, as you are now at very high altitude. The aim is to reach the summit by sunrise.
You walk down to Mackinder’s Camp for breakfast, via Austrian Hut, a 2.5 hour walk covering 4.5 km. Then you continue down to Met Station which takes another 4 hours, covering 12 km. You reach Met Station (3,048 m) by mid-afternoon, where you will be staying overnight.
DAY 5
After breakfast, you walk down to the Naro Moru Gate, a 2 hour walk covering 9 km, where you will be met and transferred to back to Nairobi.
END OF HIKE!!
QUOTES:
1 Pax– USD 1,450 per person
2 Pax – USD 1,270 per person
3 Pax – USD 1,250 per person
4 Pax to 6 Pax – USD 1,210 per person
Includes
- All transfers to the mountain and back
- All the park entrance fees.
- Camping fees where applicable.
- Guides/Porters.
- Mountain bandas.
- Meals on Full Board basis.
Excludes:
- Comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for trekking.
- Personal equipment hires (e.g. sleeping bag, waterproof clothing.
- Tips for Head Guide, Assistant Guide and Cook
Enquiries and Bookings
Please fill in the form below to book or make further enquiries
