I TANZANIA I
KENYA I ZANZIBAR I
MAFIA I
KILWA I MOMBASA
l DAR l
ARUSHA l
Mount Kenya
East African
Community (EAC) currently is made up of three states, these states
are Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. These countries share tourist
interests like game parks, Indian Ocean pristine beaches and
mountains. Since Wildlife does not know boarders migration within
East Africa is not uncommon to mention Serengeti-Masai Mara
including herds of Wildebeest, Zebra, Elephants etc.
Kenya and
Tanzania are two of the most famous safari countries in the world,
both having superb national parks including the Serengeti and the
Masai Mara. What is less well known is that they also have the
highest and the second highest mountains in Africa – that is Mount
Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Mount
Kilimanjaro is also known as the highest freestanding snow
capped mountain in the world. Both are suitable for trekkers and
technical climbers alike but Mount Kenya has better opportunities
for serious climbing. The real attraction of these mountains is that
any reasonably fit person who enjoys walking and that they can be
climbed or walked for most of the year can reach the summit.
For both mountains Nairobi in Kenya is ideal. Nairobi is easily
accessible from Europe and America and serviced by most of the major
international European airlines. The city itself is well placed for
both mountains with good travel links.
This is
Africa’s second highest mountain at 5,199m and the highest of all
Kenya Mountains. Mount Kenya is roughly circular, about 60km across
at the 200mm contour, where the steep font hills rise out of the
gentler slopes of the centred highlands. At the centre of the
massif, the main peaks rise sharply from around 4,500m to the main
summit of Batian 5,199m, Nelion 5,188m and point Lenana 4,985m.
Other major summits on the mountain include Point Piggott 4,957m,
Point Dutton 4,885 and Point John 4,883m. Of the three main peaks
(Batian, Lenana and Nelion), only point Lenana can be reached by
trekkers and the other two being only for technical climbers.
After
the cultivated farmlands on the lower slopes the trails pass through
the rain forest, rich in trees of many species but noticeably
camphors, then onto a bamboo zone growing to heights of more than
12m or more up through open moor land before reaching the moonscape
of higher slopes. The forests are rich in wildlife including
elephant, buffalo and monkeys with even the moor lands offering a
long list of mammals including the rock hyrax, the nearest living
relative of the elephant.
Mt. Kenya is
an ancient volcanic mountain much older than Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s
believed to have once reached well above 600m. What is left today is
volcanic plug which erosion has fashioned into the complex jagged
outline of the central peaks
Best time to
climb.
Although,
Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, it’s safest to climb Mt.
Kenya during the dry seasons: January-February and August to
September off the most reliably fine weather. The main routes are
likely to be more crowded at this time of the year. If you favour
complete solitude over the sunny skies, try going slightly off the
peak season. It’s best to avoid the two rainy seasons from mid March
until June and from late October to the end of December
Mount Kenya
climbing Routes/Itineraries
There are
three main routes, which penetrate the forest and the moorland. The
routes are Naromoru, Sirimon and Chogoria and each of which has
something different to offer. Naromoru is the fastest route to
point Lenana but not as scenic as the other two. Chogoria is the
most scenic and Sirimon the most interesting because it is on the
drier side of the mountain.
Note: The
normal pattern of weather on Mount Kenya is for clear mornings with
mist closing in from 10:00am although this can clear by evening.
Therefore, early morning starts are the order of the day with a 2am
start for the final ascent to point Lenana, if you want to catch the
sunrise.
CHOGORIA ROUTE
DOWN NARO MORU
Duration: 5
days.
Distance: 92
km.
Difficulty:
Demanding.
Start/Finish:
Nairobi.
Pack camping
gear and supplies to strike out west up this long but spectacular
approach through the deep chasm of gorge valley.
Day 1:
Nairobi/Chogoria.
Leave Nairobi
at 8am to Chogoria town for lunch and afternoon leisure walk in the
town to acclimatize. Dinner and overnight at Chogoria Transit Motel,
2000m.
Day 2:
Chogoria/Mount Meru Bandas.
5-6hrs, 32km,
950m ascent.
This is a long
day along dirt road through the forest although the conditions under
foot aren’t strenuous. You may opt to use a 4x4 to reach the bandas
as sometimes the road is impassable, 2950m. Dinner and overnight at
Mt. Meru Bandas.
Day 3:
Chogoria Bandas/Mintos Hut.
6-7 hrs, 21km,
1,280m ascent.
After
breakfast follow the track through giant heather and forest up to
Chogoria road head from where the path drops to cross a stream then
follows the broad ridge to the east of the gorges valley to reach
Mintos Hut, 4200m. Dinner and overnight at Mintos Hut.
Day 4: Mintos/Point
Lenana/Met Station.
11-12 hrs, 29km, 785m ascent/1985m descent.
Leave shortly
after midnight at 2am towards the main peaks and divide after an
hour, above a flat green area at the head of the valley known as
temple fields, arriving at point Lenana at 6:30am. After taking
photographs, descend to Mackinders for breakfast and continue down
to Met Station at 3000m for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 5: Met
Station/Naromoru/Nairobi.
3hrs, 9km,
400m descent.
After
breakfast, descend through the rainforest which is 9km to Naromoru
Park Gate at 2,600m where you will connect with your transport back
to Nairobi.
NOTE:
You may opt to spend the night at Mackinders Camp and then on to Met
station and lastly descend for a transfer back to Nairobi. This will
require an extra day to complete.
Sirimon - Naro Moru with peak circuit route.
Day 01.
As sirimon route.
Day 02.
After climbing through the rain forest to 3993m. We will spend the
night at liki camp north.
Day 03.
The trail proceeds to shimpton’s camp where we will rest in order to
acclimatise overnight.
Day 04.
From shimpton’s camp the trail leads to
Kami
hut below the north face of Batian. Continuing west – southwest the
trails climbs up switchbacks in the fine snow before reaching
Hausberg col at 4590m. We will descend into the upper Hausberg
valley and rest at the aptly named oblong and Hausberg
tarns. Ascending to the crest of a ridge known as Arthur’s seat we
see the trail winding along a beautiful series of rock ledges. We
will descend to shimpton’s camp for the night.
Day 05.
An early 2.00 am start for an attempt to reach point lenana before
descending to Mackinder’s camp for breakfast then on to met station
for dinner and overnight.
Day 06
Descend to park gate and transfer to Nairobi.
OTHER ITINERARIES;
6 DAYS
Chogoria Route.
4 DAYS NARO MORU ROUTE.
4 DAYS Sirimon
Route.
4 DAYS Sirimon
Route.
