Climbing Mount Kenya, Sirimon Chogoria Route Climbing Mount Kenya Trekking and Hiking – Expert Tips
Climbing on Mount Kenya is a very exciting but quite challenging activity compared to its counterpart on Mount Kilimanjaro. Tied some 210 km north of Nairobi on the equator, Mount Kenya offers a myriad of vegetation zones…
A sample Mount Kenya trek itinerary and timetable can be more or less online as follows:
05 Days Mount Kenya Climbing Sirimon – Chogoria Route
Distance: 90km | Difficulty: Moderate | Departure/Arrival: Nairobi
Resume
Much more scenic than Naromoru and it’s on the dry side of the mountain that offers some of the best hiking. Ascend through the forest until you reach a wide ridge that approaches the summit area. The route starts on the northwest side of the mountain near Nanyuki. Access is adequate and the facilities at the bunk house are the best this side of the mountain.
Day 1: Nairobi/Sirimon/Judmier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 3-4hrs, 9km, 860m ascent
Leave Nairobi at 8:00am for Nanyuki town for lunch, which will take approximately 4 hours. Continue to Sirimon Gate, 1hr, 2440m. From the gate, follow the track that winds uphill through the forest, which turns into heathland after about 3 hours. About 3 1/2 hours from the gate, the track continues to the right to Judmier Camp, 3300m for dinner and overnight, L, D
Day 2: Judmier Camp/Shipton Camp 6-7hrs, 14km, 900m ascent
After breakfast follow the track uphill, forking left at the junction. After an hour from Old Moses Camp, the track crosses the Ontulili River. Go right following the contour through Moorland and cross Liki North and continue uphill to Mackinders Valley where there are sweeping views across the valley to the main peaks. Dinner and overnight at Shipton Camp, 4200m, B,L,D
Day 3: Camp Shipton – Acclimatization
Spend the day acclimatizing. Walk to the Kami Hut to the Hauseberg Lakes (Hauseberg Tarn and Nanyuki Tarn). Walk back to Shipton for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Shiptons/Point Lenana/Mount Meru Bandas (Chogoria Gate) 6hrs, 14km, 785m ascent
Depart at 3am up a steep stony quarry through a cliff clearing the visible part towards the bottom of the Hall Tarns, reaching Lenana point at 6:30am which takes about 3 hours. After sunrise, descend to Mintos hut, 2 hours, for breakfast and more hours to Mount Meru Bandas, 2950m, for dinner and overnight, B, L, D
Day 5: Chogoria Bandas/Chogoria/Nairobi
Descend 2 hours, 15 km to the forest clearing to catch a 4×4 transfer vehicle to Chogoria Village, where you will connect with your transfer vehicle back to Nairobi, B, L.
A typical 05 day Mount Kenya trek is recommended and the price ranges from US$675 per person sharing with an additional day to US$115 per person. Acclimatization at the lower levels is the most necessary product to ensure no less than a 98% chance of reaching the top, Point Lenana at 4985M.
Rising prices would most often include the following important elements:
o Guarantee price/guarantee walk on confirmation
o Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
o Full board accommodation during the trip. Detailed meal plan: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
o Shared accommodation in camps/refuges according to itinerary
o All park entrance fees include government taxes
o Climbing with all services with professional English-speaking mountain guide, porters and expert cooks
o Departure and arrival in Nairobi
o Treated water on the hike.
o Certificate of successful completion of the trek
Items not normally included are:
o Laundry, sleeping bags, tips, drinks, accommodation before the trek, climbing equipment and medical evacuation
or international flights
o Visas to Kenya
o Objects of a personal nature
o Any other extra not detailed in the above itinerary
For more specialist climbing advice, more details can be found at Adventure Africa Holidays: http://www.adventureafricaholidays.com/mountkenyaclimbing.html. Do not hesitate to seek professional advice before the start of this exciting but obviously challenging activity. You will be informed about effects such as altitude sickness, tips for successful climbing and more trekking tips.
Try climbing Mount Kenya by hiking and trekking on Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa and the highest mountain in Kenya that crosses the equator and rises majestically north of Nairobi.
I wish you the best in this exercise, but you can count on my professional advice!