- MT. KENYA SAFARIS - Mount Kenya
Climbing Safaris
Mount Kenya Natural History
Mount Kenya 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 centered 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
Mt. Kenya main peaks (Batian, Lenana and Nelion), only
point Lenana can be reached by trekkers and the other
two being only for technical climbers.
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After the cultivated farmlands on the lower slopes of
Mount Kenya, 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 on Mount
Kenya 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. Mount Kenya is 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.
When to Trek Mount Kenya
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 favor
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 Mount Kenya climbing routes, which
penetrate the forest and the moorland. The Mount Kenya
trekking 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. Mount Kenya Chogoria Route 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.
Itineraries:
4 Days Mount Kenya hiking Naro Moru Route
4 Days Sirimon Route Climbing Mount Kenya
5 Days Trekking Mt Kenya Chogoria Route Down Naro Moru
5 Days Climbing Mount Kenya Sirimon Route Down Chogoria
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