The three peaks of Mount Kenya are impressive to say the least. The technical peaks of Nelion (5,188m, 17,021´) and Batian (5,199m, 17,057´) require climbing expertise aplenty but Point Lenana (4,985m, 16,355´)can be climbed by anybody who is fit and adventurous in spirit. You will hike in through one of the many forested upland trails on the mountain until you come out onto the craggy outcrops below Point Lenana before your summit attempt. The views are beautiful, equal to that on ´Kili´ but bagging this peak is not as arduous though equally as satisfying.
MOUNTAIN FACT FILE - Mt KENYA: WE CLIMB POINT LENAN 4,985M (16,355´). 175km North East of Nairobi. Grade 1A.
MOUNTAIN PROFILE: A mountain massive that is volcanic in origin and contains three major peaks (Batian 5,199m, Nelion 5,188m and Point Lenana 4,985m). Mt Kenya straddles the equator but is high enough to receive considerable snowfall and is circled with several glaciers destined to be gone within the next thirty years.
CHOGORIA ROUTE DESCRIPTION: You will walk through lush green rain forest and thick bamboo on the way to the park gate where you will continue onwards and upwards through expansive heather and moorland zones to the Shipton summit hut (see THE ASCENT). Overall you will hike along well worn trails until the summit trail from the Austrian hut.
THE ASCENT: Normally a 3am start from the Shipton´s hut at 4,200m. The ascent is over indistinct rock/shale trails to the summit (3 hours to summit). A few sections involves some very easy scrambling. Lenana is probably the most climbed peak in Kenya
There are numerous routes on Mt Kenya and quite a few variations on how you can tackle the ascent of Point Lenana. We think that choosing a separate ascent and decent route gives you the satisfaction of having done a complete traverse of this great massive as well as giving you the scenic advantage of seeing different vistas from the perspective of hiking two different routes. In our view our chosen routes offers a better combination of scenic beauty and ease of ascent than any other combination of trails on the mountain. The Chogoria route in is actually the longest route on the mountain but we believe that this actually gives you a higher chance of success for your summit attempt through better acclimatisation. We assure you that you will not be disappointed with this superlative ascent route. You will have the option of camping or lodge accommodation on the first night but this will not effect the overall price in anyway.
Your itinerary will include a brief description of our trip and an outline of your stays and meals provided. We normally only provide a breakfast at all of our city stop over locations as it gives you the opportunity to vary your cuisine by not being tied to hotel menu for your lunchtime or evening meal. We can provide full board trips on requests in particular if any person has any special dietary needs.
H=Hotel, R=Refuge, Lo=Lodge, T=Tents, B/L/D=Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, PL=Packed Lunch.
Day 1: NAIROBI - ARRIVAL DAY IN NAIROBI (1,680m). (H)
You will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel in Nairobi. There you will settle in and start getting acclimatised.
Day 2: NAIROBI - CITY TOUR, ACCLIMATISATION AND EQUIPMENT CHECK. (H/B)
Have a leisurely day in Kenya´s capital.
Day 3: MT KENYA NATIONAL PARK - NAIROBI TO CHOGORIA PARK GATE (3000m). (Lo/B/L/D)
Drive from Nairobi to Mt Kenya national park to stay overnight at the comfortable Mt Kenya lodge or in tended accommodation (cheaper alternative on request).
Day 4: MERU MOUNT KENYA LODGE OR CAMPSITE - HIKE TO NITHI RIVER CAMPSITE (3,300m). (T/B/PL/D)
Hike for 3-4 hours through the forest, hopefully seeing some of the abundant local wildlife until you come to the Nithi river campsite.
Day 5: NITHI RIVER CAMPSITE - HIKE TO MINTOS CAMP SITE (4,300M). (T/B/PL/D)
Hike for 5-6 hours along the edge of the Gorges valley to Mintos campsite at the site of a tarn located within an impressive amphitheatre of rocky spires.
Day 6: MINTOS CAMPSITE - SHIPTON´S HUT (4,200m) - ASCEND POINT LENANA (4,985m). (R/B/L/D)
You will leave Mintos campsite for the short hike to Shipton´s hut. Here you will ascend Point Lenana at 3am in the morning to catch the early morning sunrise at 6am. Then you will descend to Shipton´s hut to stay overnight. NB: If you are in suitable condition, today you can have the option of doing a high level circular hiking tour from the Shipton hut or simply rest overnight there before we start to decend the next day.
Day 7: SHIPTON´S HUT - DECEND TO MOUNTAIN ROCK HUT. (R/B/PL/D)
You will descend from Shipton´s hut along the Sirimon route to overnight at the Mountain Rock hut base camp.
Day 8: MOUNTAIN BASE CAMP - DRIVE BACK TO NAIROBI. (H/B/L)
Get up for the short hike out to catch your life back to your hotel in Nairobi for your last night in Kenya before you fly home.
Day 9: NAIROBI - DEPARTURE DAY. (B)
You will be taken to the airport to catch your flight.
On our trips we include transport to and from the airport on arrival and departure, all transportation or travel in country including any internal domestic flights, all hotel and trekking lodge accommodation, a dedicated AB leader and all in country guides and porters, any park, mountain fees or permits and any sightseeing/tourist entry fees, Breakfasts at all hotel stays will be provided but lunches and dinners will only be provided where indicated. All meals will be provided during the duration of any trek or climb.
All booked activities and the use of any group equipment such as tents, cooking equipment are included but any additional activities booked with our in country providers will be subject to an additional surcharge.
Hotel = 3, Tents = 2, Refuges = 2, Lodges = 1 (8 nights).
Breakfasts = 8, Lunches = 3, Dinnners = 5, Packed Lunches = 3 (19 meals out of a possible 23).
There are daily flights going to Kenya from the UK so it is possible to complete this in a one week, two weekend turnaround i.e. the first Saturday to the following Sunday. However. should you be contsrained by your travel dates then it is possible to shave at least a day off this itinerary. We can either forego the extra day in Nairobi, combine Days 4 & 5 if need be or start our decent on the same day as the summit day. To do this however might affect the ability of some people. Any such decision taken will ultimately be down to you but we will add that in our experience the latter would be the most prudent choice. However if you are fit, experienced hikers and know your own ability then any of the three choices is perfectably feasable.