Mt.Kenya Trek-Sirimon / Chogoria Route 5 Days

Day 1: Sirimon gate Old Moses Camp

• Distance: 10km

• Hiking time: 3 hrs

Pick up from Nairobi and drive from Nairobi to the Sirimon gate of Mt. Kenya National park at 2600m. It is not uncommon to see baboons running through the trees and across the grass fields in front of the gate. Elephants are sometimes spotted here as well. We start our trek with a 3 to 4 hour hike up through the forest to Old Moses camp at 3300m. ove night in hut

Day 2: Old Moses Camp –Shiptons camp

• Distance: 9km

• Hiking time: 7 hrs

After breakfast the hike starts through the barrow, towards the Likii North Valley, here the moor land offers a gentle climb through fascinating vegetation with a chance of seeing the peaks.we ascend for the glimpse of the peaks, proceeding to the spectacular view of Mackinders valley, dotted with Lobelias and other beautiful plants with views of the North faces of Nelion and Batian peaks before reaching Shiptons camp (4,200 m). Altitude gain: Time: 7hours walk. Overnight in hut.

Day 3: Shiptons Camp

• Hiking time: 2-4 hrs

After breakfast you will have 2-4 hours acclimatizing walk to the Hausberg col 4650m enjoy the beautiful of Hausberg valley then descend back to Shipton’s camp for overnight in hut

Day 4: Shipton’s Camp/ Lenana Peak / Meru mt Kenya Bandas

• Hiking time: 4 hrs

Alpine ascent of the third highest peak point Lenana (4,985m). It will take your approx. 4 hours of stiff walking to the summit. We wake at night at 2.30am for hot tea and biscuits. Ascend to Point Lenana at 4,985m for approx. 3 hours to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Mt. Kilimanjaro’s highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. Afterwards we descend to Halls tarn (4300m) for breakfast; there will be some more fantastic scenery. After breakfast we start the final hike, taking 6 hours hiking gently down a broad ridge enjoying magnificent views back up the valley to the snowy peaks, and down to waterfall tarns and lava flows in the Gorges Valley itself. Lake Michelson, Lake Ellis, the giant billiard table and the Mugi hills will be visible at a distance. A picnic lunch will be provided on the way, spending the night at Chogoria Banda’s which provides hot showers.

Day 5: Meru Mt Kenya Bandas /Chogoria /Nairobi

• Distance: 10km

After breakfast we walk for approximately 10km in the rain forest, enjoying the beautiful views. We then connect with your mountain vehicles to drive you out of the park and down to Chogoria Town at this point you will bid goodbye to our guides and porters you will meet your awaiting transfer back to Nairobi.

Option 2 – Chogoria Route

Excursion Venue: Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya.
Ascend: Chogoria Route
Descend: Sirimon Route
Target: Point Lenana (4,985 Metres Above Sea Level).
D e s c r i p t i o n – Starting at Chogoria this trip is designed to see the best of the mountain. There is an ascent to Point Lenana at 4985m and so participants will ascend into extreme altitude on this trip. The descent is via Sirimon
H i g h l i g h t s – All the best parts of Mt Kenya, stunning views of the peaks, tarns and fantastic endemic flora. A chance of seeing some wildlife and arguably the prettiest high-altitude hike in East Africa. Please note . The climb will be a non-technical ascent with the approach trail to Lenana following the less frequented and most scenic Chogoria route. We will then descend via the better-known Sirimon Route.

Day 1: Sirimon gate Old Moses Camp

• Distance: 10km

• Hiking time: 3 hrs

Pick up from Nairobi and drive from Nairobi to the Sirimon gate of Mt. Kenya National park at 2600m. It is not uncommon to see baboons running through the trees and across the grass fields in front of the gate. Elephants are sometimes spotted here as well. We start our trek with a 3 to 4 hour hike up through the forest to Old Moses camp at 3300m. ove night in hut

Day 2: Old Moses Camp –Shiptons camp

• Distance: 9km

• Hiking time: 7 hrs

After breakfast the hike starts through the barrow, towards the Likii North Valley, here the moor land offers a gentle climb through fascinating vegetation with a chance of seeing the peaks.we ascend for the glimpse of the peaks, proceeding to the spectacular view of Mackinders valley, dotted with Lobelias and other beautiful plants with views of the North faces of Nelion and Batian peaks before reaching Shiptons camp (4,200 m). Altitude gain: Time: 7hours walk. Overnight in hut.

Day 3: Shiptons Camp

• Hiking time: 2-4 hrs

After breakfast you will have 2-4 hours acclimatizing walk to the Hausberg col 4650m enjoy the beautiful of Hausberg valley then descend back to Shipton’s camp for overnight in hut

Day 4: Shipton’s Camp/ Lenana Peak / Meru mt Kenya Bandas

• Hiking time: 4 hrs

Alpine ascent of the third highest peak point Lenana (4,985m). It will take your approx. 4 hours of stiff walking to the summit. We wake at night at 2.30am for hot tea and biscuits. Ascend to Point Lenana at 4,985m for approx. 3 hours to arrive for sunrise. From here you can admire Mt. Kilimanjaro’s highest peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi visible from the south, Indian Ocean from the east and Mt. Elgon from the west. Afterwards we descend to Halls tarn (4300m) for breakfast; there will be some more fantastic scenery. After breakfast we start the final hike, taking 6 hours hiking gently down a broad ridge enjoying magnificent views back up the valley to the snowy peaks, and down to waterfall tarns and lava flows in the Gorges Valley itself. Lake Michelson, Lake Ellis, the giant billiard table and the Mugi hills will be visible at a distance. A picnic lunch will be provided on the way, spending the night at Chogoria Banda’s which provides hot showers.

Day 5: Meru Mt Kenya Bandas /Chogoria /Nairobi

• Distance: 10km

After breakfast we walk for approximately 10km in the rain forest, enjoying the beautiful views. We then connect with your mountain vehicles to drive you out of the park and down to Chogoria Town at this point you will bid goodbye to our guides and porters you will meet your awaiting transfer back to Nairobi.

Option 2 – Chogoria Route

Excursion Venue: Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya.
Ascend: Chogoria Route
Descend: Sirimon Route
Target: Point Lenana (4,985 Metres Above Sea Level).
D e s c r i p t i o n – Starting at Chogoria this trip is designed to see the best of the mountain. There is an ascent to Point Lenana at 4985m and so participants will ascend into extreme altitude on this trip. The descent is via Sirimon
H i g h l i g h t s – All the best parts of Mt Kenya, stunning views of the peaks, tarns and fantastic endemic flora. A chance of seeing some wildlife and arguably the prettiest high-altitude hike in East Africa. Please note . The climb will be a non-technical ascent with the approach trail to Lenana following the less frequented and most scenic Chogoria route. We will then descend via the better-known Sirimon Route.

Day 1: Camp to Chogoria bandas

Acted breakfast drive from hotel in Nairobi to Chogoria for approximate 4 hours, meet guides and porters in Chogoria at around midday. Whilst you will have lunch, the crew loads up the Land Rover. We have a 22 km drive up a rough and muddy track through the bamboo zone to our overnight destination on the boundary of the park. Is a good idea to walk the last 5 kms to acclimatize? We overnight at the Chogoria bandas (a small bunkhouse) set near the edge of the forest line. Walking time: 2hrs. Altitude change. 2750mts to 3000mts. (Ascend 250 mts). VEGETATION: Forest and Bamboo zone. CLIMATE: A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9am and 12am. The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatly. This fluctuation is largest on the lower slopes of the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) there is a 11.5°C mean range in daily temperature, this goes down to 7.5°C at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) and 4°C at 4,800 metres (15,700ft).The diurnal temperature fluctuation reduces with altitude. ACCOMMODATION: Stay at Chogoria Bandas – 3000Mts. (Comfortable Log cabins with beds) MEALS: Lunch will be picnic. Dinner and overnight will be Chogoria bandas.

Day 2: Chogoria bandas to Lake Ellis (altitude: 3400m)

After breakfast, we will follow the track as it leads up through glades of montaine forest, with plenty of wildlife around, to our camp on Road head 3300m. We will arrive at our camp after about three hours walk in time for lunch. After a short rest period in the late afternoon we will visit the nith falls and the we start our 3 hours trek up towards Mount Kenya – walking initially through forest to reach a higher moorland area with fewer trees. On our walk, there are excellent views back towards the plains. We camp at Lake Ellis at an altitude of 3390m. This is a blissful campsite in full view of the main peaks of Mount Kenya and well away from the main trail walking. if time allow we will visit the Mugi hill before returning to camp for overnight in tents. Dinner and overnight Lake Ellis (3400m) in tent VEGETATION: Rosewood and giant heathers zone. This habitat is characterized by shrubs with small leaves. In moister sites there are mostly giant heathers (Erica and Phillipia) which grow to over 10m.and form dense stands which are virtual forests in themselves. CLIMATE: A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9am and 12am. The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatly. This fluctuation is largest on the lower slopes of the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) there is a 11.5°C mean range in daily temperature, this goes down to 7.5°C at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) and 4°C at 4,800 metres (15,700ft).The diurnal temperature fluctuation reduces with altitude. ACCOMMODATION: ). Dinner and overnight camping at Lake Ellis in mountain tents MEALS: Lunch will be picnic

Day 3: Lake Ellis(3400mts) – Mintos Camp Halls tarn (altitude: 4200mts)

• Distance: 15km

• Hiking time: 6-7 hrs

After breakfast around 730am we will have an early Morning we set off, climbing away from road on its west side, across moorland up to a ridge which eventually joins the main Chogoria trail. We have views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley as we descend to the most picturesque campsite in the range, at Lake Michaelson. Down the camp are the impressive cliffs of the ‘Temple’. Exotic-looking bird species, including the Tacazze sunbird, can be seen close to the camp amongst the bizarre giant plants – principally cabbage groundsel and lobelia. This day is about 6-7 hours walking, we have picnic lunch enrooted we will arrive at Mintos in the afternoon around 2- 3 pm and spend the rest of time rest and relaxing as you will be experiencing a shorter night. Dinner and overnight at at Mintos 4200m camping in tent VEGETATION: Open tussock grassland that continues from the end of the giant heather right up to the snowline, with the plants decreasing in size and density as the altitude increases and the climate gets drier and colder. The equatorial afro-alpine zone of Mt. Kenya is renowned for its unusual mega physic flora which results from a unique climate. Plants growing in this tropic-alpine environment have acquired fascinating adaptive mechanisms for survival with many having adopted a large and rosette form. The most spectacular are characterized by dense leaf rosettes resembling cabbages or artichokes. CLIMATE: A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9am and 12am. The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatly. This fluctuation is largest on the lower slopes of the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) there is a 11.5°C mean range in daily temperature, this goes down to 7.5°C at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) and 4°C at 4,800 metres (15,700ft).The diurnal temperature fluctuation reduces with altitude. ACCOMMODATION: Camping at Mintos Camp (4200Mts) in mountain tents MEALS: Lunch will be picnic. Dinner and overnight will be Mintos Camp.

Day 4: Mintos 4200mts / Point Lenana (4985mts) to Old Moses 3300mts

This will be a long day we will have an early start (at around 230a.m.) for a cup of tea and a relatively easy 3-hour climb up to Point Lenana the trekking summit (4,985m). As dawn breaks over Africa, we are treated to a remarkable spectacle; the nearby peaks of Nelion and Batian glinting in the morning sun. In the far distance, if clear, is possible to see summit of Kilimanjaro 400kms away. After spending some time basking in the morning sunlight absorbing the panorama, we descend to Shiptons camp 4200m for a celebratory cooked breakfast taking approximate 2 -3 hours. Afterwards we descend down the pleasant Mackinder’s Valley in the shadow of the true summit of Batian; near the end of the days trek in the main trail to Old Moses Camp the descent will take about 5 hours the descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands, Heather and Rosewood zones and we will arrive Old Moses camp 3300m around 3pm Dinner and overnight at old Moses camp CLIMATE: A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9am and 12am. The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatlyAbove 4,000m vegetation gets more and more sparse, until around the snowline (4,500-4,700m) the only vegetation remaining is the everlasting, stunted grasses and the occasional senecio or lobelia in the most sheltered of spots. Above 4,800m flowering plants cease to exist and only the hardiest plants that are left are lichens and mosses. CLIMATE: A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9am and 12am. The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatly. This fluctuation is largest on the lower slopes of the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) there is a 11.5°C mean range in daily temperature, this goes down to 7.5°C at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) and 4°C at 4,800 metres (15,700ft). The diurnal temperature fluctuation reduces with altitude.

• Hiking Time: Ascending- 3-4hrs

• Hiking Time: Descending – 7-8hrs

• Distance: Ascending- 5km

• Distance: Descending-19Km

• Starting Altitude: 4200m

• Final Altitude: 4985m Descend-1685m

Day 5: Old Moses Camp 3300 to Park Gate (2650m)

CLIMATE: A typical day is clear

• Transfers (available as an optional addon)

• Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)

• Tips and gratuities

• Travel insurance

• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)

• Meals not listed in the itinerary

• Liquors, beers and bottled beverages