Mount Kenya trek, summit climib
| country: | Kenya |
| location: | Mount Kenya |
| trip type: | High altitude trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 20 Dec 2010: 13 Feb |
| price: | From US $1150 - US $1300 (7-10 days) excluding flights. Price depends on length of trip, see below for itineraries |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Ascend Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa.
Mount Kenya is located on the equator. Magnificent cliffs and glaciers protect the highest peaks of Nelion (5188m) and Batian (5199m). The third highest summit - Point Lenana, (4985m) - is also glaciated but accessible to walkers. Tarns and alpine meadows; exotic, equatorial, high-altitude vegetation, sunbirds, hyrax and soaring eagles make the walk around the peaks one of the most beautiful expeditions in the East African mountains. On account of the high altitudes it is wise not to rush to the summit areas and the very shortest trip to Lenana should allow for 3 nights on the mountain. To combine this ascent with a circumnavigation of the main peaks requires at least an extra day.
We offer 2 set itineraries for your Mount Kenya summit trek. See below for our 7 and 10 day itineraries.
Departures 2009: 24 May, 14 Jun, 26 Jul, 9 Aug, 13 Sep, 25 Oct, 20 Dec
The Chogoria route is our recommended and arguably the most magnificent ascent route to the summit area. It is the driest route up the mountain and the walk beside the Gorges Valley truly spectacular.
Although it is possible to ascend Point Lenana in a three day trip from Nairobi this is only for the fit and well-acclimatised. This trips allows 7 days with time to acclimatise and ascend the mountain in safety. It also provides time to explore and see the most beautiful areas, such as the Parklands, based in the relative comfort of the Meru Bandas (small clean huts with beds providing bed-linen, hot water showers, an open fire and an unreliable electricity supply), as well as the Nithi waterfall, caves and gorge. An ascent of Point Lenana involves some scrambling (walking over rough ground, sometimes using your hands). Although generally this is a trouble free ascent, if icy the summit may be too difficult to attempt. However the "Round the Peaks" circuit is justifiably a magnificent tour to complete offering ever new views of the summits, glaciers and tarns with their unique high altitude vegetation. The descent by the Sirimon Route takes you through some beautiful forest tracks and completes the traverse of the mountain.
Departures 2010: 13 Feb
This is an energetic walking trip but within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas. On the return from Mount Kenya we visit "Savage Camp" base of whitewater rafting on the river Tana. This is an excellent place to relax with a half day rafting. The last days of the trip offer a unique opportunity to visit St Jerome’s Homework Club and /or a similar project in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi.
This trip is in line with our aims to help charities and organisations working to improve conditions in overseas areas we are associated with by direct help. If you wish to be directly involved with the fund-raising aspects of the trip you may consider signing up for it via their website - Details of which can be provided on request. Contributions locally made are also greatly appreciated.
Accommodation on the mountain will be in roomy double skin, dome tents. We provide a mess tent in the event of bad weather. Porters are provided to carry all communal equipment and 14kg. of your equipment. More porters could be provided on request.
We can also offer trips combining the ascent of Mount Kenya with that of Kilimanjaro or White Water Rafting adventure, Safari or Beach Holiday. We will help you at all stages to arrange a memorable trip!
Private treks from US $1215 per person. Prices are worked out on a sliding scale depending on the group size and the length of the stay.
Mount Kenya is located on the equator. Magnificent cliffs and glaciers protect the highest peaks of Nelion (5188m) and Batian (5199m). The third highest summit - Point Lenana, (4985m) - is also glaciated but accessible to walkers. Tarns and alpine meadows; exotic, equatorial, high-altitude vegetation, sunbirds, hyrax and soaring eagles make the walk around the peaks one of the most beautiful expeditions in the East African mountains. On account of the high altitudes it is wise not to rush to the summit areas and the very shortest trip to Lenana should allow for 3 nights on the mountain. To combine this ascent with a circumnavigation of the main peaks requires at least an extra day.
We offer 2 set itineraries for your Mount Kenya summit trek. See below for our 7 and 10 day itineraries.
7 day itinerary
Price: from US $1150Departures 2009: 24 May, 14 Jun, 26 Jul, 9 Aug, 13 Sep, 25 Oct, 20 Dec
The Chogoria route is our recommended and arguably the most magnificent ascent route to the summit area. It is the driest route up the mountain and the walk beside the Gorges Valley truly spectacular.
Although it is possible to ascend Point Lenana in a three day trip from Nairobi this is only for the fit and well-acclimatised. This trips allows 7 days with time to acclimatise and ascend the mountain in safety. It also provides time to explore and see the most beautiful areas, such as the Parklands, based in the relative comfort of the Meru Bandas (small clean huts with beds providing bed-linen, hot water showers, an open fire and an unreliable electricity supply), as well as the Nithi waterfall, caves and gorge. An ascent of Point Lenana involves some scrambling (walking over rough ground, sometimes using your hands). Although generally this is a trouble free ascent, if icy the summit may be too difficult to attempt. However the "Round the Peaks" circuit is justifiably a magnificent tour to complete offering ever new views of the summits, glaciers and tarns with their unique high altitude vegetation. The descent by the Sirimon Route takes you through some beautiful forest tracks and completes the traverse of the mountain.
| Day 1: | Pick up from Airport or Nairobi in the morning. Drive to Chogoria Village (3hrs), visit the market and have lunch in a restaurant before driving in a 4WD vehicle up the rough forest track to the Meru Mt Kenya Bandas. Short game-viewing walk in the Parklands in the afternoon. |
| Day 2: | Gentle walk to the Nithi Gates, explore the Nithi Falls and Gorge after lunch. |
| Day 3: | Walk up the ridge overlooking Gorges Valley to Hall Tarns campsite. This is a fine location with dramatic views to the summits and Lake Michaelson. |
| Day 4: | Follow beside the upper Gorges Valley to Square Tarn, continue via Top Hut to American Camp located on the highest meadow in Teleki Valley below the South Face of Mt Kenya. Point Lenana can be climbed along the way - either from the north or from the south (Top Hut) depending on conditions. |
| Day 5: | Complete the "Round the Peaks Circuit" past several beautiful tarns to reach Shipton Camp, below the North Face of the mountain. |
| Day 6: | Descend the Sirimon Route to Judmeier Camp at the upper edge of the forest belt. |
| Day 7: | Continue down the Sirimon Gate and waiting transport. Drive back to Nairobi (to hotel or Airport) with lunch en-route. |
10 day itinerary
Price: from US $1300Departures 2010: 13 Feb
This is an energetic walking trip but within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas. On the return from Mount Kenya we visit "Savage Camp" base of whitewater rafting on the river Tana. This is an excellent place to relax with a half day rafting. The last days of the trip offer a unique opportunity to visit St Jerome’s Homework Club and /or a similar project in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi.
This trip is in line with our aims to help charities and organisations working to improve conditions in overseas areas we are associated with by direct help. If you wish to be directly involved with the fund-raising aspects of the trip you may consider signing up for it via their website - Details of which can be provided on request. Contributions locally made are also greatly appreciated.
| Day 1: | Overnight flight to Nairobi – see flights information below. |
| Day 2: | The mountain team will meet you on arrival into Nairobi and transfer to Chogoria for lunch. Enjoy a scenic 3hr drive.Change vehicle to drive up a forest reserve track to the Mt Meru Bandas; (altitude 3000m, 4 man huts with fresh linen and hot showers). |
| Day 3: | After breakfast walk to the Nithi Gates 3200m, 3 hrs, Camp near a stream in the moorland zone with pretty waterfalls. |
| Day 4: | Walk up the ridge overlooking the Gorges Valley to the campsite by Lake Michaelson, 4000m. A spectacular area. |
| Day 5: | An early start to ascend Pt Lenana; then descend to American Camp. |
| Day 6: | Descend to the park gates with lunch on the way and then to meet the vehicle. Drive to Savage Wilderness Safari Camp on the Tana River Overnight at the camp. |
| Day 7: | Rafting and / or relaxation at the camp. After lunch drive to Nairobi in time for dinner. Overnight in the Country Lodge. |
| Day 8: | In Nairobi with the project sponsors to view one or two of the projects that Schoolchildren for Children funds. Overnight in Nairobi hotel. |
| Day 9: | On this day the group can enjoy free time or visit another project / or have a game drive in Nairobi National park. This day's activities is not included in the trip cost. Return overnight flight. |
| Day 10: | Return home. |
tailor made options
As well as our scheduled trips we can offer year round departures for any route combination and any length of time. We pick you up at the airport, organise your accommodation in Nairobi at a hotel if required. Our guide will meet you there and take you to Mount Kenya by private transport where we pick up our porters and a cook. Accommodation on the mountain will be in roomy double skin, dome tents. We provide a mess tent in the event of bad weather. Porters are provided to carry all communal equipment and 14kg. of your equipment. More porters could be provided on request.
We can also offer trips combining the ascent of Mount Kenya with that of Kilimanjaro or White Water Rafting adventure, Safari or Beach Holiday. We will help you at all stages to arrange a memorable trip!
Private treks from US $1215 per person. Prices are worked out on a sliding scale depending on the group size and the length of the stay.
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
Our own staff in the field are expected to run trips in as sustainable a manner as possible. For example; not only do they insist on removing their own rubbish but they will when practicable clean up after other more selfish groups. Our aim is always to leave campsites in a better state than we have found them. Our staff ensure our clients are given clear guidance on dealing with litter, toilet issues, on prevention of water pollution, firewood usage and personal hygiene. We encourage all participants in our trips to follow our Responsible Tourism strategies as part of our Responsible Travel Policy through our pre-trip information and through our staff in the field. With few other resources it is not surprising that tourism is critical to the countries economy. Luckily it has been developed carefully balancing the needs to preserve the magnificent environments with the need to develop good facilities for visitors and to allow local tribes to maintain as far as possible their preferred lifestyles. Park entry fees account for a substantial amount of the fees that we charge for our trips! Fee money goes to the government some of which is redistributed among local communities and organisations. Mt Kenya, the 2nd highest mountain in Africa naturally attracts many visitors every year. Its location in the heart of East Africa with its fascinating and diverse cultures, flora and fauna further add to this being such a popular destination. It is tourism that not only keeps the Kenyan economy going but also helps preserve the magnificent environment. Income from tourism allows the strict management plans to be implemented without which wildlife would be wiped out and forests cut down. Visitors to National Parks help protect the environment just by going. Community Traditionally local communities are extremely poor. Your visit will indirectly help many families and provide money for the clothing, feeding and schooling of many children. It is logical to use local people to work with the tourist industry. The staff that you meet on our trips are from local communities. Working with tourists has many benefits to them - their wages are higher than those normally received in these areas and they have the opportunity to earn tips. Our tipping policy recommends fairly substantial tips. This allows you to be directly involved and they receive money immediately. The guides, porters and cooks on the mountain work hard, and we help to ensure that they are treated fairly. In particular we insist they are not given more than 15kg loads to carry, that they eat well, are well-clothed and can sleep in comfort. You will generally find they have much more energy on the mountains than you do at the end of what seems to you as a particularly hard day. This to a large extent is related to their superb acclimatisation. In addition to your interaction with our staff we encourage you to be involved and visit a variety of projects at our different locations such as farms, orphanages, schools and villages. Visitors are also encouraged to purchase local produce, however they are asked to avoid souvenirs made from endangered indigenous woods (such as ebony & bamboo) or encourages the destruction of flora and fauna (such as ivory, corals and large shells). |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |