7 Days Mt. Kenya Climbing: Sirimon To Chogoria Route

Day 1: Nairobi – Mountain Rock Lodge, 1950m.

You will be driven to a base lodge on the western slopes of Mt Kenya tucked away in the Mount Kenya forest for acclimatization. In the afternoon head for a walk through the forest where local natural history guide will reveal the medicinal plants, birds and animals of the forest environment as you explore the lower montane forest while heading to the famous Mau Mau caves. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: Oldmoses Mountain Hut, 3340m.

Drive to Sirimon Park Gate crossing the equator en-route. On completion of park entry formalities we trek up through montane forests, bamboo and giant heather zones before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first hut, “Old Moses” at 3,340m. This first day’s gentle trek takes 2-3 hours and ascends 740m. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Liki North Campsite, 3993m.

Up the sprawling moorland to the breathtaking Likii Valley an area of high altitude plants such as Ostrich Plum Lobelia and Cabbage Groundsel to emerge at the Liki North campsite at 3993m for camping since there is no option of a mountain hut here. This is a short walking day about 4 hours, with an optional acclimatization hike in afternoon up onto Terere peak.

Day 4: Shipton’s Hut, 4236m.

Trek up the splendid Mackinder Valley trekking past unusual looking giant groundsel and lobelia plants to arrive at Shipton’s camp at 4,236m for the night in the hut. This is a surreal setting below the towering peaks and glaciers, with its resident populations of rock hyrax and beautiful sunbirds.

Day 5: Mackinder’s Camp, 4300m.

Depart after breakfast and ascend to Hausberg col (4700m) then descend steeply to Hausberg valley and Oblong tarns before making a further steep ascent, crossing huge boulders via Two Tarn to Mackinder’s camp 4,300m for overnight in the hut. Today we shall pass through a very scenic summit circuit trail which offers a quality trek for better acclimatization.

DAY 6: Summit, 4,985M & Meru Bandas, 3,000m.

At 2am we begin our trek to reach the summit Pt. Lenana at 4,895m for sunrise. The climb is on frozen scree going through the Harris tarn and requiring some scrambling on final stretch to reach the summit. A bright head torch is required for this. The climb takes 4hrs and on a clear sky day Mt.Kilimanjaro is usually visible. After enjoying this achievement and taking pictures we descent for 2-3hrs to Hall Tarns (4,300m) for breakfast enjoying gorgeous scenes of a sheer 300m cliff overlooking the Gorges Valley. After the break we continue farther down the mountain through the Chogoria route going gently down a broad ridge enjoying magnificent views back up the valley to the snowy peaks. On the way down we pass magnificent waterfalls, tarns and lava flows in the Gorges Valley. Overnight is in the Meru Mt. Kenya bandas where you enjoy log fire and hot shower.

DAY 7: TO NAIROBI OR NEXT DESTINATION.

After breakfast descend on a broad track through bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet vehicles for the return to Nairobi arriving in the afternoon.

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