A still waterhole reflecting a pale sky, ringed by dry grass and distant hills

Mount Kenya National Park

Africa's second-highest peak, climbed via the Sirimon, Chogoria or Naro Moru routes to Point Lenana, a trekking summit at 4,985 metres that needs no technical climbing gear.

Overview

Mount Kenya is Africa's second-highest peak after Kilimanjaro, an old extinct volcano that rises straight out of surrounding farmland and forest. Its two highest points, Batian and Nelion, are technical climbs for mountaineers, but most visitors are here for Point Lenana, a trekking summit at 4,985 metres reachable on foot without ropes or climbing gear.

Three main routes lead up the mountain: Sirimon, the gentler and drier approach; Chogoria, generally regarded as the most scenic; and Naro Moru, the shortest and steepest. Most itineraries combine an ascent route with a different descent, so trekkers see more than one face of the mountain.

The trek climbs through several distinct zones on the way up, from montane forest into open moorland dotted with giant lobelia and groundsel, and finally into bare alpine ground near the peaks. A trek to Point Lenana typically takes four to five days, which also allows time to acclimatise properly to the altitude.

Wildlife highlights

Elephant (forest zone)
Black-and-white colobus monkey
Rock hyrax
Mountain duiker
Sunbirds of the moorland zone

Best time to visit

January through March and July through October are driest for trekking; the mountain can be climbed year-round, but rain makes both the trails and the final summit push harder going.

Getting there

Nanyuki and Chogoria, the main trailhead towns, are about three and four hours by road from Nairobi respectively. Nanyuki also has scheduled flights from Wilson Airport.