Mount Kenya trekking & climb, Kenya: Mount Kenya climbing and
trekking programs and trip information: Mount Kenya climbing
safari, Mt Kenya climb with Mount Kenya safari climbing tour:
Mount Kenya trekking, Mt Kenya climb, Mount Kenya
climbing, Mount Kenya trip information, Mount Kenya climbing
safari, Mt Kenya climb, Mount Kenya safari, climbing tour.
Mount Kenya Natural History:
Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest mountain at 5,199m
(17,058 feet) and the highest of all Kenya Mountains. Mount
Kenya is roughly circular, about 60km across at the 200mm
contour, where the steep font hills rise out of the gentler
slopes of the centered highlands. At the centre of the massif,
the main peaks rise sharply from around 4,500m to the main
summit of Batian 5,199m, Nelion 5,188m and point Lenana
4,985m. Other major summits on the mountain include Point
Piggott 4,957m, Point Dutton 4,885 and Point John 4,883m. Of
the three main peaks (Batian, Lenana and Nelion), only point
Lenana can be reached by trekkers and the other two being only
for technical climbers.
Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and stands
somewhat unjustly in the shadow of it's taller neighbour
Kilimanjaro, which lies some 320km away in the south and is
visible on a clear day. Kili may see much more traffic - due
to the possibility of summitting via several non-technical
trekking routes and due to the sometimes dubious honour of
being one of the Seven Summits - but Mount Kenya offers a
wealth of excellent and diverse climbing possibilities on
rock, snow and ice.
The rock on Mount Kenya can be of variable quality but is at
it's best high on the mountain where the syenite rock is
similar to granite - rough, hard and well endowed with
features.
Apart from the superb climbing potential on Mount Kenya, its
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.
After the cultivated farmlands on the lower slopes the trails
pass through the rain forest, rich in trees of many species
but noticeably camphors, then onto a bamboo zone growing to
heights of more than 12m or more up through open moor land
before reaching the moonscape of higher slopes. The forests
are rich in wildlife including elephant, buffalo and monkeys
with even the moor lands offering a long list of mammals
including the rock hyrax, the nearest living relative of the
elephant.
Mt. Kenya is an ancient volcanic mountain much older than Mt.
Kilimanjaro. It’s believed to have once reached well above
600m. What is left today is volcanic plug which erosion has
fashioned into the complex jagged outline of the central
peaks.
Getting to Mount Kenya:
Mount Kenya is approximately 200km north of
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and is comfortably accessible
by road using a variety of transport options - buses, mini
buses, taxi cab or a car hire will get you close to the
mountain on the tarred roads to the nearest town: Naromoru
town for Naro Moru route, Nanyuki town for Sirimon route and
Chogoria Town for Chogoria Route.
The last stretch from the nearest town to the various
trailheads (typically +/- 25km) will be on dirt roads and
these can be in poor condition (especially in wet weather) and
require a 4WD, or an approach on foot.
When to Trek Mount Kenya:
Although, Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, the
highest rainfall occurs between late March and the middle of
May, and slightly less between late October and mid December.
Maximum rainfall occurs in the forest belt and on the
south-east side of the mountain where it reaches 2500mm. per
year at 3000m. Rain and, higher up, snow can however be
encountered at any time of year - even in the driest periods
(January and February). Normally the drier seasons are
associated with clear, dry weather which can last for many
days on end. The best weather is generally in the mornings,
and convectional rainfall, if any, tends to come in the
mid-afternoon.
Temperatures vary considerably with height and with time of
day. At 3000m. frosts can be encountered at night while day
temperatures range from 5 to 15°C. Night time temperatures on
the summit are well below freezing. The south-facing side of
Mount Kenya receives more sunshine in the December to March
period. During this time rock climbs are "in-condition" and
snow and ice climbs gradually deteriorate. In the June to
October period the north-facing rock climbs and south-facing
ice climbs are best.
It's safest to climb Mt. Kenya during the dry seasons: January
- February and August to September off the most reliably fine
weather. The main routes are likely to be more crowded at this
time of the year. If you favor complete solitude over the
sunny skies, try going slightly off the peak season. It’s best
to avoid the two rainy seasons from mid March until June and
from late October to the end of December.
Mount Kenya Vegetation
Mount Kenya is home to some fascinating high-altitude alpine
vegetation including giant groundsels and lobelias.
In the lower-altitude forest zone trekkers may come across
some rather large and uncompromising African wildlife such as
elephants and buffalo - fortunately these are mostly active
only at night. Lions, leopard, rock hyrax, various antelope
species and a wide range of other creatures large and small
occur in the park.
Mount Kenya Forest Vegetation And
Coverage In Percentage:
-Bamboo - 10%
-Bamboo and Forest Mix - 23%
-Forest - 32%
-Bushy Forest - 11%
-Grassland - 8.5%
-Plantation - 9%
-Other - 6.5%
Mount Kenya climbing
Routes/Itineraries:
There are three main routes, which penetrate the forest and
the moorland. The routes are Naromoru route, Sirimon route and
Chogoria route and each of which has something different to
offer.
Climbing Mount Kenya Naromoru route - The fastest route to
point Lenana but not as scenic as the other two. It is often
overcrowded with many climbers since it's the most popular
route compared to Chogoria route and Sirimon route.
Mount Kenya Chogoria route - The most scenic and interesting
of the three main routes on the mountain.
The route passes the enchanting Hall Tarns and looks down
sheer cliffs into the spectacular Gorges Valley and onto the
beautiful Lake Michaelson.
Climbing Mount Kenya Sirimon route - The least used of the
three main routes, but features the most gradual ascent
profile and best acclimatisation options and above all the
most interesting since its on the drier side on the mountain.
The route passes through impressive Yellowwood forests in the
lower reaches and features abundant wildlife and beautiful
alpine scenery higher up.
There are other four routes up Point Lenana but are least
known and used. These are: Burguret Route, Timau Route, Meru
Route and Kamweti Route
Note: The normal
pattern of weather on Mount Kenya is for clear mornings with
mist closing in from 10:00am although this can clear by
evening. Therefore, early morning starts are the order of the
day with a 2am start for the final ascent to point Lenana, if
you want to catch the sunrise. Mount Kenya trekking & climb,
Kenya: Mount Kenya climbing and trekking programs and trip
information: Mount Kenya climbing safari, Mt Kenya climb
with Mount Kenya safari climbing tour.
Sample our available Mount
Kenya Climbing Itineraries:
AAHK 401: 4 Days Mount Kenya
Climbing Sirimon Route
AAHK 402: 4 Days Mt Kenya Climbing Narumoru Route
AAHK 501: 5 Days Mount Kenya trekking Sirimon-Chogira Route
