Surfing in one of the lakes on Mount Kenya National Park
5 Days Mount Kenya Climbing – Sirimon Chogoria Route
Distance: 80 km; | Difficulty: Moderate; | Start/Finish: Nairobi
This is one of the best routes much more scenic and it is on the dry side of mountain which offers some of the finest walking. Ascend through Sirimon is easy climbing up through forest into a wide ridge approach to the summit area and descending through chogoria offers you easy and relaxed views. The route starts on the northwest side of the mountain near Nanyuki. Access is adequate and the bunk house facilities are the best on this side of the mountain.
Related Adventure Safaris
→04 Days Mount Kenya Climbing – Sirimon Route
→05 Days Mount Kenya Climbing – Sirimon Chogoria Route
→06 Days Mount Kenya Climbing – Chogoria Naromoru Route
→06 Days Mount Kenya Climbing – Sirimon Naromoru Route
Prices are based on 2 adults sharing a room and the length of stay at hotel. Offer subject to availability at the time of booking. Price may vary depending on flight and hotel availability and changes in exchange rates. Terms and Conditions apply.
Day 1: Nairobi – Sirimon- Old Moses Camp (Judmaier Camp)
Accommodation: Old Moses camp
Leave Nairobi at 8.00am to Nanyuki town on the western slopes of Mt Kenya for lunch, taking about 4 hours. After lunch is a full briefing and equipment check before we begin the mountain trek – we’ll meet the crew at this point, each one has a personal porter and there are extra porters for mountain equipment and food. It takes about one hour to get to the Sirimon Park Gate (2600m) crossing the equator en-route. On completion of park entry formalities you begin a 3-4 hour hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to Old Moses camp (3300m). Today we gain 740m on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks and a plethora of bird species. Overnight in the Old Moses camp also known as Judmaier Camp (3340m). Meals Plan: {L, D}
Day 2: Old Moses Camp {Judmier Camp} – Shipton’s Camp 6-7hrs, 17km, 900m ascent
Accommodation: Shipton’s Camp
After breakfast, follow the track uphill, forking right at the junction. After a water break, you continue on the track crossing Ontulili River before turning right contouring through the Moorland and crossing Liki North River and continue uphill to surreal Mackinders Valley with its strange vegetation of giant lobelia and groundsel, unique to equatorial African mountains and from the surreal Mackinders Valley there are panoramic views up the valley towards the Shipton’s Camp (4236m). This camp is a surreal setting below the glacier and the towering peaks of bare rock that surround the main summits. Resident population is of Rock hyrax and sun birds. Meals Plan: {B, L, D}
Day 3: Shipton’s Camp (Acclamatization Day)
Accommodation: Shipton’s Camp
Spend the day acclimatizing. Walk to Kami Hut down to Hauseberg Lakes (Hauseberg Tarn and Nanyuki Tarn). Walk back to Shipton for dinner and overnight. Meals Plan: {B, L, D}
Day 4: Shipton’s Camp – Point Lenana Peak– Mintos camp – Meru Mount Kenya Bandas
Accommodation: Meru Mount Kenya Bandas
Predawn start 3am for the summit attempt from Shipton’s camp – the trekking today combines a demanding attempt of the summit and descends to down to Mintos camp then to Meru Mount Kenya Bandas. This tusk is really challenging and needs a lot of resilience. You’ll need a bright head torch for this. Go up steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the hikers summit, Pt Lenana at 4,985m in time to witness the African Sun rise as it reflect its golden glow on the Majestic peaks of Batian and Nelion over the equator at 6.30am – to add to the exhilaration, Kilimanjaro is usually visible 340kms to the south on a clear day. The climb is tough going through frozen scree and requiring some scrambling on final stretch to reach the summit – this is unavoidable on any route. After celebrating the achievement descend down to Mintos hut (6km), 2hrs, for breakfast and 20km, 4-5hrs further proceed down to Mount Meru Bandas and campsite, 2950m, through the Gorges valley. The route passes the enchanting Hall Tarns and looks down sheer cliffs into the spectacular Gorges Valley and onto the beautiful Lake Michaelson. Wildlife viewing is possible in evening with elephant and buffalo often grazing outside our cabins and a large numbers of forest and moorland birds. Dinner and overnight on Meru Mount Kenya Bandas. Meals Plan: {B, L, D}
Day 5: Meru Mount Kenya Bandas – Chogoria – Nairobi
Meals: Nairobi
After breakfast, start the descent to Chogoria (32km). 4WD vehicles are provided but during bad weather, climbers may have to walk some distance as vehicles may not reach the Bandas. From Chogoria transport is provided back to Nairobi, arriving late afternoon. Meals Plan: {B, L}.
