Trip Type: Mount Kenya Climbing

Climbing Mount Kenya Overview

Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro. This extinct volcano is estimated to be 2.5 million years old. Time has taken its toll on the former, reducing the peak from 6500m to 5199 m today, while nature’s untiring eroding agents long ago eroded the crater.

Mount Kenya is located about 200km north of Nairobi within the Mount Kenya National Park.

Mount Kenya Trekking, Climbing Mount Kenya, Hiking Mount Kenya, Mount Kenya Trekking Route, and Climbing Kenya Mountain & Mount Kenya Expeditions: It is very easy to get to Mount Kenya for an adventure hike activity by road in various travel options namely public transport from Nairobi or other towns using minibusses, privately hired vehicle, Taxi or private means.

These options will lead you to towns and trekking routes close to the mountain and mostly on dirt roads. The route town options are Nanyuki town for the Sirimon route, Naro Moru town for Narumoru route and Chogoria town in Meru for Chogoria route.

Climbing Mount Kenya is very accessible and therein lies the problem. With a decent level of fitness, it is easy to gain altitude quickly and find yourself the on the night before summiting with a throbbing headache and all the symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Trekking with a well-experienced guide, taking a sensible easy pace and keeping hydrated makes all the difference. The best approach is always to allow extra time for your ascent, an extra day at Shipton’s Camp takes all the pressure of the itinerary and gives you time to enjoy the fabulous trekking around the peak. Generally speaking, it isn’t necessary to undergo a grueling fitness regime prior to attempting Mount Kenya, anyone who is trek fit and is comfortable walking 6-8 hour days should be fine.

Climbing Mount Kenya Guides, Porters, and Cooks.

The trekking crew will usually consist of a guide, cook, porter for the cooking gear plus a personal porter per trekker. It has been said before, but a well-experienced guide is so important on Mount Kenya, for two reasons; (1) they will regulate your pace, be able to draw on their experience to diagnose altitude sickness symptoms and have the confidence to make critical decisions and (2) their knowledge of the wildlife and fauna on the mountain will bring the environment alive. All guides and porters must be