5-Day Ultimate Mount Kenya Hiking Adventure

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Into the Emerald Forest – Journey to the Base

Your adventure begins with a morning pick-up from your Nairobi hotel in a rugged, comfortable Land Cruiser. The drive eastwards heads towards Chogoria town, the gateway to your route. You will stop for a hearty lunch before the final leg of the drive, which is an adventure itself, traveling up a rough track through vast tea plantations and into the damp, misty air of the montane rainforest.

You will arrive at the Chogoria Gate in the afternoon. Here, you complete your registration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and meet your full support team. The air is cool and filled with the sounds of the forest. You will settle into your basic but comfortable accommodation—often mountain bandas or a tented camp near the gate. You can take a short, gentle walk to stretch your legs, surrounded by the dense canopy. After a warm dinner, you will have a brief overview of the challenging but rewarding days ahead before resting for the night.

Main Destination:

Mount Kenya

Accommodation:

Chogoria Bandas

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kenya

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ascent to the Magical Moorland – Lake Ellis Campsite

After breakfast, you begin your true ascent. The path winds through remaining forest before opening into stunning moorland. The landscape transforms into rolling hills covered in tussock grass and giant lobelias. The goal is the spectacular Lake Ellis Campsite.

As you crest a final ridge, the beautiful, tranquil Lake Ellis comes into view, nestled in a valley with the towering peaks as its backdrop. This is one of the pristine wilderness lakes highlighted in your package. You will set up camp by the lakeshore. This remote location offers an unparalleled sense of peace. After a warm meal, you rest, surrounded by the incredible silence of the high mountains.

Main Destination:

Mount Kenya

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Traverse to the Peak's Amphitheater

After breakfast, you break camp and begin the traverse towards the main peak. The hike involves a climb onto a high ridge. The reward is one of the most iconic views in all of Mount Kenya: the Temple and the Lake Michaelson valley far below, surrounded by sheer cliffs.

You will follow the path along the ridge, a journey that makes you feel small against the vastness of the mountain. You will pass by other small tarns and have constant, awe-inspiring views of the main peaks, Batian and Nelion, and their glaciers.

Your destination today is Shipton's Camp, nestled in a spectacular amphitheater directly beneath the main peaks. Situated at 4,250m, the camp offers basic dormitory-style huts. The views are direct and intimidating. The afternoon is for rest and hydration. After an early dinner, your guide holds a critical summit briefing, outlining the plan for the pre-dawn start. You prepare your headlamp and gear before attempting to get a few hours of sleep.

Main Destination:

Mount Kenya

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

The Summit Push

You are woken in the freezing cold and silent darkness. After a hot drink, you begin the final ascent by headlamp. The climb to Point Lenana is a strenuous, zig-zagging trek up a steep scree slope. The pace is intentionally slow. Reaching the summit just as the first rays of the sun break over the horizon is a profoundly moving experience. Standing at 4,985m, you watch the sunrise paint the glaciers gold. This is the pinnacle of your achievement.

After photos, you begin your descent—but now on the Sirimon Route. You descend, a vast U-shaped valley with a different perspective altogether. The path is long and downhill, but the changing scenery is a welcome distraction. You will stop for a rest and lunch at Shipton's Camp to collect your main luggage before continuing the descent. The path leads you steadily downwards through the moorland until you arrive back at Old Moses Camp for the night. You will be exhausted but filled with an incredible sense of accomplishment.

Main Destination:

Mount Kenya

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descent and Celebration

After a final mountain breakfast, you break camp for the last time. The descent from Old Moses is a pleasant walk down through the heather zone and back into the lush montane forest you passed on the first day. This is a chance to spot forest birds and enjoy the thick oxygen-rich air.

You will arrive at the Sirimon Gate by late morning. Here, you will have a chance to say a heartfelt thank you and goodbye to your incredible crew. Your Land Cruiser will be waiting to meet you. You will be transferred back to Nairobi, stopping for a celebratory lunch in Nanyuki, arriving in the early evening with lifelong memories and the profound satisfaction of having conquered one of Africa's greatest mountains on a classic traverse. You will be dropped in your Nairobi Hotel.

Main Destination:

Mount Kenya

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.