Chogoria route on Mount Kenya Climb, Chogoria route is the most scenic route and has beautiful access to point Lenana the third highest peak at Mt Kenya. On this Mount Kenya climbing experience, you ascend via the dry and little used Sirimon Trail and descend on the scenic Chogoria Trail. You reach point Lenana (4985 m), the highest point accessible to walkers, and return to base. Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain. Above the habitable altitude, you find a rainforest zone, abundant with many tree species and wildlife too. Further up is open moorland, and beyond is the snow line where vegetation is sparse. Finding snow on the equator was a great surprise for the first Europeans to get to East Africa.
Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria Route Itinerary
Climbing Mount Kenya Chogoria route out Naro Moru gate
Day 1: Nairobi- Chogoria
After breakfast we depart Nairobi and drive on to Chogoria town arriving in time for lunch at the Transit hotel. The journey takes 3 to 3.5 hours. Afternoon will be spent walking around the town for acclimatization. Dinner and overnight at the Transit Hotel.
Mt Kenya trekking
Day 2: Chogoria - Meru Mount Kenya Lodge (Bandas)
After breakfast we take 4x4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for distance of 10 km up to the Bandas for lunch. Afternoon will be spent walking around the lodge with a view of beautiful sceneries. Dinner and overnight at the Bandas. (accommodation at Bandas is of single beds. hot shower and bon fire self catering bandas)
Day 3: Meru Mount Kenya Lodge (Bandas) to Mintos Hut
After breakfast leave the lodge for Mintos Hut for a distance of 15 km. Uphill having our lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at Mintos Campsite.
Day 4: Mintos to Summit - Mackinders
After pre dawn breakfast we leave the campsite at 2.00 am. For the summit arriving at 6.30 am for sunrise, Kilimanjaro and the coast Sunrise Mt Kenya line Views. After 10 to 15 minutes of photography we descend via Austrian Hut to Mackinders camp for breakfast hence spend the whole day enjoying beautiful views. Dinner and overnight at Mackinders Camp.
Day 5: Mackinders Camp to Met Station
After breakfast leave the camp and descend to Met Station via the Moor land and the vertical borges arriving in time for lunch. Dinner and overnight at the Met Station Lodge.
Day 6: Met Station - Gate - Nairobi.
After breakfast leave Met Station and descend to the Naro Moru Park Gate a distance of 10 km to connect your transport back to Nairobi arriving afternoon. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Climbing Mount kenya - Naro Moru route
Distance: 80 km | Difficulty: Moderate | Start/Finish: Nairobi
Summary
Much more scenic than Naromoru and it is on the dry side of mountain which offers some of the finest walking. Climb up through forest into a wide ridge approach to the summit area. 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
Day 1: Nairobi/Sirimon/Judmaier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 3-4 hrs, 9km, 860m ascent
Leave Nairobi at 7.30am to Nanyuki town for lunch, taking about 4 hours. Proceed to Sirimon Gate, 1 hr, 2440m. From the gate follow the track as it winds uphill though the forest which becomes heath land after about 3 hrs. About 3½ hours from the gate the track veers right to Judmaier Camp, 3300m for dinner and overnight, L, D
Day 2: Judmier Camp/Shipton Camp 6-7hrs, 17km, 900m ascent
After breakfast, follow the track uphill, forking left at the junction. After one hour from Old Moses Camp, the track crosses Ontulili River. Go right contouring through the Moorland and crossing Liki North and continue uphill to Mackinders Valley from where there are panoramic views up the valley towards the main peaks. Dinner and overnight at Shipton Camp, 4200m, B,L,D
Day 3: Shipton 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.
Day 4: Shiptons/Point Lenana/Mount Meru Bandas (Chogoria Gate) 11-12hrs, 32km, 785m ascent
Leave at 3am up a steep stony quarry that cuts through a cliff clearing visible part towards lower Hall Tarns arriving Mount Kenya point Lenana (6km from Shipton Camp) at 6:30am, taking about 3hrs. After the sunrise, descend down to Mintos hut (6km), 2hrs, for breakfast and 20km, 4-5hrs further down to Mount Meru Bandas, 2950m, for dinner and overnight on Mount Kenya, B,L,D
Day 5: Chogoria Bandas/Chogoria/Nairobi
Descend 2hr, 15km to forest clearance to catch a 4x4 transfer vehicle to Chogoria Village where you will connect with your transfer vehicle back to Nairobi, B,L.
Distance: 60km | Difficulty: Demanding | Start/Finish: Nairobi
Day 1: Nairobi/Sirimon/Judmaier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 3-4 hrs, 9km, 860m ascent
Leave Nairobi at 8 am to Nanyuki town for lunch, taking about 4 hours. Proceed to Sirimon Gate, 1 hr, 2440m. From the gate follow the track as it winds uphill though the forest which becomes heath land after about 3 hrs. About 3½ hours from the gate the track veers right to Judmaier Camp, 3300m for dinner and overnight, L, D
Day 2: Old Moses | Liki North Camp, 10km, 3hrs, 3900m
After climbing through the rain forest to 3993m. We will spend the night at Liki Camp north,B,L,D.
Day 3: Liki North Camp | Shipton's Camp, 5km, 2hrs, 4000m
The trail proceeds to Shipton’s camp where we will rest in order to acclimatise overnight,B,L,D.
Day 4: Shipton Camp | Mackinders Camp, 7km, 3hrs, 4200m
From Shipton’s camp the trail leads to kami hut below the north face of Batian. Continuing west – southwest the trails climbs up switchbacks in the fine snow before reaching Hausberg col at 4590m. We will descend into the upper Hausberg valley and rest at the aptly named oblong and Hausberg tarns. Ascending to the crest of a ridge known as Arthur’s seat we see the trail winding along a beautiful series of rock ledges. We will descend to shipton’s camp for the night,B,L,D.
Day 5: Mackinders Camp | Point Lenana, 7km, 4hrs | Met Station, 23km, 7hrs
An early 2.00 am start for an attempt to reach point Lenana before descending to Mackinder’s camp for breakfast then on to Met Station for dinner and overnight, B,L,D
Day 6: Met Station | Naromoru Gate, 9km, 3hrs| Nairobi
Descend to park gate and transfer to Nairobi,B,L
Climbing Mt Kenya is a spectacular walk up the beautiful Sirimon valley away from the main tourist route on Mount Kenya. The trek passes through a diverse range of vegetation and climate zones, from dense forest to tropical cactus plants to snow covered peaks within a relatively short distance.
