MOUNT KENYA

Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and second highest in Africa after mount Kilimanjaro. It is a very popular tourist destination and also a hotspot for Trekking Mount Kenya, climbing Mount Kenya and hiking Mount Kenya. In the central highlands a couple of hundred kilometers north of the equator lays Mt. Kenya. It is here, where the Kikuyu god "ngai" resides.  It is one of the few places near the equator on Africa with permanent glaciers. The name of the country has been known to have been derived from Mt. Kenya which was formerly known as Mount Kirinyaga.  Mount Kenya is located 180 kilometers north of Nairobi and it can often be seen from high-rise buildings in Nairobi. It is an extinct volcano, which formed a couple of million years ago. The mountain is located in the Mount Kenya National Park, which is a designated protected area around the mountain above 3200m altitude. The Kenya Wildlife Service manages the park. The national park covers an area of 700 square kilometers and was established in 1949

Mount Kenya Climbing and  Mt . Kenya treks or optional rock climbing in mount Kenya are the rare opportunities you can imagine to miss. Over many years, we have had good success with organizing spectacular Mount Kenya trekking on the summit circuit trail and to a high "trekking peak": Point Lenana (4985m). For those who want to do the optional rock climb, we have been putting members on one of the two summits of Mt. Kenya:  Nelion Summit at 5188 meters, and Bation Summit at 5199 meters.

The Northeast face of Mount Kenya, as seen from Shipton's Hut (4200m).  Nelion Summit (5188m) is actually on the left, even though the higher top, Bation Summit (5199m), seen here on the right, looks lower.   Whichever one you climb, either is a worthy objective.  Mount Kenya rock climbing the rift volcanoes, of which Kenya is one. Photo has been tilted for effect.

Mount Kenya rock climbing, Hiking Mount Kenya,Walking in Mount Kenya, mount Kenya Climbing Safaris.  Point Lenana (4985m) is visible in the background.

The left hand, snowy mountain, is Mt. Kenya and the right hand, rock spire, is Point John (4883m).   The obvious snow gully in the center of Mt. Kenya is the Diamond Couloir.  At the base and around this mountain there are major Mount Kenya lodge hotels such as the Mount Kenya Safari Club, Outspans in Nyeri, Naro Moru River Lodge, Treetops, Mountain Lodge, Bantu Lodge and several others. Tourists who do not wish to climb often visit the hotels for the view, luxury accommodation, fresh air and the tranquil atmosphere. 

Compared to Mt. Kenya Africa’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro is a rrelatively easy climb and the main summit of Uhuru peak (5895m) can be reached by most climbers. The mountain, though the highest is relatively a boring climb with not much scenery or change in landscape. The origin of the name Kilimanjaro still remains a mystery and is thought mean a great hill in Kiswahili. It is also thought that Mount Kilimanjaro once belonged to Kenya up until the division of the British empire in east Africa when the Queen of England altered the border of the two nations to accommodate the mountain onto Tanzania. After that local history has it that the presidents of the two nations agreed on a trade; Mount Kilimanjaro will be part of Kenya if Kenya hand over Mombasa to Tanzania
which did not happen as Kenya would loose a strategic port and its second largest city.

Though Kilimanjaro is relatively dry and can be climbed all year round the main dry climbing season begins from January-February and June-September.
For climbers with limited time one can easily fly to Kilimanjaro
International airport from either Nairobi or Dar es salaam and stay
overnight in Moshi or Arusha town.

Mount Kenya Climbing Routes - Mount Kenya Itineraries

4 Days Mt Kenya Climbing Sirimon Down Sirimon

5 Days Mt Kenya Climb Naromoru down Sirimon

5 Days Mount kenya Trekking - Sirimon out Chogoria

6 Days Mount Kenya Climbing Naromoru Down Chogoria

7 Days Mount Kenya Hiking Timau-Chogoria