TREKKING MT KENYA 6 DAYS SIRIMON DOWN CHOGORIA ROUTE HIKING
Departs daily
Duration: 6 days
Distance: 52 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Start/Finish: Nairobi
Summary
This Mount Kenya Trekking combines the Sirimon Route and Chogoria Route Mt Kenya. The route is much more scenic and interesting than it is for Naromoru and Sirimon routes alone and starts 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. Mount Kenya access is adequate and the bunk house facilities are the on the mountain.
Day 1: Nairobi/Nanyuki
Depart Nairobi at 9am to the Mount Kenya base town of Nanyuki at Simbas Lodge. Afternoon leisure walk in Nanyuki Town and to the Equator as part of the acclimatization exercise. Dinner and overnight at a Nanyuki budget hotel, Simbas Lodge overlooking Mount Kenya, L,D.
Day 2: Nanyuki/Sirimon/Judmier Camp (Old Moses Camp)
3-4 hrs, 9km, 860m ascent
Leave Nanyuki town to Mount Kenya Sirimon Gate, 1 hr, 2,440m. From the Mt Kenya Sirimon gate follow the track as it winds uphill through the Mount Kenya forest which becomes heath land after about 3 hrs. About 3½ hours from the gate the track veers right to Mt Kenya Judmier Camp, 3300m for dinner and overnight, B,L,D
Day 3: Judmier Camp/Shipton Camp
6-7hrs, 14km, 900m ascent
After breakfast, follow the Mount Kenya 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 of Mount Kenya. Dinner and overnight at Mount Kenya Shipton Camp, 4200m, B,L,D
Day 4: Shipton Camp - acclimatisation day
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, B,L,D.
Day 5: Shiptons/Point Lenana/Mount Meru Bandas (Chogoria Gate)
6 hrs, 14km, 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 at 6:30am, taking about 3hrs. After the sunrise, descend down to Mintos hut, 2hrs, for breakfast and further down to Mount Meru Bandas, 2950m, for dinner and overnight on Mount Kenya, B,L,D
Day 6: Chogoria Bandas/Chogoria/Nairobi
Descend from Mount Kenya 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.
Tour Price: US$ 900 per person sharing. Single traveller: US$ 980
Included in the price:
-Guarantee Mount Kenya Climb price and trek on confirmation
-Nairobi/Mount Kenya return airport transfers
-Mount Kenya transfer to and from Nairobi
-Start and finish Nairobi
-Full board accommodation on the Mount Kenya trek.
-Meals as described - B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodations on the Mount Kenya in camps/huts as per the itinerary
-All Mount Kenya park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an experienced English speaking professional Mt Kenya guide with several years of successful Mount Kenya climb.
-1 night at the base town of Nanyuki
-4 nights on Mount Kenya in huts/Mount Meru Bandas
-Service of porters and skilled cook on Mount Kenya
-Mt Kenya success rate of 99%
-Mount Kenya climb tour to start and finish Nairobi
-Treated water on the Mt Kenya hike/trek
-On completion, Mount Kenya Climbing Expeditions successful Mt Kenya ascent certificate
Excluded:
-Laundry, sleeping bags, beverages/Drinks, accommodation before and after the trek and Mount Kenya climbing gears
-International flights
-Visas to Kenya
-Items of personal nature
-Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
Available joining dates:
Daily Departure, Minimum 2 people sharing
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Mount Kenya:
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya, and the second highest in Africa (after Mount Kilimanjaro). The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian (5,199 m - 17,058 ft), Nelion (5,188 m - 17,022 ft) and Lenana (4,985 m - 16,355 ft). Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around 150 km (95 miles) north-northeast of Nairobi. The area around the mountain is protected in the Mount Kenya National Park, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Park is around 620 km² (240 square miles), and receives up to 15,000 visitors every year.
The mountain is an extinct (dead) volcano standing alone, which last erupted between 2.6 and 3.1 million years ago. Its slopes include several different biomes; the lowest parts are dry upland forest, changing to montane forest of juniper and podocarpus at about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), with a belt of bamboo at 2,500 m (about 8,000 ft) that changes to an upper forest of smaller trees covered with moss and "goat's beard" lichen. Above a distinct timberline at about 3,500 m (11,500 ft), there is an afroalpine zone, with its characteristic giant rosette plants. Twelve small (and rapidly shrinking) glaciers may be found scattered among the complex of peaks, of which Batian and Nelion are the highest.
The missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf was the first European to report a sighting of Mount Kenya, in 1849. The first recorded ascent of Mount Kenya was made by Halford John Mackinder, Cesar Ollier and Josef Brocherel on 13 September 1899. The highest point (Batian) is a technical climb; the classic Diamond Couloir climbing route is a Grade IV of about 20 pitches, up to YDS 5.9 in difficulty. Nelion was first climbed by Eric Shipton in 1929, and Shipton and Bill Tilman completed the traverse of the ridge between the two highest peaks. Point Lenana, at 4,985 m (16,355 ft), can be reached by a hiking trail. Mount Kenya is best climbed in January or February on the south side and August or September on the north side.
Sirimon Route
This route starts 15 km (9 miles) east around the Mount Kenya Ring Road from Nanyuki. The gate is 10 km (6 miles) further along the track, which can be walked or driven by two-wheel drives.
The track climbs up through the forest. On the north side of the mountain there is no bamboo zone, so the forest gradually turns into moorland covered with giant heather. The track ends at Old Moses Hut and becomes a path. This continues up the hill before splitting into two routes. To the left, the least used path goes around the side of the Barrow, to Liki North Hut. The vegetation becomes more sparse, with giant lobelia and groundsels dotted around. The path climbs over a ridge, before rejoining the main path ascending the Mackinder Valley. Shipton's Cave can be found in the rock wall to the left of the steep path just before reaching Shipton's Camp.
From Shipton's Camp, it is possible to ascend the ridge directly in front of the camp to the site of Kami Hut, which no longer exists, or follow the river up to Lower Simba Tarn and eventually to Simba Col. These are both on the Peak Circuit Path
Chogoria Route
The Gorges Valley is a major feature on the Chogoria Route. This route leads from Chogoria town up to the peaks circuit. The 32 km (20 miles) from the forest gate to the park gate are often done by vehicle, but it is also possible to walk. There is much wildlife in the forest, with safari ant columns crossing the track, monkeys in the trees, and the potential for seeing elephant, buffalo and leopard. The road is not in good condition, and requires careful driving and walking. Near the park gate the bamboo zone starts, with grasses growing to 12 m high (40 ft).
Once in the park the track passes through rosewood forests, with lichens hanging from the branches. At one point the path splits, with the smaller track leading to a path up the nearby Mugi Hill and across to Lake Ellis.
Top of large overhanging buttress overlooking Lake Michaelson, close to Hall Tarns.Near the trackhead a small bridge crosses the Nithi stream. Following the stream downriver a few hundred metres (yards) leads to The Gates Waterfall. The path heads up a ridge above the Gorges Valley, with views to the peaks, Lake Michaelson, The Temple, and across the valley to Delamere and Macmillan Peaks. Hall Tarns are situated right on the path and above a 200 m (700 ft) cliff directly above Lake Michaelson.
As the path carries on it crosses the flat head of the Nithi River and then the slope steepens. The path splits, heading west to Simba Col, and south west to Square Tarn. These are both on the Peak Circuit Route.