Mount Kenya

BeKenya

Mount Kenya

Glaciers on the equator, alpine forest on the way up, and the trek to Point Lenana at 4,985m.

Plan Your TripRead on

Climb Mount Kenya

The trek with the wildlife it sits next to, or four days on the mountain on its own. Guided, portered, and all-inclusive throughout.

8 Days Mount Kenya, Ol Pejeta & Samburu

Nairobi · Mount Kenya · Ol Pejeta · Samburu · Nairobi

The trek, then the wildlife it sits next to. Three nights on the mountain, two at Ol Pejeta with the last northern white rhinos, and two in Samburu for the northern species you do not see in the Mara. One vehicle, one guide, one price.

8 Days / 7 Nights Trek 3N · Ol Pejeta 2N · Samburu 2N
Jul – Oct, 15 Dec – 1 Janfrom €4,110 pp
Jan – Jun, Nov – 14 Decfrom €3,130 pp
Day by day & what's includedPlan this trip

9 Days Mount Kenya, Samburu, Ol Pejeta & the Aberdares

Nairobi · Mount Kenya · Samburu · Ol Pejeta · Aberdares · Nairobi

The eight-day trip with the Aberdares added: a night at a forest lodge built over a waterhole, where you stay put and the animals come to you. The quietest night of the trip, and usually the one people talk about afterwards.

9 Days / 8 Nights Trek 3N · Samburu 2N · Ol Pejeta 2N · Aberdares 1N
Jul – Oct, 15 Dec – 1 Janfrom €4,600 pp
Jan – Jun, Nov – 14 Decfrom €3,550 pp
Day by day & what's includedPlan this trip

4 Days Mount Kenya Trek

Nairobi · Sirimon Gate · Naro Moru Gate · Nairobi

The standard Mount Kenya climbing route: up through the Sirimon gate on the drier northern side, and down the Naro Moru route on the west. Four days on the mountain with a guide, a cook and porters, sleeping in mountain huts or camping where the route requires it.

4 Days / 3 Nights 2 – 6 People
Per person€1,150 pp
Day by day & what's includedPlan this trip

Which way up

Three ways onto the mountain. We take the first and come down the second.

Sirimon, going up
The driest of the routes, starting at 2,660m on the northern side and climbing through cedar forest and moorland. Its gentler profile is the reason we use it for the ascent: more time at altitude before the summit push.
Naro Moru, coming down
The quickest way off the mountain, starting lowest at 2,400m. It is also the busiest, and its moorland turns to deep mud in the wet, which is why we walk it downhill rather than up.
Chogoria, if you want the view
The most beautiful side of the mountain, past Lake Michaelson and the Gorges Valley, and a little harder for it. Same four days and the same price. Tell us if you would rather come up this way.

When to climb

January to February, and August to September.

The mountain makes its own weather, so even in the dry months expect clear mornings, cloud by mid-morning and rain in the afternoon. That is why the summit push starts at three in the morning: the pre-dawn window is the stable one. The long rains from March to May turn the lower moorland to deep mud, and we would rather not take you up in it. June and October can go either way.

Before you book

Four things worth knowing while it is still easy to change your mind.

You go high, and fast
Nairobi sits at 1,700m. Point Lenana is 4,985m and you reach it on the third day. Nobody can tell you in advance how you will handle that. Walk slowly, drink more than you want to, and tell your guide the moment a headache stops answering to painkillers.
Bring a sleeping bag
Rated to -10°C. It is not in the price and most operators on this mountain do not provide one, which catches people out. Rent in Nairobi if you would rather not fly with it, because there is nothing to hire at the gate.
Break your boots in
Waterproof and ankle-supporting, and worn in properly weeks before you fly. Four days of cold, wet ground in boots straight out of the box is how good treks turn miserable.
Point Lenana is a walk, not a climb
No ropes and no climbing experience needed, just legs and patience. Batian at 5,199m and Nelion at 5,188m are a different proposition: technical peaks needing a mountaineering guide and a week or more.

Or something else entirely

The two longer trips above are the combinations we run most, but nothing about them is fixed. Swap the Aberdares for the coast, come up Chogoria instead of Sirimon, add days where you want them, or bring a group and we will price it for the group. Tell us what you are after and we will build it around that.

Plan the whole trip