Hiking
9 Days Mount Kenya, Samburu, Ol Pejeta & the Aberdares
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.
The trip
- 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.
Day by day
- 1
Nairobi – Sirimon Gate – Old Moses
North through Nanyuki to the Sirimon gate at 2,660m, roughly four hours depending on how Nairobi behaves. From the gate the path climbs through cedar forest, then bamboo and giant heather, onto open moorland. Around nine kilometres to Old Moses camp at 3,300m, and cold once the sun goes.
- 2
Old Moses – Shipton's Camp
The long day: about fourteen kilometres and seven hours, crossing the Ontulili and Liki North rivers and climbing into Mackinder's Valley. This is the zone of giant groundsel and lobelia, plants that grow nowhere else and look like it. Shipton's sits at 4,200m directly under the peaks.
- 3
Shipton's – Point Lenana – Met Station
Awake around half past two and onto frozen scree in the dark, because the hours before dawn are the only reliably clear ones. Point Lenana at 4,985m by sunrise, with Kilimanjaro on the horizon if the air is good. Then the whole descent in one go, down the Teleki Valley to Met Station at 3,100m. Eleven to twelve hours on your feet.
- 4
Off the mountain – Samburu
Down through the rainforest to the gate, then north into the dry country along the Ewaso Ng'iro. Afternoon game drive if the light holds.
- 5
Samburu full day
Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx and Somali ostrich, none of which you will have seen on a Mara safari. Elephants come down to the river through the day.
- 6
Samburu – Ol Pejeta
South to the Laikipia plateau, with Mount Kenya behind you now instead of above you. Afternoon in the conservancy.
- 7
Ol Pejeta full day
The last two northern white rhinos in the world, black rhino, the Big Five, and a chimpanzee sanctuary for animals rescued from the trade.
- 8
Ol Pejeta – the Aberdares
Into the Aberdare forest and a lodge built above a waterhole, where the game comes to you instead. Buffalo, elephant and bushbuck through the evening, and a bell to wake you if something rare arrives in the night.
- 9
The Aberdares – Nairobi
Down out of the forest and back to Nairobi, arriving early afternoon.
What's included
- The full four-day Mount Kenya trek, with guide, cook and porters
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof after the mountain
- English and Swahili-speaking driver-guide
- All park and reserve fees
- Full-board accommodation, and all meals on the mountain
- Bottled water daily
- Nairobi pick-up and drop-off, and government taxes
Not included
- Personal trekking gear: sleeping bag, warm clothing, hiking boots
- Alcoholic drinks and beverages
- International flights
- Kenya eTA visa
- Personal items
- Tips and gratuities
- Medical, luggage and travel insurance
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