Mount Kenya
Although Mount Kenya is much less climbed than its neighbour in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro, for many it is a much more enjoyable experience with a true wilderness feel on all routes, abundant wildlife and stunning mountain lakes and jagged peaks that you find on Mount Kenya climb.
At 4,985 metres Point Lenana is an achievable trekking peak for most people and if ascended on the Naro Moru route its currently the world's highest via ferrata, which adds to the challenge and enjoyment. The panoramic views of the volcanic peaks, wide valleys, gorges and surrounding savannah makes a trek on this mountain the perfect African trekking experience.
There are many ways to ascend the mountain (including technical climbs on the two higher peaks, Nelion and Batian), and there are further details on all routes and options on our parent company website, climb Mount Kenya, though worth noting that the prices on the Adventure Alternative UK site are based on non-residents, it is considerably cheaper for residents and cheaper again for citizens, contact us directly if you fall in to any of those two categories to get prices, non-residents should enquire through the Adventure Alternative UK site.
Our most popular option is a Naro Moru ascent and Chogoria descent on the Mount Kenya traverse as this gives the best chance to see wildlife and the summit ridge up to Point Lenana from the Austrian Hut is just stunning and a great introduction to mountaineering. The views on the descent are also a highlight looking down towards the gorge, lakes, smaller peaks and immense forest.
The cheapest way to summit is a Mount Kenya trek ascending and descending on the Western side of the mountain, trekking up the Naro Moru route and ascending the Sirimon route. If you're looking for the easier way to the summit then better to go with the Sirimon ascent as that the final camp at Shiptons is much closer to the summit and much easier terrain to the Naro Moru route.
Frequently Asked Questions – Mount Kenya
How long does it take to climb Mount Kenya?
A lot of companies offer 3 day climbs on Mount Kenya but this does not offer a safe acclimatisation plan, our preferred itinerary is 5 days on the shorter options to allow for a safe ascent and descent. If you plan to use the remote Burguret route then expect to be on the mountain for 6 days, similarly if you include the Summit Circuit in your plans.
How much does it cost to climb Mount Kenya?
The cost varies depending on the Mount Kenya routes and the accommodation that you plan to use, camping rather than using the huts at the various camps is the cheaper option on a Western ascent and decent, either on the Naro Moru route, Sirimon route or a mix of both, a west to east traverse is a little more expensive as you need to use 4x4's to get off / on to the mountain on the Chogoria route.
How hard is it to climb Mount Kenya?
The technical ascent of Nelion or Batian require good technical climbing experience but Point Lenana can be climbed by most people, you just need to have good general fitness and the correct equipment, read up on health and altitude in the mountains, acclimatising safely and our Mount Kenya advice.
What equipment do you need to climb Mount Kenya?
For trekking on Mt Kenya we have a recommended kit list (we provide all the group equipment, particularly tents and cooking equipment, however if you need personal equipment we can rent out kit like sleeping bags, waterproof jackets, trekking poles, etc). When choosing your footwear our trekking boot guide will help point you in the right direction as will our sleeping bag guide when deciding which weight / warmth bag suits you.
When is the best time to climb Mount Kenya?
When is the best time to climb Mount Kenya is a question we get asked a lot, the reality is that it can be climbed all year round, though if you don't fancy trekking in the rainy seasons it's better to avoid mid-March to mid-May and October and November but
it's getting increasingly difficult to predict the rains so if you have no alternative but to climb in these months then don't let the rains hold you back, the rain tends to fall after lunch on the mountain so a lot of the time we can avoid trekking in heavy rain.
How do you get to Mount Kenya from Nairobi?
There are a number of options to get to Mount Kenya, most people will ascend on the Western side and you can get a public matatu from Nairobi directly to Naro Moru / Nanyuki, that is the cheapest option. There are also matatu's to Chogoria from Nairobi on the eastern side of the mountain. For those that do not fancy squeezing into public transport, private transfers from anywhere in Nairobi can be arranged, read further details on our Mount Kenya trek options.