Searching for authentic Mount Kenya climbing tours? Mount Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro, found in Tanzania, making it the highest mountain in Kenya, standing at an elevation of 5,199 meters above sea level. It is commonly referred to as the Kilimanjaro Mountain of Kenya.
The mountain is locally known as “Kiinyaa” by the Kamba and “Kirinyaga” by the Kikuyu people, who have lived on the mountain slopes for many years. Batian is the highest peak of Mount Kenya, followed by Nelion and then Lenana. Below are some of our Mount Kenya hiking tours and adventures.
Most of Mount Kenya's peaks are situated at the center of the mountain.
It is feared that there will be no more ice on Mount Kenya in the coming 30 years; the total area now covered by glaciers was 0.7 square kilometers in the '80s, far less compared to what was recorded in the 1890s.
Mount Kenya is an important water catchment area for the people of Kenya and a major supply to two large rivers in Kenya, namely Ewaso Ng'iro and Tana rivers.
Climbing Mount Kenya is quite challenging regardless of the peak you wish to climb.
This will require physical fitness, and travelers need to be in good shape.
There are seven main climbing routes used when climbing Mount Kenya, which are listed below:
North Face Route. The North Face Route is usually used by travelers from Nelion peak and starts from the north face of the mountain, hence its name. This route requires technical experience because it is the most challenging route for climbing Mount Kenya. Climbers normally take 2 days and 1 night for this route.
Sirimon Route. The Sirimon Route is one of the most commonly used routes for climbers. Tourists are advised to add an extra day while trekking on this route to manage and avoid altitude sickness.
South Ridge Route. The South Ridge Route is used to reach the second-highest peak of Mount Kenya, Nelion. This route offers some of the most scenic views and requires 2 days and 1 night.
Burguret Route. The Burguret Route is rarely used by tourists. It can be combined with other trails or take you directly to the summit, but it takes about 3 nights to reach the highest peak.
Timau Route. The Timau Route was the first established route for climbing Mount Kenya and is rarely used these days because there is no overnight accommodation on this route.
Naro Moru Route. Naro Moru is the shortest and most direct route to the peak of Mount Kenya. This can be done in one day; however, 2 days and 1 night are a better option to avoid altitude sickness.
Chogoria Route. The Chogoria Route is best for visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of Mount Kenya's flora and fauna. It takes 3 days and 3 nights, encountering beautiful waterfalls, stunning scenery, and much more.
What you'll pay for Entry
The entry fee charged for accessing Mount Kenya is $43 for foreign non-resident adults, $26 for foreign non-resident children, foreign resident adults will pay 1,030 KSh while their children pay 515 KSh, and Kenyan citizens will pay 300 KSh for adults and 215 KSh for children.
Activities like mountain climbing, hiking, nature-guided walks, and many more will be charged differently according to the number of days and the activity.
Animals you are likely to encounter on Mount Kenya
A herd of Beisa oryx in Mount Kenya
The majority of animals on Mount Kenya live on the lower slopes of the mountain.
Some examples of wildlife you might see during an expedition include porcupines, tree hyraxes, groove-toothed rats, common duikers, and rare sightings of hyenas and leopards.
Other animals include the Mount Kenya mole rat, elephants, white-tailed mongooses, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, giant forest hogs, suni, black-fronted duikers, and many other primate species.
Best time to Climb Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya in the background
Mount Kenya can be visited all year round, but the best time for hiking is during the drier months of June to August and December to February when the weather conditions are favorable.
The rainy season makes mountain climbing challenging due to the risk of accidents, as it's slippery and muddy, and heavy rains may also occur during the climb.
The climate on Mount Kenya changes with altitude, designated by different vegetation zones.
Other Things to do besides hiking
For visitors who are not interested in climbing to the summits, several hiking routes have been established for you to enjoy the beauty of Mount Kenya.
Below are some of the other activities that you can add to your Mount Kenya climbing tour.
Birding
Mount Kenya is a birder's paradise with approximately 310 species of birds recorded within the mountain and its slopes around the park.
Some examples of birds found on Mount Kenya include the yellow-rumped tinkerbird, moorland chat, scaly francolin, red-billed duck, speckled pigeon, Jackson's francolin, white-headed barbet, Egyptian goose, blue-winged teal, red-eyed dove, emerald-spotted wood dove, African emerald cuckoo, Abyssinian nightjar, mottled swift, red-knobbed coot, gray-crowned crane, three-banded plover, African jacana, common snipe, African openbill, long-tailed cormorant, pink-backed pelican, cattle egret, African sacred ibis, African spoonbill, black-winged kite, African harrier-hawk, secretary bird, black-chested snake eagle, long-crested eagle, Eurasian marsh harrier, rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, mountain buzzard, cape eagle-owl, bar-tailed trogon, white-headed woodhoopoe, moustached tinkerbird, brown-backed woodpecker, lesser kestrel, black cuckooshrike, African black-headed oriole, black-backed puffback, fork-tailed drongo, African paradise flycatcher, and white-necked raven, among others.
Animal Viewing
The mountain slopes of Mount Kenya are habitats for several wildlife species, especially primates.
Other Things to see on the Kenyan Mountain
Lakes
There are over 25 beautiful lakes spread across Mount Kenya, each providing very beautiful scenery and attracting various wildlife and birds.
Some of the notable ones include Lake Alice, Lake Michaelson, Lake Rutundu, Lake Ellis, Lake Hohnel, Teleki Tarn, and many others.
Beautiful Scenery
Mount Kenya boasts some of the most beautiful scenery that cameras can't do justice to until you see it for yourself.
Birds and Wildlife
The slopes of Mount Kenya are a protected national park area, supporting habitats for wildlife such as elephants, black-fronted duikers, waterbucks, elands, bushbucks, mole rats, white-tailed mongooses, suni, tree hyraxes, Cape clawless otters, Cape buffalo, mountain bongos, and many others.
Several species of birds are also found on Mount Kenya.
A Brief History about Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is a stratovolcano that was active during the Plio-Pleistocene period.
It's estimated that the original crater must have been over 6,000 meters high but was affected by two major glaciation periods after extinction, evidenced by moraines under the glaciers.
Mount Kenya is believed to have been formed after the opening of the East African Rift 3 million years ago.
It was covered by an ice cap, making it 7,000 meters high before glaciation. For many years, the Kikuyu people of Kenya have believed that their god, known as “Ngai,” resides on the mountain and have climbed to its peaks to perform ritual rites.
The first explorers to attempt to climb Mount Kenya were Firmin and Hicks on July 31, 1899.
Ultimate Guide for Climbing Mount Kenya
The 11 glaciers remaining on Mount Kenya are shrinking rapidly and are feared to disappear in the future.
In 1978, UNESCO designated it as a biosphere reserve, and in 1997 it designated Mount Kenya and Mount Kenya National Park as a world heritage site.
A national park was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya and the surrounding areas.
There have been some human-wildlife conflicts, with animals invading people's crops, but plans have been put in place to erect an electric fence in areas surrounding the park to prevent wildlife from straying into farmlands.
A non-governmental profit organization has already constructed some 250 kilometers of the 450-kilometer fence to solve the conflict.
The fence is not harmful to both wildlife and humans.
Mount Kenya glaciers can now barely reach no lower than 4,650 meters.
There are many volcanic plugs and craters on the northeastern side of the mountain, with some believed to have had their own ice caps when the mountain peaks were still covered with ice.
The first European to report sighting Mount Kenya was Dr. Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary from Kitui, in 1849.
It was he who first gave the name Kenya to the mountain, although its derivation is not known.
Krapf later traveled 65 kilometers closer to the mountain from Kitui but didn't see it again.
Hildebrandt also came to the Kitui area in 1877 but didn't see the mountain, which caused confusion until Joseph Thomson confirmed Ludwig's claims.
Joseph Thomson was the first to describe the geology of Mount Kenya in 1883, but he wasn't taken seriously because he had seen it from a distance.
It wasn't until 1887 when Höhnel and Teleki tried to ascend the mountain and came across a crater. In 1893, Gregory's team reached 5,000 meters during an expedition and reported the presence of glaciers.
In 1900, Gregory reported the first kenyte while conducting a geological study on Mount Kenya.
Other rocks found include phonolites, rhomb porphyrites, trachytes, and basalts.
Getting There
Mount Kenya is located 150 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
Planning for your Accommodation
There are various accommodation options on Mount Kenya for climbers and visitors.
