Chogoria – Sirimon Traverse – 7 Days
Hike Highlights;
> Climb Mount Kenya in 5 days, following the Chogoria Sirimon Route, the most scenic and spectacular route to the summit area.
> The Chigoria Sirimon hike combines the two most scenic routes to the summit of Mt. Kenya. We will hike up through the dry side of the mountain, then climb up through forests until we get to a wide ridge, approaching the summit.
> The best time to climb Mount Kenya is during the dry months of January, February, late August, September and October.
> This combined itinerary offers stunning nature and magnificent views of the Gorges Valley, Lake Michaelson and Lake Ellis.
Day To Day Guide
You will be picked up at the airport, then be driven to Nairobi to check-in at one of the best hotels in Nairobi Town.
After lunch, be ready to sort out and organize your hiking gear for optimal efficiency. Dinner and breakfast the following morning at the hotel.
Depart from Nairobi at 8:00 am, driving through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for a distance of 10 km to the Mt. Kenya Camp. Dinner and overnight at the Meru Mount Kenya Camp Site.
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads, we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace. A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni, and the Giants Billiards Table, while, if we follow the river near road head, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful. Lunch on the banks of a stream, then it’s time to cut up the left-hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600 m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.
Similar early start. Again well off the beaten trail, follow a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to eventually join the tourist track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of about 4.100 m. Enjoy breath-taking views over the Gorges Valley and back over towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands. Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m and our night’s rest. The afternoon is spent relaxing at camp, though a 10-minute walk to the “Temple” is well worth the effort. This is a 150 meters vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying. An early night is recommended as you are attempting the summit the next day.
Predawn attempt of the summit starts at 3:00 am. We hike for about three hours up to Point Lenana (4985m), the hiker’s summit, arriving there in time to watch the African sunrise. Descend to Shipton Camp for breakfast. After breakfast, begin a 5-hour descent via Mackinder`s Valley to the Old Moses Camp (3.300 m / 10.826 ft). The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp.
After an early morning breakfast, descend for 2-3 hours to the Sirimon Park Gate to catch a vehicle for transfer to Nairobi arriving late afternoon.
After breakfast check and make sure as you leave the hotel that everything is in good condition and intact. Get ready to be driven back to the Airport or embark on other safari, in Kenya with an unforgettable safari experience with us.