Trekking - Mount Kenya

SIRIMON ROUTE - The least used of the three principal routes.  Because Sirimon is on the dry side of the mountain it offers some of the finest forest walking to be had on any tropical mountain.  In the lower sections, above the Park Gate, large stands of Cedar and Podocarpus trees.  Higher up, huge specimens of St John's Wort interspersed with small thickets of Bamboo.  Near the top of the track, beautiful alpine flowers and the start of the tussock grass. Animal life abounds and parties often come across buffalo, elephant and sometimes even lion!

NARO MORO ROUTE - Although the least scenic of the three principal routes, it remains the most popular. Firstly it is the fastest route to Lenana and back if you enter from the main road. Secondly both the Naro Moro River Lodge and Mountain Rock Hotel offer excellent facilities for climbers, including equipment hire, porters and comfortable accommodation. 

CHOGORIA ROUTE - Chogoria is on the wetter (east) side of the mountain and the Chogoria Forest offers some exceptional walking.  We always suggest starting low-down by the Forest Gate giving you a full day of walking before reaching the Park Gate.  This is important for acclimatisation not to mention spectacular walking beneath the Podocarpus and Cedar.  The track always liberally marked with elephant and buffalo spoor.  The bamboo forest is also thickest on this side of the mountain.  Beyond the Park Gate we usually access the mountain via Lake Ellis and its remote campsite before climbing up through the Tussock Grass to Mintos, from which point we launch our attack on Peak Lenana.  The Chogoria Route can be combined with a decent of the Sirimon Route for best effect.

CHOGORIA AND SIRIMON ROUTE - Combining the Chogoria with the Sirimon Route is, in our opinion, the best way to experience Mount Kenya.  Whilst a little more expensive than going up and down the same route, it's certainly worthwhile as you experience 2 very different sides of the mountain.  We tend to find that you'll look forward to the downward journey far more than if you were covering the same ground twice - you have the same feeling of discovery as on the way up.  5 days 4 nights is recommended for Chogoria-Sirimon. 

CHOICE OF ROUTE AND NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED - we would recommend a minimum of at least 4 days on the mountain.  We'd suggest that the ideal is 4 nights and 5 days to fully appreciate the trek.  It's a long way to come to rush up and rush down (not to mention dangerous).  In terms of route, our favourite is the Chogoria-Sirimon combination.  Other, lesser known routes are also possible, but may require more time to get to and more time on the mountain.  The Naro Moro route is not recommended, particularly in the wet season due to the vertical bog!  It's also the most commercially trekked route and thus the busiest so the campsites and huts tend to be crowded.  On the Chogoria side, we often use side-trails and it's not uncommon for us to go a day without seeing another soul.