Day 1: Nairobi- Mt Kenya (2,800m)
Depart from Nairobi at 0800hrs, driving through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we take 4×4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trek through the dense bamboo forest for a distance of 10 km up to the Mt Kenya Bandas.
Dinner and overnight at the Meru Mount Kenya Bandas (3000m
Day 2. Mt Kenya Bandas- Lake Ellis Campsite (3,600m)
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, whilst 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 3,600m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.
Day 3: Lake Ellis- Minto`s Camp. (4,200m)
Similar early start. Again well off the beaten track to 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 4,100m. Breathtaking 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 500ft vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying.
Day 4: Minto`s hut – Top hut (Austrian hut) then Shiptons – (4,200M).
Today we begin our trek ascending up along the foot of huge rock walls. From the top, we`ll have an excellent view of Mount Kenya. After ascending for a couple of hours you reach Tooth Col. From here you traverse until you reach the Austrian Hut. From this Hut, you make a final short ascent of Point Lenana, 4,985m. Point Lenana is the common trekker’s Mount Kenya Summit. From this summit, you descend to Shiptons camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5 (CLIMBING DAY) southeast Face of Nelion.
The summit day begins from shiptons camp and heading to the northern face of the mountain. This used to need crampons and an axe but nowadays the reduction of the glacier means you can manage in boots and being careful of mini mud slides and moving scree, especially coming back down potentially in the dark and exhausted. The climb of Batian takes between 12hr hours to complete. Back to Shiptons
Day 6: Shiptons – Old Moses Camp (3,300m)
After breakfast descends to Shipton’s camp via Simba col after which you begin a 5-hour descent via Mackinder`s valley to the Old Moses camp. The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp.
Dinner and overnight at the Old Moses camp.
Day 7: Old Moses – Nairobi.
After early morning breakfast, descend for 3 hours to the Sirimon Park gate to catch a vehicle and transfer back to Nairobi arriving by 16:00 Hrs.
NB: Due to the unpredictability of weather around the Summit, we sometimes allow for an extra Summit day thus extending the climb to 8 Days. However, kindly be aware that an additional day on the mountain attracts US$ 165.