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CLIMB MOUNT KENYA

Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano about three and a half hours' drive from Nairobi. At 5199m (17057 feet) it is the second highest mountain in Africa. To reach its two highest peaks requires a technical climb, but its third highest peak requires only a moderately difficult hike.
Mount Kenya lies a few miles north of the equator and on its lower reaches the climate is often warm and sunny. But on the upper slopes are glaciers, occasional snowfall and cold winds.
There are countless ways of making the ascent up Mount Kenya. The following are some of our more popular itineraries, but your trek can be customized according to your wishes.
A team of guides, porters and cooks will make the ascent up Mount Kenya with you, allowing you to enjoy the experience free from the burden of carrying heavy gear, gathering water, finding your way up the mountain and making meals.

5 Days: Naro Moru - Sirimon

5 Days: Siromon - Chogoria

5 Days: Sirimon

6 Days: Sirimon - Naro Moru

6 Days: Chogoria - Naro Moru

We also offer technical rock climbing itineraries to Batian and Nelion.

The approach to the peaks begins in the thick forest belt surrounding the mountain at about 8000 feet. Here, days are warm, nights cool. Intense sun in the beginning of the day often gives way to gathering cloud in the afternoon and rain showers are not uncommon.
Above the forest belt are moorlands, grassy open areas dotted with giant lobelia and other exotic, high altitude plants. In the moorlands night-time lows often reach freezing but the days can be warm. The moorlands extend from about 3600m to 4400m in altitude.
Above the moorlands lies the alpine zone where there is little plant life. Nights are cold and in daytime the temperatures vary tremendously.
During your hike, you will therefore have to take account of these widely divergent weather conditions. Porters will carry your extra clothes, camping equipment and other odds and ends. When we are on the move, we will not have access to this gear since the porters usually break camp early and are well ahead of us in order to set up camp for the end of the day.
Anybody planning a trek up Mount Kenya should be prepared for a physically and mentally challenging, as well as exciting, experience.

Mountsafaris Adventure  first priority is your safety. Our guides and porters maintain a close eye on our clients in case anyone develops some of the health problems connected with high altitude climbs and treks. While most of our clients have a trouble-free climb, an awareness of the potential hazards is useful.

Although not as high as Mount Kilimanjaro, the pace of the ascent up Mount Kenya is faster, leading to rapidly decreasing levels of oxygen in the air. Altitude Sickness is the most common problem resulting from this reduction in oxygen levels. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, exhaustion, lassitude, muscle weakness a rapid pulse rate while resting, swelling of the hands and feet and reduced urine output. The most extreme forms of altitude sickness are Pulmonary and Cerebral Edemas. Certain people have a predilection for developing edema - it is not known why - but it tends to affect young, fit males who over exert themselves. MountSafaris guides and porters will move anyone suspected of having altitude sickness to a lower altitude. Sometimes, a drop of as little as 500 meters can relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness. The best way of avoiding it altogether is to gradually acclimatize to the higher altitudes on the mountain by spending a day or two in the foothills of the mountain before making the ascent. Use of the drug Diamox may prevent or relieve altitude sickness, but one of its side effects is dehydration so anyone taking this drug must consume more water.

Dehydration is another common problem. The temperature during the day on Mount Kenya can be very warm so walkers will sweat considerably. Cold weather at night increases urinary output, further increasing fluid loss. The symptoms of dehydration are thirst (which signals that the body is already short of 2 liters of water), headaches, muscle cramps and nausea. Climbers and walkers should drink a minimum of 5 to 7 liters of fluid per day. Mountain water should be purified. Ice Rock's guides will collect and boil water for you, but you should still purify the water using purification tablets.

Exposure is the lowering of the body's core temperature. Kit and clothing appropriate to temperatures that may fall to well below freezing is a must.

Sunburn - About 40% of the Earth's protective atmosphere is below an altitude of 4,000 meters, so climbers are exposed to higher levels of ultra-violet rays. High factor sunscreen and sunglasses (to reduce the effects of sun glare) are a must.

WHAT TO BRING:

Clothing

Accessories

Optional Comfort Accessories