Mount Kenya Climbing: 6 Days Chogoria Up, Sirimon Down

Overview

The Chogoria route is our recommended and arguably the most magnificent ascent route to the summit area. It is the driest route up the mountain and the walk beside the Gorges Valley truly spectacular. The descent by the Sirimon route takes one through some beautiful forest tracks and completes the traverse of the mountain. Accommodation on this trek is 3 nights in mountain huts and 2 nights camping. Nonetheless, if you prefer to camp you can do so on all nights on the mountain.

Trip highlights

• Nairobi – Mt Kenya Bandas
• Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite
• Lake Ellis – Minto's Camp

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Nairobi – Mt Kenya Bandas2,900m) 3hrs, 10km walk, 950m ascent

   • Depart from your hotel at 0800hrs, driving through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we take 4x4 and 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 up to the Mt Kenya Bandas.
   • Dinner and overnight at the Mount Kenya Bandas.
2. Day2
   Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite3,600m) 3hrs, 9km, 700m ascent

   • 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.
3. Day3
   Lake Ellis – Minto's Camp4,200m) 4 hrs, 12km, 600m ascent

   • 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. 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

The detailed day-by-day plan for days 4–6 (the Point Lenana summit and the descent via the Sirimon route) is available on request. Contact us and we will send it with your quote.