Climb Mount Kenya - Sirimon Naro-Moru route

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Highlights

What Kilimanjaro offers in altitude, Mount Kenya surpasses in beauty. Mount Kenya is a volcano that rises dramatically from the Kenyan plains to a height of 5,199m. Glaciation has played a large part in the current formation of the mountain, with dramatic U shaped Valleys, hanging lakes and a number of tarns. The vegetation is striking with a number of different zones represented. The initial ascent climbs through lush montana forest, dense bamboo, and heathland. The highlight for many is the unique high altitude Afro-Alpine zone which plays host to a bizarre collection of pre-historic looking plants including Senecios and Giant Lobelias. The peak for trekkers is Point Lenana at 4985m, which is a moderate scramble up scree and boulders from the Shiptons Hut at 4,200m. (The real peaks at Batian 5199m and Nelion 5188m are accessible only to technical climbers). Whilst it is possible to climb up and down in three or four days, the quick altitude rise means there is a very strong chance of altitude sickness unless you are already accustomed.

Following a private transfer from Nairobi, the first day is a relatively short acclimatisation walk from the Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Camp. The next day is when it starts to get magic as the forests open up to vast open heathland, with striking views towards the summit. There is a chance of seeing buffalo, elephant and Eland. From Likki North, The a beautiful trail ascends up the Mackinder Valley to Shiptons Camp, nestled attractively at the base of the summits. The climb to Point Lenana itself is usually attempted very early in the morning to reach the summit at sunrise and miss the mid morning cloud cover. From the top the views are incredible, with the tarns sparkling in the early morning sun, valleys radiating away from the peak and in the distance, The Aberdares range and if you are lucky Kilimanjaro breaking up the horizon.

We recommend the five day trek for its superior acclimatisation. In order to aid acclimatisation we break the long one day ascent from Old Moses to Shipton's with a night at Liki North Camp (3990m), before continuing onto Shipton's the next day.

itinerary

DAY 1: NAIROBI TO OLD MOSES HUT 3,340M
You’ll be picked up from airport or Nairobi hotel in the morning and journey north past diverse agricultural lands and landscapes to the slopes of Mount Kenya. After meeting your crew you’ll have a full briefing and equipment check. Each person has a personal porter and there are extra porters for food and camping equipment. Today is a short walk to the first hut at 3,340m, a total ascent of 740m in just 2-3 hours. On this route, you will pass through zones of dense forest, bamboo, giant heather and out onto high open moorland. The trail follows a dirt road that has recently been put in by the Kenya Wildlife Service to reduce response times to emergencies on the mountain. The dense vegetation is home to buffalo, elephants and is teeming with birdlife. Whilst there will be evidence of large game everywhere, your chances of seeing them are small. Approx 10km / 2.5 hrs from Sirimon Gate with 740m altitude gain from the gate
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Old Moses Hut
Transport (where relevant): Drive Nairobi – Sirimon Gate (250km / 4 hours)

DAY 2: OLD MOSES CAMP 3,340M - LIKI NORTH CAMP 3,990M
In order to aid acclimatisation we break the ascent from Old Moses to Shipton's with a night at Liki North Camp (3990m). Today is a moderate day which leaves plenty of sleave to take your time. Reach camp by early to mid afternoon and recommend taking a short afternoon walk higher for altitude gain and descend back to the camp. Approx 5 hours walking and 850m ascent
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Camping at Liki North Camp
Transport (where relevant):

DAY 3: LIKI NORTH CAMP 3,990M - SHIPTONS CAMP (4,236M)
After a short touch climb out of the valley we drop into the main Liki Valley from where it is comparatively easy going up the broad valley past a bizarre jurassic landscape of glacial features, giant lobellia and Senecio plants. There is a strong chance you will see beautiful sunbirds and the Hyrax, a close relative of the elephant, but more like a baby seal in size and shape. Finally there is a further short climb past Mackinders Caves before reaching Shiptons Camp where you’ll enjoy a much deserved rest. Again a short acclimatisation walk to gain 100m before descending back to the camp is recommended for acclimatisation.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Shiptons Camp Hut
Transport (where relevant):

DAY 4: SUMMIT DAY (4,985M)
The big day, after a very early 3am start and a quick cup of tea and biscuits it is time to don all the layers you can manage and head out into the pitch dark. The early start is designed to get you to the summit just in time for sunrise. It also increases your chances of summitting without cloud cover. The climb is a steady ascent up scree and rock, with a scramble up the last 30m. The views from Point Lenana are superb, showing off the tarns, glaciers and jagged peaks of Mount Kenya at their resplendent best. On a clear day you can see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. Temperatures can be very cold on the summit (as cold as -20 degrees C plus wind chill) so after quick photos and a moment to take it all in, you’ll head back down again. After a 2 hour walk past the glacier down loose scree you will reach Mackinder’s Camp and a very welcome hearty breakfast. If you are feeling up to it after a couple of hours rest you can head on down the further 9km to Met Station for the overnight, if not you can rest and stay the night at Mackinder’s. Approx. 750m up and 3km in length to Point Lennana (4985m) followed by 685m descent and 3.5km to Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) or onto Met Station (4hrs) to reduce the walking distance on the last day.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Accommodation: Mackinder's Camp or Met Station (both huts)
Transport (where relevant):

DAY 5: DESCEND AND RETURN TO NAIROBI
A long descent through attractive vegetation on the windward side of the mountain. The trail winds through the infamous vertical bog, dense bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet the vehicles at the park headquarters at Naromoru gate. There will be time for a shower and lunch at Mountain Rock Lodge at the foot of the mountain before proceeding with your onwards plans. If you are heading back to Nairobi expect to get there by early evening. Walk 22km / 6 hours from Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) to Naro Moru Gate (2,600m)
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch included
Accommodation: End of services
Transport (where relevant): Drive from Naro Moru park gate to Nairobi 210km / 4-5 hours

Practicalities

Getting There

Getting there

Getting to Kenya: Kenya has international airports in Nairobi (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta NBO) and Mombassa (Mombasa Moi International MBA) which are around 8 hours flying time from the UK. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Air Kenya fly regular direct services to Nairobi. Return tickets generally range from £750-£1200 depending on when you are travelling. If you are willing to put up with the inconvenience then cheaper tickets can usually be purchased with a stop from Qatar Airways, Ethiopian and Emirates.

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta airport is a ½ hr 16km drive from Nairobi City Centre, but traffic can be bad.

This trek includes pick up and drop off in Nairobi by minibus or 4wd Landcruiser.

Price Includes

Price includes

All accommodation, meals and transfers to/from Nairobi as set out in the itinerary. You will have the services of an English speaking guide and a personal porter on the trek. The price also includes the Kenya Wildlife Services Park fees and all group camping equipment.

The price does not include international flights to Kenya, visas, personal insurance, Alcoholic and soft drinks and tips.

We ask that you bring your own 3/4 season sleeping bag . Water is topped up as you go along from the mountain streams. You will need to bring two 1 litre water bottles and enough water purification tablets. We recommend you also bring taste neutralizer tablets as this makes the water more palatable and it is incredibly important you drink plenty of fluids at this altitude. A full kit list is provided.

When is best?

As a general rule you can trek up Mount Kenya at any time of year, but the paths will be better and you will stay drier outside the rainy seasons (particularly the long rains in April and May). The best time to trek is early in the year (January and February) before the long rains and in the summer months of July, August and September. Having said that, even during the long rains in April and May there is usually a solid dry spell each day and as long as you come equipped with rain gear and garters you will be fine.

Is it for me?

This trek is one of the most accessible and rewarding mountain climbs in the world, but in order to enjoy it, you do need to be prepared. The main priority is avoiding mountain sickness. Time at altitude in the recent past helps, but failing that, make sure you are on a trek with sufficient acclimatisation time (the 5 day Sirimon Naromoru via Likki North is designed to offer optimmum acclimatisation benefits. You need to listen to your guide, take a very easy pace and drink plenty of water. The person most likely to suffer is the competitive trekker keen to prove their fitness by racing to the next camp. You should have a decent level of trekking fitness, but as long as you lead a reasonably active lifestyle and are comfortable walking for 6-8 hours a day then a gruelling pre trek fitness regime is not really necessary. Age is not really a limiting factor, children as young as 10 and adults as old as 80 have climbed Mount Kenya.

As with most treks, the huts and facilities are basic. In all likelihood you won’t be showering for 4 or 5 days and you’ll be sleeping on a well worn mattress. If you come prepared with the right kit and right attitude this shouldn't be a problem. Bringing your own 4 season sleeping bag is a a very good idea as are baby wipes for washing with.

Safety

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 538 reviews

(5.00/5)

I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

Juhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024
Hi Lisa
It was a fantastic experience, thanks very much. All the arrangements were seamless and our guiding/support team were excellent, if there is a way for you to formally commend the team to your ground operators then I would be grateful if you could do that, they really were brilliant.
Many thanks for your help in arranging the trip, and for your patience during the multiple re-arrangements over the past couple of years.
Kind regards, John

John B reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 14 November 2022
I had just the most incredible time on the climb.

The team were incredible and just so accommodating. I really only have good things to say as it was such a great experience.

George was as good as a guide as it gets, very articulate and made sure I was comfortable the whole way up with frequent briefings.

Finn R reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 10 May 2019

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Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek

Two Adults from £1,214 per person

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Highlights

itinerary