Chogoria route runs from the East of the mountain. The route is often described as the most attractive route most scenic and rewarding for hikers interested in seeing beautiful panoramic landscapes and the exotic flora on Mt Kenya. However, there are no huts for the high camps. During the rainy season, you have to use 4x4s through the forest until the park’s gate the Meru Bandas (2950m). The next part of the track goes further towards the “Roadhead” where you can either branch left for a more direct route, or right to pass Mugi Hill and Lake Ellis. Both tracks re-converge near the head of a spectacular amphitheatre of cliffs known as “The Temple”, at the bottom of which is Lake Michaelson and at the West end, a large notch where the Nithi River enters. Mintos hut (4300m), is an old rickety hut that porters often sleep in, but clients have to camp. The path continues to rise, up to Simba Tarn, before splitting to head either North to Shipton’s camp or South Austrian hut.
The physical landscape on this route is its biggest attraction. Whereas the other routes above generally follow a U-Shaped glacial valley for much of the way, the Chogoria traverses around the head of the spectacular ‘Temple’ with the Hall Tarns perched on the rock ledge above it and Lake Michaelson in the base of the amphitheatre. The additional features of the trail include Lake Ellis, the Giant’s Billiard Table, Nyumba ya Mburi caves, the Kibatia mineral spring, and the Nithi Falls further add to its interest. However, the Chogoria route is often used as a descent route after ascending one of the other routes.