Explore the Lakes of Mt. Kenya L. Rutundu, L. Alice, L. Ellis, L. Michaelson, Gallery Tarn, Thompson Tarn, Enchanted Lakes and the Carr Lakes, among others.
Are you an adventure enthusiast, fly fisher, jungle camper, or bushwhacker? This is for you.
Away from the traditional routes and hikes, we venture to the little-explored lakes and hills.
Day 1. Nairobi – Rutundu
Having packed our Jeep with camping gear and food, we leave Nairobi at 7:00 am, heading to the Mt. Kenya National Park Sirimon gate. Registration and payment are done at this point. We drive further to Kisima, where we turn off. Drive onto a dirt road heading to Rutundu Fishing Lodge, also known as {Rutundu Log Cabin}. We camp at the road head next to the Kazita River. Dine and stay overnight in tents.
Meal plan: = Dinner, Breakfast
Elevation = 3,100m asl
Driving distance: =290 km in 7 hours
Day 2. Fishing at Lake Rutundu.
After breakfast, we hike to the nearby Lake Rutundu, taking scenic photos. The lake is 4th in size, covering about 25 acres. It is at this lake where UK’s Prince William spent a day and proposed to Kate Middleton back in 2010. Overnight in tents the road head.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3. L. Rutundu – L. Alice
After breakfast, we hike past Lake Rutundu, taking scenic photos. We bushwhack and scramble through the alpine terrain to Lake Alice, where we make our makeshift camp. This is the largest lake in the park, covering an area of about 48 acres. {The blue-coloured lake was named after the Duchess of Gloucester, who visited Kenya just after the lake was discovered} Arrival tea will be served as the camp takes shape. Fly fishing can be done in the evening at leisure.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Elevation = 3,550m asl
Hiking distance: = 5 km in 2hrs
Day 4. Lake Alice – Lake Ellis.
After early breakfast, we bushwhack through the Hinde Valley to Lake Ellis 3,500m asl. Covering an area of about 28 acres. {Named after Thomas Everlyn Scott-Ellis, who was the first European to reach the lake in 1927} We have our packed lunch en route at Ithangune with a view of The Giant Billiard Table Mountain, arriving late afternoon. We camp by the lake with optional fly fishing. Dine and overnight in the camp.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Elevation = 3,500m asl
Hiking distance: = 14 km in 7hrs
Day 5. Lake Ellis – Lake Michaelson
After breakfast, we follow the trail as it leads up through Hinde Valley. The terrain is moorland grassland dotted with giant heather {Erica}, groundsels and Senecio. Eventually, we join the main Chogoria trail at the Vivienne Falls viewpoint. Lunch will be served en route and upon arriving in the camp hot drinks will be ready. This is subject to how the trekkers will advise, but basically, since it’s a 5-6 walk, a hot lunch is normally ready in the camp as our crews always walk ahead of guests to make sure the tents and a hot drink are on time just before we get into the camp. There are beautiful views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley on the descent to the picturesque campsite. Lake Michaelson is shielded by “The Temple,” a vertical cliff 300m high. Dine and stay overnight in the same camp.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Elevation = 4,200m asl
Hiking distance: = 14 km in 7 hours
Day 6. Lake Michaelson – Austrian hut.
After breakfast, we start a 5-hour walk to the Austrian Hut. We’ll have a birds-eye view of the beautiful Halls Tarn and in full view of the Piller and the Tooth Peak and the Macmillan Peaks, and the Hanging Tarn. The upper Simba tarn and the square tarn will be unveiled. After passing the Tooth, Gallery Tarn, Thompson Tarn, Enchanted Lakes and the Carr Lakes will be in view. A hot lunch will be served at the Austrian Hut. At 4:00 pm, an optional one-hour ascent to Point Lenana is 4,985m for sunset. Dine and overnight in the same camp.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Elevation = 4,700m asl
Hiking distance: = 14 km in 5 hours
Day 7. Austrian hut – Point Lenana – Met Station
Pre-breakfast tea at 5:00 am will pave for the Point Lenana summit climb for sunrise. We descend back for a full breakfast and hike down to Mackinder’s camp along the Teleki Valley. We will be in a position to see Teleki Tarn, Curing Pond, and Lewis Tarn. A further descent through the moorland, christened “the vertical bog”, tree line and the bamboo zone to our overnight camp, Met station. Dinner will be served in the comfort of your room.
Meal plan: = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Elevation = 3,050m asl
Hiking distance =1 km in 1 hour
Hiking distance = 11km in 5 hours
Day 8. Met station –Naromoru Gate – Nairobi
After breakfast is served, we hike down the road through the tropical rainforest to Naromoru Park headquarters. Our transfer vehicles will be waiting to take us back to Nairobi. We sign out of the park and bid farewell to the crew. Expect to arrive in the afternoon.
Meal plan = Breakfast.
Mountains have their own climate on account of their height. Rain clouds can appear without warning and be gone hours later. An early morning frost is possible at any time of the year and guests should bring a fleece and light rain jacket, although during the heat of the day, shorts and T-shirts should suffice.
Sleeping bag; one rated four (4) seasons is fine. The bag should be a snug fit since if it is too large there will be more cool air for the body to warm
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- Rain Trouser
- Rain Jacket [Poncho]
- Balaclava [Hat Woollen]
- Warm Clothes down jacket
- Thermal underwear
- Fleece Jacket
- Hiking Boots
- Gloves
- Walking Sticks
- Head Torch
- Sunglasses
- First Aid box
- Ruck Suck 65L (duffel bags are unacceptable) to be carried by porters
- Day Pack 35 [For your personal effects]
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- Optional comfort accessories;
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Walking poles, hot water bottle, Bivy bag
Wet wipes; ideal for those who want to stay fresh but are unable to bear dips in the freezing mountain weather
4: Passport/Identification Card {ID}
5: Personal travel/ medical insurance
Options are, of course, many and varied, and in many cases, we can be flexible about the itinerary for accommodation facilities and the extension of the safari destinations.