Mt Kenya Sirimon-Naromoru route combines the drier, easier Sirimon route with the shorter but steeper Naromoru route. Accommodation is either in a bunkhouse or a tent.
Overview:
Mount Kenya has been thought of and held in reverence by the local communities as God`s residence. The snow on the peaks astonished the explorers, who could not figure out its existence right at the equator. The roads were initially dug for military purposes to help access the forest to flush out Maumau freedom fighters. The mountain has not escaped the attention of notable filmmakers who shot award-winning cinemas and documentaries. {Nowhere in Africa, The Night Climbers of Cambridge, No Picnic on Mt. Kenya, are just but a few.} Book writers have also written some best-selling titles “The Ascent.”
Mt. Kenya was recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and later as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mt Kenya is regarded as the most visually stunning of the ice-capped African peaks and is home to a great diversity of wildlife, including leopards, elephants and buffalo. The ascent is an exhilarating and diverse trek, with relatively few hikers compared to Kilimanjaro. Many would argue that Mt. Kenya, whilst not being as high as Kilimanjaro, is certainly the more enjoyable, interesting and dramatic of the two mountains.
The Sirimon route is considered by many to represent Mt. Kenya as one of the easiest routes to reach Point Lenana. The route is on the dry side of the mountain and affords walks through old-growth forests on lower slopes and giant heather, alpine flowers, and lobelia at higher elevations.
The Naromoru route is the fastest and therefore also one of the most popular routes onto the mountain, though its steepness and direct approach to the peak makes it more challenging to acclimatise on than others. The “Vertical Bog”- a steep complex of wet moorland that can be extremely taxing and unpleasant after rains. We do recommend prior exposure to high altitudes and ample time for acclimatisation.
Accommodation is available in mountain huts throughout the trip, as are camping options.
Day 1: NAIROBI – OLD MOSES CAMP (3,300m)
Transfer from Nairobi to Nanyuki, the base of the mountain, where you meet your mountain climbing crew, having crossed the equator. Drive to the Sirimon Park Gate for registration and formalities, then trek through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to our Old Moses Mountain Camp.
Day 2: OLD MOSES CAMP (3,300m) – SHIPTON’S CAMP (4,200m.)
Trek to Shipton’s camp. The hike is awesome but a good test of individual endurance. The exciting trek up takes you across hills and valleys through the entire stretch of the sprawling moorlands, where you see several unique and interesting plants and animals, including giant groundsels, lobelias and the mountain rock hyrax.
Day 3: SHIPTON’S CAMP to PT. LENANA (4,985m.) – MACKINDER’S CAMP (4,300m.) – MET STATION (3,000m).
Pre-breakfast is served at 2:30 am and the summit attempt is at 3:00 am. The route goes through steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the hikers’ summit, Pt Lenana in time for sunrise – Kilimanjaro is usually visible 340 km to the south. The climb is on frozen scree going through the Harris Tarn, requiring some scrambling on the final stretch to reach the summit. This is unavoidable on any route but we aim to reach the summit and witness the magical sunrise over the equator at 6:30 am. Descent via the Naromoru route on the opposite end of the peaks to reach Mackinder’s camp for hot breakfast. We feel tired but absolutely ecstatic. After an hour’s rest, we proceed our descent on a trodden trail past the famous vertical bog to Met Station in approximately 4 hours
Day 4: MET STATION – NAIROBI
After breakfast, you descend further on a broad track through bamboo and virgin rainforest to meet vehicles at the park gate for your return journey to Nairobi. You will arrive by early evening after the successful Mt Kenya Traverse Sirimon-Naromoru route.
