Approximate Total Hiking Distance on the Mountain: 65 km

Preamble: This route uses the gentlest ascent track on the mountain, and with additional acclimatization gained while hiking around the peaks, it offers a high chance for a successful summit conquest. This combination of routes is rated as one of the most spectacular, passing through montane forest, bamboo, and heather zones to glaciers, then down past spectacular chasms, jagged peaks, and the glaciated "U" shaped valleys and waterfalls. If you prefer the easier-paced adjustment advised in the itinerary below, this will necessitate some camping. Otherwise, camping may not be necessary on this trek, as accommodation can be in mountain huts throughout the trip. An optional first night spent at our base lodge before the trek allows for preparations and a complimentary nature hike in the Mount Kenya forest, kicking off the much-needed acclimatization. If time does not permit for this, it is still passable.Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: OLDMOSES HUT (3,340 m)
A.M. transfer: Nairobi – Sirimon Gate (230 km / 5 hrs).
P.M. trek: Sirimon Gate - Old Moses (2,600 m - 3,340 m).
Span: 10 km / 2-3 hrs. Ascent: +740 m.
Habitat: Montane Forest / Bamboo / Hagenia Zones.

D1 Details: Drive from Nairobi to our lodge on the western slopes of Mt. Kenya for lunch. After lunch, there will be a full briefing and equipment check before we begin the trek. We’ll meet the crew at this point; each one has a personal porter, and there are extra porters for mountain equipment and food. It takes about one hour to get to the Sirimon Park Gate (2,600 m), crossing the equator en route. Upon completion of park entry formalities, you will begin a 3-4 hour hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood, and heather zones to Old Moses Camp (3,340 m). Today we gain 740 m on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, and a plethora of bird species. Dinner and overnight at Old Moses Camp (3,340 m). (B, L, D)

Day 2: SHIPTON’S CAMP (4,236 m)
Trek: Old Moses - Shipton’s Camp (3,340 m - 4,236 m).
Span: Approximately 14 km / 7-8 hrs. Ascent: +900 m.
Habitat: Moorland Zone.

D2 Details: After an early breakfast, commence a 7-8 hour trek to Shipton's Camp (4,236 m). The hike is awesome but a real test of individual endurance as you cover a 900 m ascent in 7-8 hours. The day’s trek takes you across the undulating landscape of the sprawling Moorlands, where you will see several unique and interesting plants and animals, including the Giant Groundsel, lobelias, and the mountain hyrax. (B, L, D)Tip: For those who may find today’s pre-set trek (7-8 hrs) a little too demanding, there is an option for an easier-paced ascent via Liki North Camp. This would require an additional day to help split the distance between Old Moses and Shipton’s into two shorter segments. To achieve this, we’d sleep in tents at Liki North Camp (3,780 m) mid-way.

Day 3: MACKINDER’S CAMP (4,300 m)
Trek: Shipton’s Camp via Hausberg Col (4,600 m) – Mackinder’s Camp (4,236 m - 4,300 m).
Span: Approximately 7 km / 4 hrs.
Ascent: 400 m to Hausberg / Descent: 300 m to Mackinder’s.
Habitat: High Altitude Moorland / Alpine Desert.

D3 Details: Departing at 08:00 hrs, ascend the Hausberg Col (4,600 m) and then descend steeply to Hausberg Valley and Oblong Tarns before making a further steep ascent, crossing huge boulders via Two Tarns on the way to Mackinder's Camp (4,300 m), all the while following the summit circuit trail in an anticlockwise direction. Mackinder’s Camp is located along the Naromoru route within the Teleki Valley. Having reached a high altitude of over 4,600 m, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear – having climbed much higher and dropped back down greatly assists with acclimatization. (B, L, D)

Caution: Due to the continued deterioration of the summit path from Austrian Hut to Pt. Lenana on the way up to the summit from Mackinder’s Camp, precautionary measures or inexperienced high-altitude trekkers are presently discouraged from attempting this longer and challenging summit approach. The encouraged alternative is a second night’s stay at Shipton’s Camp, followed by a day walk on the summit circuit trail up to the Hausberg Col (4,600 m) and back (or go farther to Two Tarns and back). This is invaluable for acclimatization.

Day 4: PT. LENANA (4,985m.) – MERU BANDAS (3,000m.)
(Summit climb) Mackinder’s (4,300m) - Pt. Lenana (4,985m) - Meru Bandas (3,000m).
Ascent, 785m then / Descent, 1,985m.
Span, approx 3.5kms / 3-4hrs to Pt. Lenana and approx. 18.5kms / 7-8hrs to Meru Bandas.
Habitats:  Alpine desert / moorland / Giant heather/ Hagenia zones.

D4 Details: Predawn  start (3am) for the summit attempt. Up steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the hikers summit, Pt Lenana at 4,985m in time for sunrise - Kilimanjaro  is usually visible 340kms to the south. Then 2-3 hours descent to Hall Tarns/Mintos (4,300m) for a hefty breakfast enjoying magnificent scenes of a sheer 300m cliff overlooking the Gorges Valley. After breakfast is a gentle day hike down a broad ridge enjoying magnificent views back up the valley to the snowy peaks, and down to waterfalls, tarns and lava flows in the Gorges Valley. Overnight in the Meru Mt. Kenya Bandas after a gruelling 10-12 hour trek - log fires and hot showers after 4 days. This is a long and hard day - you'll feel tired but absolutely ecstatic after you've done it. Wildlife viewing is possible in evening with elephant and buffalo often grazing outside our cabins accompanied with a large numbers of forest and moorland birds. (meals: B,L,D).

Tip: If this pre-set summit and descent trek today feels to demanding, you can conveniently split the descent distance today into 2 bits. To achieve this we would need to bring along the camping equipment all the way in order to camp by the Nithi River  – 3300m. This would also effectively add an extra day to the itinerary. (To avoid adding a day for this adjustment you can call for transport to pick you up farther up the trail on day 5 at an additional charge and by pass the Chogoria Banda’s).

Day 5: NAIROBI – 1600m
AM. hike, Chogoria Bandas (3,000m) to Pick up point (2600m).
Span, approx. 12kms / 2.5hrs). Descent, - 400m.  
Habitats: Giant heather/ bamboo / Montane Forest zones.P.M transfer by car: Pick up point – Nairobi - 230kms / 4hrs.

D5 Details: After breakfast is a 2 hours trek on a broad track through bamboo and virgin rainforest to meet vehicles for transfer back to Nairobi or to your next destination. Lunch stop will be at the Chogoria village where you part ways with the porters and guides. The drive back to Nairobi takes 3-4 hours to arrive in the late afternoon. (Meals, B,L).

Ascending Mount Kenya is not only about reaching the summit; it’s about experiencing the rich tapestry of its landscapes, cultures, and wildlife along the way. Join us at Mountain Rock Safaris for an unforgettable expedition to this majestic peak, and discover the thrill of adventure and the beauty of nature that awaits you at every turn. Your journey to the roof of Africa starts here!