Route duration: 6 days on the mountain
Total hiking distance: Approximately 77 Kms.
 
Preamble: This route uses the gentlest ascent track on the mountain, with an additional acclimatization day option at 4,200 m. It is also one of the most scenic routes. You will pass through montane forest, bamboo, and heather zones, ascend to glaciers, and then descend past spectacular chasms, jagged peaks, glaciated "U"-shaped valleys, waterfalls, and lush rainforests. Accommodation includes 1 night in a comfortable hotel, 3 nights in mountain huts, 1 night camping, and 1 night in cabins (unless you prefer to camp all nights on the mountain). When camping, you will not have to participate in camp chores.
 
Detailed itinerary:
 
Day 1: MOUNTAIN ROCK LODGE -1950m.
AM. Nairobi – Mountain Rock lodge by car (200kms /3.5hrs).
PM. Acclimatisation nature hike. (12kms /3hrs).
Habitat: Montane Forest / farmlands

D1 Details: Depart after breakfast and journey north past diverse agricultural lands and landscapes to the slopes of Mount Kenya. After lunch at the base lodge you take part in some easy walks around this predominantly Kikuyu area, exploring local farms and villages and perhaps local schools. We can gain a privileged insight into the lives of the people who live on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and know that our visit is contributing towards their local economy. An extended evening walk through the forest, where a local natural history expert will reveal the medicinal plants, birds and animals found here. We’ll also get to meet and spend some time with our mountain guides. (B,L,D)

DAY 2: OLDMOSES MOUNTAIN HUT / CAMP – 3340m.
AM. Base lodge - Sirimon Gate (2,600m) by car (45kms / 1.5hrs).PM. Trek, Sirimon gate (2,600m) - Oldmoses (3,340m) (Span, 10kms/2.5hrs).Ascent: +740m.Habitat: Montane Forest / Bamboo / Hagenia zones.
 
D2 Details: Breakfast is followed by a full briefing and equipment check before we begin the trek - we’ll meet the full crew at this point. Each person has a personal porter and there are extra porters for camping equipment and food. Then a short vehicle transfer past the equator to Sirimon park gate. Our ascent of Mt Kenya, following the Sirimon route, this is one of the longest and gentlest on the mountain. It is also one of the most spectacular. We walk up to our first hut at 3,340m, a total ascent of 740m in just 2-3 hours. On this route, we will pass through zones of dense forest, bamboo, giant heather and out onto high open moorland. 3-4 hours. (B,L,D)

Day 3: SHIPTON’S HUT – 4236m.
Trek, Oldmoses - Shipton’s Camp (3340m - 4236m).Span, approx.14Kms. / 7-8hrs.
Ascent: +896m.Habitat: Moorland zone.

D3 Details: Today's trek takes us up the surreal Mackinder Valley with its strange vegetation of giant lobelia and groundsel, unique to equatorial African mountains. Here we stay at Shipton's Camp (4236m), just below the glaciers and jagged peaks of bare rock that surround the main summits. 7-8 hours, 896m of ascent. (B,L,D)

Day 4: SHIPTON’S MOUNTAIN HUT / CAMP – 4236m.
Acclimatisation to Hausberg Col. (4,600m).Span, approx. 7Kms. / 4-5h.
Ascent 364m then descent back 364m.Habitat: Alpine desert
 D4 Details: We stay at Shipton’s for two nights, and have a rest day. This is invaluable for acclimatisation and will make the summit day more enjoyable. Highly recommended is a short walk on the summit circuit trail up to the Hausberg col (4,6OOm) OR go farther, passing between Oblong and Hausberg Tarns to Nanyuki and Two Tarns to enjoy panoramic views of peaks Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m). Having reached a high altitude of over 4600m the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear, Climbing high and sleeping low is excellent for acclimatisation (B,L,D)

DAY 5: NITHI CAMP - 3,300m.
(Summit attempt) Shipton’s camp – Pt. Lenana (4,985m) – Nithi Camp (4236m  - 3,300m).Span, approx. 3kms / 4h to Pt. Lenana  and 14 kms / 6h to Nithi Camp. Ascent: 749m to the summit / Descent: -1,685m to Nithi Camp. Habitat: Scree / Rocky summit / Moorland

D5 Details: After the rest day comes the highlight of the Mount Kenya trek: the stiff, but exhilarating, scramble by starlight up to Point Lenana, the "trekkers’ summit", in time to see the African dawn from a vantage point of nearly 5,000m. We leave at 4am and climb the 800m to the peak in 3-4 hours. A further 3 hours down to a late breakfast by Hall Tarns in the magnificent Gorges Valley. Then in the afternoon another 3 hours down past spectacular chasms, waterfalls and weirdly eroded lava flows to camp by the track-head in the giant heather zone. (B,L,D)

DAY 6: MERU BANDAS - 3,000m.
Trek Nithi Camp - Meru Bandas (3,300m - 3,000m).Span, approx. 7Kms / 2-3h.  
Descent: -300m.Habitats: Moorland / Giant heather/ Hagenia zones

D6 Details: Short descent through the forest zone to the mountain cabins and afternoon relaxing. Log fires, hot showers, beers, and real beds for overnight. Wildlife viewing in evening - often from your cabin window as the elephant and buffalo graze outside! (B,L,D)

DAY 7: NAIROBI (1965m.)
AM. Hike, Meru Banda’s – Pick up point (3,000m - 2600m).Span, approx.10kms / 2h.
Descent: -400m.  Habitats: Bamboo / Montane Forest zones
P.M. Pick up point – Nairobi by car. (230kms / 4-5hrs).
 
D7 Details: Walk down through the giant bamboo forest to meet our vehicles for the return journey to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. Drop off within the city or at the airport.

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!