Mount Kenya travel guide

There are two peaks over 5,000m on Mount Kenya (Batian and Nelion), but mere mortals leave these bigguns to experienced mountaineers. For those of us armed only with stout calves and a sense of adventure, “climbing” Mount Kenya is in fact trekking, and the trekkers’ goal is Point Lenana, at 4,985m. You won’t need technical experience to reach it, but that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. The terrain is varied and often challenging. Dense bamboo forest, boggy moorland and boulder fields test your fitness and agility. At lower levels, paths can be wet and slippery or disappear into thick vegetation, while at upper altitude expect ice and freezing conditions, with areas of scree and loose rock and no permanent footpaths around the summit. In order to see the sun rising over the vast Kenyan plains, the summit push up to Lenana usually kicks off at around 2am, with just head torches and perhaps the moon lighting the way. So, not easy, but never boring either.

Bear in mind, though, that the only way isn’t necessarily up on Mount Kenya. You can experience high altitude trekking on an African mountain without the pressure of a summit challenge. Organised walking vacations explore the eastern foothills of Mount Kenya, taking in spectacular waterfalls, lakes and the mini peak Mugi Hill. From here, you can watch the sunrise turn the main peaks bright orange – a view no one on the summit of Lenana ever gets!

Five days of point-to-point walking, rough terrain and high altitude mean trekking Mount Kenya requires considerable fitness. You’ll need some training, but not necessarily any high-altitude experience. There’s no way of knowing how well you’ll acclimatise to being above 3,500m and even experienced climbers can’t be certain they will, as it were, ‘walk it’! The acclimatisation process can differ from climb to climb and doesn’t respect fitness.

You’ll need good walking boots that you’ve already broken in, perhaps a walking pole, and lighter trainers or walking shoes are good for the lower levels. Stay hydrated, take it slow and listen to your guide’s advice on pacing. This is not a trek to rush, but to enjoy.

Unless you’re really time pressed, don’t just bag Mount Kenya and fly home – stick around, there’s tons to see! Adding in a safari is the obvious choice. Samburu is a couple of hours away, where lion, leopard and cheetah roam, and the mountain itself sits within the Laikipia Plateau, a patchwork of communal conservancies where local communities manage the land. As well as protecting wildlife – most notably both black and white rhino plus rare wild dogs – the lodges all employ and train local people. If you have more time then you can journey by road from Mount Kenya to the Masai Mara via the Rift Valley Lakes. Allow around six days for this extension.