4 NIGHTS 5 DAYS MOUNT KENYA CLIMB SIRIMON –CHOGORIA ROUTE

DAY 1: NAIROBI TO NANYUKI / SIRIMON GATE TO OLD MOSES CAMP (JUDMAIER CAMP)

• Morning (approx. 07:00 – 08:00 AM): Depart from Nairobi (hotel or airport) and drive north to Nanyuki town (approx. 3-4 hours drive).
• Lunch: Have lunch in Nanyuki. This is often where you meet your mountain crew (guide, porters, cook) and sort out gear.
• Afternoon: Drive to Sirimon Park Gate (approx. 2,650m / 8,700ft). After completing park formalities, begin your trek.
• Trek: Hike through the beautiful montane forest, bamboo, and giant heather zones. The trail is generally gentle.
• Destination: Old Moses Camp (also known as Judmaier Camp) at 3,300m / 10,827ft.
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Distance: Approximately 9 km
• Ascent: Approx. 650m
• Accommodation: Mountain hut (Old Moses Camp)
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2: OLD MOSES CAMP TO SHIPTON’S CAMP

• Morning: After breakfast, continue your ascent, leaving the forest behind and entering the high-altitude moorland.
• Scenery: Enjoy panoramic views of the main peaks as you enter Mackinder’s Valley. You’ll pass unique high-altitude flora like giant groundsels and lobelia.
• Destination: Shipton’s Camp at 4,200m / 13,780ft. This camp is dramatically situated at the base of the main peaks.
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: Approximately 14 km
• Ascent: Approx. 900m
• Accommodation: Mountain hut (Shipton’s Camp)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: SHIPTON’S CAMP (ACCLIMATIZATION DAY)

• Purpose: This day is crucial for proper acclimatization to the altitude, significantly increasing your chances of a successful and safer summit.
• Activities: Take short, easy walks or day hikes to higher elevations (e.g., to Kami Hut, Hausberg Col at 4,700m, or Oblong and Hausberg Tarns) and then return to Shipton’s Camp. This “climb high, sleep low” strategy helps your body adjust to the thinner air.
• Rest: Spend the afternoon relaxing, hydrating, and preparing your gear for the early morning summit push.
• Accommodation: Mountain hut (Shipton’s Camp)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: SHIPTON’S CAMP TO POINT LENANA (SUMMIT) TO MOUNT KENYA BANDAS (CHOGORIA BANDAS)

• Early Start: Begin your summit push very early in the morning (around 02:00 – 03:00 AM) to reach Point Lenana for sunrise.
• Ascent: Climb a steep, rocky, and often scree-filled gully that leads towards Point Lenana. This section is challenging due to the altitude, cold, and dark.
• Summit: Reach Point Lenana (4,985m / 16,355ft), the trekkers’ summit. Witness a magnificent African sunrise over the expansive plains, and on a clear day, you might even spot Mount Kilimanjaro.
• Descent to Mintos Hut: Descend from Point Lenana to Mintos Hut (approx. 4,200m) for a well-deserved breakfast.
• Further Descent to Chogoria Bandas: Continue descending along the picturesque Chogoria Route through the stunning Gorges Valley, known for its breathtaking views, waterfalls (like Vivienne Falls), and tarns (like Lake Michaelson, which you can visit).
• Destination: Mount Kenya Bandas (also known as Chogoria Bandas) at 2,950m / 9,678ft. These bandas typically offer more comfortable accommodation with hot showers and log fires.
• Hiking Time: 11-14 hours (summit ascent and long descent)
• Distance: Approx. 7 km (summit to Mintos) + 15-20 km (Mintos to Bandas) = 22-27 km
• Ascent: 785m (to Lenana)
• Descent: Approx. 2,035m (from Lenana to Chogoria Bandas)
• Accommodation: Mount Kenya Bandas
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: MOUNT KENYA BANDAS TO CHOGORIA GATE TO NAIROBI

• Morning: After breakfast at the bandas, begin your final descent through the dense bamboo forest and pristine rainforest.
• Transfer: A 4×4 vehicle will meet you at the Chogoria Gate (often after a 10-15 km trek) to transfer you down the rough track to Chogoria town.
• Lunch: Have lunch in Chogoria town.
• Return to Nairobi: Board a shuttle or vehicle for the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon.
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours (trek) + 1-2 hours (4×4 transfer)
• Distance: Approx. 10-15 km (trek)
• Descent: Approx. 350m
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch