Mount Kenya Luxury Trek
At over 17,000 feet, Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-tallest peak. It towers above the game-filled highlands of the Laikipia Plateau north of Nairobi. It isn’t as well known as Kilimanjaro, but it is also less visited with more wildlife. Trekkers may even see an elephant on their ascent. There are also epic technical climbs to summit two of the prominent peaks, Batian and Nelion. The third peak, Lenana, can be hiked up to. This itinerary takes you up to point Lenana for one of the best views in Africa.
This is possibly the most scenic high altitude hike in Africa. Plus there are fewer trekkers and more wildlife than on Kilimanjaro.
Your journey begins at a luxury safari lodge at over 4,500 feet so that you can come up to altitude on a game drive or walking safari.
✧ Your custom travel playlist includes Blinky Bills’s “Jam Now, Simmer Down”
Blinky Bill is a contemporary hip-hop artist hailing from Nairobi. This track is a local jam to energize you for your trek up Kenya’s tallest mountain.
Your international flight will arrive at night. A car will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the Raddison Blu hotel, one of the best options by the airport for a good night’s sleep.
Wake up for a charter flight to Lewa Wilderness on the high Laikipia Plateau surrounding Mount Kenya. The area is between 4,500 and 6,500 feet in elevation, so it’s an excellent place to start to acclimate for your trek. It’s also one of the best places in Kenya for a safari.
On your final day at Lewa, we will charter a flight on one of the lodge’s private airplanes for an up-close aerial view of the mountain you will soon be climbing.
Lewa Wilderness is located on the 62,000-acre Lewa Conservancy. The grassy plains and rolling hills are home to over 70 animal species, including around 270 of Kenya’s last remaining rhinos. The trained Maasai guides of Lewa Wilderness lead game drives and walks into the conservancy, and it is one of the best places in Africa for horseback riding. Multi-day hikes through the conservancy that overnight in fly tents are also offered. On your final day at Lewa, we will charter a flight on one of the lodge’s private airplanes for an up-close aerial view of the mountain you will soon be climbing.
Now you will trade a luxury lodge for remote mountain huts with spectacular views. This 6-day itinerary starts at Sirimon Gate and ends at Chogoria, showing you a wide swath of the least crowded section of the park. Your hike includes all camping gear, porters, and trained guides.
After breakfast, drive from your hotel to Nanyuki. From there, continue to the Sirimon park gate (8860ft), where you will sign in. After lunch, hike through a tropical forest towards Old Moses Camp (10,500ft). This is an excellent time to continue to acclimate to the elevation and see wildlife.
In the morning, continue the hike through the scenic Sirimon and the Mackinders Valleys to Liki North Hut (13,100ft) in the early afternoon. Lunch at this camp and later take an acclimatization walk around the camp.
Start towards Shipton’s Camp (13,780ft) in the morning and arrive by lunch. On this leg of the trek, you will encounter giant groundsels and views of Mount Kenya. Explore the area until dinner.
In the morning, circumnavigate the peak to Austrian Hut (15,715ft). En route, you will have views of the Simba col pass and the Lewis glacier. Then, relax, have dinner, and rest for an attempt at the summit.
Wake before dawn to attempt to summit Point Lenana (16,355ft), one of Mt. Kenya’s tallest points. Enjoy the sunrise and panoramic views before starting your descent. End your day at Meru Mt.Kenya Lodge (8,858ft), halfway down the mountain.
Depart after breakfast and walk through a bamboo forest to meet your driver at Chogoria town. From there, drive to Nairobi for a shower and a cocktail in the bar at Hemmingway’s Nairobi hotel.
✧ We’ve sent you some reading material, including, The Tree Where Man Was Born
Peter Matheisson’s journals of traveling in East Africa in the 1960s paint a beautiful and complex picture of Kenya and Tanzania. Along the way, you’ll meet people from Maasai herders and biologists and visit some of the region’s most iconic parks in the era before mass tourism. View on Amazon
If you have extra time for Africa, we suggest finishing your trip at Ol Malo. They offer a welcoming adventure oriented safari with activities like horseback riding, scenic helicopter flights, fishing, and overnight walking safaris. It is a family-run operation with warm ranch-style hospitality, and it makes for a nice place to settle in for awhile.
We combine expert knowlege with creative itineraries to make your travel dreams a reality. Contact us for a free consultation.