6 Days Sirimon out Chogoria Route.
Mt. Kenya is located in Kenya’s central highlands a couple of hundred kilometers north of the equator. It is here, where the Kikuyu god ngai resides. It is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa. It is one of the few places near the equator on Africa with permanent glaciers. The name of the country has been known to have been derived from Mt.Kenya which was formerly known as Mount Kirinyaga.
The mountain is located 180 kilometers north of Nairobi and it can often be seen from high-rise buildings in Nairobi and from Thika. It is an extinct volcano, which formed a couple of million years ago. The mountain is located in the Mount Kenya National Park, which is a designated protected area around the mountain above 3200m altitude. The Kenya Wildlife Service manages the park. The national park covers an area of 700 square kilometers and was established in 1949.
Day 1
Nairobi to Sirimon
Leave Nairobi at 9am. Arrive at a Nanyuki hotel and later after lunch, proceed to Mau Mau caves for a 10km nature walk. Dinner overnight at a hotel
Day 2
Sirimon Gate to Old Moses.
After breakfast leave at 8.30am for a one-hour drive to Sirimon Gate. Follow the track as it winds uphill through the forest and then across a small stream. This is a 9kms, 3.5 hrs walk to Judmaier Camp at 3340m, Dinner overnight at the camp bandas.
Day 3
Old Moses to Shipton’s Camp.
Judmaier Camp to Shipton’s Camp is a 15km walk taking 6-7 hours, an ascent of 890m. After breakfast leave at 7.30am going uphill for one hour to the junction of Likii North, crossing Ontulilli river and go to the top ridge overlooking Mackinder’s Valley. After mid-day picnic lunch, proceed to Shipton’s Camp at 4200m for dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Point Lenana.
Wake at 2.30am. Have tea and biscuits and start ascending at 3am. Ascend 755m towards a steep ridge of scree passing the Square Tarn until you reach Point Lenana at 4985m. You get here at around 6.30am in time for the sunrise. If weather is clear, Mount Kilimanjaro Kibo and Mawenzi peaks are visible.
Descend down to Mintos Hut at 4200m for full breakfast. Thereafter proceed to the Gorges Valley, after lunch visit the Temples and Vivian falls, Dinner and overnight by Lake Michaelson.
Day 5
Michaelson to Chogoria Bandas.
After breakfast, descend to Chogoria bandas as you see Lake Ellis, Mugi hills, Vivien Falls and the Giant Billiards Table at a distance. Have picnic lunch at the road head and arrive at the bandas in early evening for a long deserved hot shower, dinner overnight.
Day 6
Chogoria to Nairobi.
After breakfast, descend for a 10kms walk through the bamboo forest, you are picked up by 4×4 vehicle to Chogoria town and later transferred to Nairobi.
