| Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain, | | | | Meru, Kamweti, and Timau. It is highly recommended |
| after Kilimanjaro. It is estimated to be 2.5 million years | | | | that you stick to the three popular routes. But if you |
| old, and Kilimanjaro at 750,00 years of age is really an | | | | have a good reason for doing otherwise, or indeed |
| upstart. Time has really taken its toll, and the peak is | | | | for pioneering your own route, you are required to |
| thought to have dropped from 6,500 m those millions | | | | register with the park authorities. |
| of years ago to 5,199 m today. The mountain is an | | | | The Naro Moru route approaches the mountain from |
| extinct volcano, whose plug forms what is today the | | | | the west and is easily the most popular. The trail is |
| peak area. The crater was long ago, done to death, | | | | well serviced with rest huts and is the fastest way |
| by nature's untiring erosion agents. | | | | to the peaks. It is however the steepest and |
| Mount Kenya is an awe-inspiring spectacle that | | | | climbers vulnerable to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) |
| dominates the central Kenyan highlands. It is perhaps | | | | may experience difficulties. The hike will take 4 days, |
| understandable that the Kikuyu people who reside on | | | | though you may opt for an additional day at the |
| its lower slopes thought it fit for Gods' abode. And it | | | | summit. You start with a fairly steep 5-hour walk |
| inspires people in strange ways. In 1943, Felice | | | | from Park Gate to Met Station (3,050 m). This is |
| Benuzzi, an Italian prisoner of war held at Nanyuki at | | | | where you spend the first night and acclimatize to |
| the base of the mountain, and two companions, | | | | the thinning mountain air. |
| escaped and attempted to scale the summit. With | | | | The next day is the longest and you will walk, under |
| just a few handmade climbing tools, he managed | | | | varying terrain, for anywhere between 8 and 10 |
| reach Point Lenana, the mountain's third highest peak. | | | | hours. You spend the night at Mackinders Camp |
| But Benuzzi was at least an accomplished | | | | (4,200 m), in the vicinity of the peak area. You really |
| mountaineer. In 1988, the Mount Kenya Rescue | | | | should have an early night on this day. Very early the |
| Team discovered and retrieved an elder of the Meru | | | | next morning -2.00 a.m is the usual time- you set out |
| people way up at the chilly heights of Peak Nelion | | | | to attempt Point Lenana. The mountain is generally |
| (5,188 m). Only experts, with proper equipment and | | | | clear in the morning and stormy in the afternoon- so, |
| guides reach Nelion. He appeared unaware of the | | | | the idea is for you to ascend and descend the peak |
| feat he had accomplished and was perturbed by the | | | | when you have good traction. This is the part of the |
| fuss his rescuers raised. He explained his mission was | | | | hike where some experience symptoms of altitude |
| "going to God". He was kitted in a manner you will | | | | related ailments. |
| not see recommended in any guide book- in a single | | | | It will take you about 5 hours to reach Lenana. Here |
| blanket and open sandals. The animals do weird things | | | | you must take some photos, to show the folks back |
| too: a few years ago, the frozen bodies of a leopard | | | | home how you fared at the top of God's Mountain. |
| and colobus monkey were discovered at Nelion. | | | | Afterwards, you descend in 3 hours to Mackinders |
| Mount Kenya is located 180 km to the north of | | | | Camp for breakfast. Then ascending back to Teleki |
| Nairobi. The mountain falls within Mount Kenya | | | | Valley via Camel Rocks, you reach Met Station in |
| National Park. The park is made up of a protected | | | | about 4 hours. The night rest is at Met Station, |
| area above 3,200 m altitude, together with two small | | | | before the final descent to Park Gate. |
| salients reaching to 2,450 m along the Naro Moru and | | | | The Sirimon route has its base at Nanyuki to the |
| Sirimon trails. It was set up in 1949 and covers an | | | | north of the mountain. The route offers easier |
| area of 715 sq km. It is further surrounded by the | | | | climbing than the Naro Moru trail and is also more |
| Mount Kenya National Reserve, which extends over | | | | scenic. It normally takes 5 days up and down the |
| 2,075 sq km. The park has the distinction of being | | | | mountain. You start with a 3-4 hours walk through |
| simultaneously a World Heritage Site and an | | | | rain forest to overnight at Old Moses camp (3,300 |
| International Biosphere Reserve | | | | m). Next day after breakfast you hike through the |
| The mountain is made up of three main zones: the | | | | moorland and the Liki and Mackinder valleys. You |
| rocky peak region, the afro-alpine moorland with its | | | | reach Shipton's camp (4,200 m) after a 6-7 hour hike. |
| scattering of giant vegetation, and the extensive | | | | You spend the night here before setting out very |
| lower slopes covered in mountain forest and bamboo. | | | | early the next morning to attempt Point Lenana. |
| The astonishing ecological diversity is one of the | | | | The Chogoria route begins at the town of the same |
| attractions of this giant. The ecological processes | | | | name to the west of the mountain. This is the by far |
| that have brought about the afro-alpine flora in | | | | most beautiful and scenic of the popular routes. You |
| particular intrigue scientists. There are 81 species of | | | | will enjoy dramatic views of waterfalls, valleys, tarns |
| plants here that are found nowhere else in the world. | | | | and rugged rock formations. But the trail is not so |
| In the lower forest zone, there is plenty of wildlife | | | | popular because it is also the longest and therefore |
| including buffalo, elephant, sykes monkey and | | | | toughest. It will take you 6 days to ascend and |
| bushbuck. The animals are however generally difficult | | | | descend the mountain. There are no usable service |
| to see. Further up, the animals are even scarcer | | | | huts along the route and you must carry a tent |
| though hyena, leopard, buffalo and civet cats have | | | | along. Whichever route you use, you can prolong |
| been sighted. The only animal you are likely to see in | | | | your enjoyment of these heights by taking a day to |
| the upper alpine zones is the rock hyrax. Though it is | | | | do the Summit Circuit Path. |
| the size of a domestic cat, it resembles a rat more. | | | | It is important that you take enough water - about 4 |
| The seemingly humble rock hyrax has some powerful | | | | to 6 litres daily- to keep dehydration at bay. |
| relatives in the animal kingdom and it counts the | | | | Dehydration makes you more vulnerable to altitude |
| elephant as its biological kin. | | | | sickness and hypothermia. Hypothermia is lowering of |
| The mountain attracts over 30,000 enthusiasts every | | | | body temperature and symptoms include clumsiness |
| year. Point Lenana (4,985 m), the so-called trekkers | | | | and disorientation. Victims of the condition need to be |
| peak, can be reached by any reasonably fit and | | | | quickly provided with a warm and dry environment. |
| suitably prepared person. The summit has the twin | | | | At heights above 3,000 m, oxygen levels reduce and |
| peaks of Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m), and is | | | | altitude sickness stalks the trekker. That is why a |
| accessible to only those with technical mountaineering | | | | fast climb is not advised, as you have no opportunity |
| and rock climbing experience. This mountain is not an | | | | to acclimatize. The symptoms for Acute Mountain |
| easy one to conquer and each year not more than | | | | Sickness (AMS) are nausea, headache, fatigue and |
| 100 climbers make it to the twin summit peaks. | | | | general malaise. You should always descend to lower |
| Mount Kenya is in fact considered to be more | | | | altitude with the onset of symptoms. |
| technically challenging than the higher Kilimanjaro | | | | Other more severe medical conditions that can arise |
| (5,894 m). But those who make it to the top | | | | are High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High |
| experience some of Africa's finest rock and ice | | | | Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). The coming of |
| climbing. | | | | HAPE is betrayed by a dry cough and difficulty in |
| The mountain has very many fans and especially | | | | breathing. HACE is marked by slurred speech, severe |
| fascinates technical climbers. The author and | | | | headache and disoriented behaviour. HACE and HAPE |
| mountaineer, Rick Ridgeway - author of the Seven | | | | are both potentially fatal and you should always |
| Summits, declares that of all the worlds' mountains | | | | descend to lower altitude and seek treatment. To |
| this is his favourite. Halford Mackinder planned and led | | | | reduce chances of mountain sickness, it is advisable |
| the first expedition on record to reach the summit in | | | | to acclimatize by spending an extra night near Park |
| 1899. But if the Meru elder mentioned above is | | | | Gate or at the mountain huts above 4,000 m. If you |
| anything to go by, the locals must have long ago | | | | temper your zeal for the peaks and take a slow |
| been to the mountaintop. The Mackinder trip was a | | | | sensible hike you will enjoy the adventure and will be |
| great success and his party discovered many species | | | | all right. |
| of animal and plant life then unknown in Europe. A | | | | You will generally need a guide and porters so that |
| new species of eagle owl, for example, was first | | | | you can concentrate on the hike. Always go for |
| recorded by this expedition and subsequently named | | | | those who have high altitude experience and are |
| after Mackinder. | | | | accredited by the park authorities. They will know |
| Though Mount Kenya is practically on the equator, | | | | the routes, and a good one is worth his weight in |
| you will find snow and ice and even glaciers. | | | | gold, in event of sickness and other contingencies. |
| However, in the one hundred years since Mackinder | | | | The porters shoulder the heavy stuff while you carry |
| conquered the mountain, the number of glaciers has | | | | a daypack with essentials such warm clothing, fire |
| dropped from 18 to only 7 that remain today. The | | | | making capability, some food and drinks, a flashlight |
| culprit for this is the global climate change that has | | | | and first aid kit. |
| accelerated in recent years. Scientists tell us that | | | | The stuff you must bring along includes: warm |
| during the ice ages large glaciers reached below 3,000 | | | | clothing, waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, sleeping |
| m. Today the largest glacier is the Lewis Glacier at | | | | bags, flashlights, sunglasses and hand gloves. Many |
| 4,600 m. The continuing retreat of glaciers is | | | | climbers find it expedient to buy a Mount Kenya |
| expected to have a negative impact on downstream | | | | climbing package in order to take advantage of those |
| eco-systems, not to mention the scenic appeal of | | | | with local knowledge. Such a package will include |
| the mountain. | | | | transport, accommodation in the mountain huts, |
| Mount Kenya is the source of Tana River- Kenya's | | | | meals while on the climb, park entry fees, services of |
| biggest river- and was for many years seen as an | | | | an experienced mountain guide and porters and |
| inexhaustible water fountain. Not any more- the loss | | | | cooks. |
| of glaciers and forest cover has brought this | | | | The main rainy season in the Mount Kenya region falls |
| assumption into disrepute. The loss of forest cover is | | | | from late March to June, with secondary rains |
| particularly worrying, because it is avoidable. How to | | | | appearing from late October to December. You can |
| save the forests of Mount Kenya has long engaged | | | | climb the mountain at any time of year but the most |
| environmentalist Wangari Maathai -the 2004 Nobel | | | | comfortable climb is achieved in the dry months of |
| Peace Prize winner. She was born on the lower | | | | January and February and from July to October. |
| slopes of the mountain and has in her lifetime | | | | After your climb, you can relax at some of the |
| witnessed the changes up at the mountain. | | | | excellent hotels and resorts in the Mount Kenya area. |
| You can reach the peak area by taking one of three | | | | Before you leave the country, take to heart the |
| routes: Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria. Good roads | | | | sentiments of the Italian climber Carlo Spinelli, who |
| will get you form Nairobi to Naro Moru, Nanyuki and | | | | said: "I consider myself a nature lover more than a |
| Chogoria - the base towns for each of the trails. | | | | mountaineer, and for this reason Kenya has the best |
| There are alternative routes but most have fallen | | | | of both mountain and wilderness". Take time to see |
| into disuse and you need superior navigation skills and | | | | wildlife on a Kenya safari in this region or in other |
| stamina to attempt them. This includes: Burguret, | | | | parts of the country. |