8 days (not including air travel)
A good trek suited for nature lovers and photographers. In addition to wildlife, we’ll see beautiful landscapes including high volcanic peaks, dense forests, waterfalls, sprawling moorlands and weirdly eroded rocks and valleys. Aberdare Mountains and Mount Kenya are the two highest peaks in Kenya. Hiking in the cool and moist Aberdares is excellent preparation and acclimatization for the challenging climb on Mount Kenya.
Day 1: Nairobi-Aberdares
From Nairobi drive for 3-4 hours to the Aberdares National Park for game drives in the Salient where wildlife is both abundant and highly visible. The park is rich in alpine flora and fauna, and scenic features including magnificent waterfalls. We spend the night at Reedbuck campsite.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2: Satima Base
Follow the moorlands track on a 4-5 hour hike through giant heather vegetation, tussock grasses, open forest glades and rose wood trees. We will camp at the base of the Satima peak in readiness for our final climb up the majestic peak tomorrow. During the hike it’s possible to see wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, reedbuck, bushbuck etc. Camp overnight.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Satima Peak-Naromoru/Mt Kenya
From the base of Le Satima peak, hike for 2-3 hours to Le Satima peak (4001m), the highest point of the Aberdare mountain range. On a clear day you can see Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro on the horizon and even Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Daiga hills. Later descend to connect with the vehicle for transfer off the mountain to Wandare park gate for picnic lunch followed by transfer to Naromoru (Mt Kenya).
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Old Moses Camp
After meeting your guide and crew, drive together to Sirimon Park Gate. Trek up through magnificent virgin forests, bamboo and giant heather zones before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first hut, “Old Moses” at 3,340m. This first day’s gentle 8 kms trek takes 3-4 hours and climbs 690m.
Accommodation: Old Moses Camp is a wooden mountain cabin with dormitory-style decked beds with comfortable foam mattresses, a bed for each traveler. Each traveler is advised to carry his or her own sleeping bag.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Shiptons Camp
Up the spectacular Mackinder Valley past strange giant groundsel and lobelia plants to emerge onto what looks like a set from Star Trek – Shipton’s Camp at 4,236m. This surreal setting below the towering peaks and glaciers, with its resident population of bizarre rock hyrax, is our acclimatisation base for two nights. 14 kms, 5-7 hours of trekking, 840m height gain.
Accommodation: Shiptons Camp is a wooden mountain cabin with dormitory-style decked beds and comfortable foam mattresses. There’s a bed for each traveler but bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Point Lenana/Nithi river
Early start to reach Pt Lenana at 4,895m for sunrise. The 3 kms climb starts on frozen scree and continues on a rocky track with some very minor scrambling. With a good moon you barely need a torch. Without a moon, then the pollution-free sky, bang on the equator, gives you as good a view of the stars as almost anywhere on Earth. The climb takes between 3 and 5 hours and to add to the exhilaration Kilimanjaro is usually visible on the horizon. A further 2-3 hours and 5 kms down to a late breakfast by Hall Tarns in the magnificent Gorges Valley. Then another 7 kms and 2-3 hours down past spectacular chasms, waterfalls and weirdly eroded lava flows to camp by the Nithi river.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Chogoria
Short 6 km descent through the forest zone to the mountain cabins and an afternoon relaxing. Log fires, hot showers, Tusker beers and beds for overnight. Wildlife viewing in evening – often from your cabin window as the elephant and buffalo graze outside!
Accommodation: Chogoria cabins, a collection of comfortable log cabins each with a bedroom, kitchen and hot showers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Nairobi
Descent on a broad track for about 10 kms through bamboo and virgin forest to meet vehicle for transfer to Nairobi.
Meals: Breakfast