Mount Kenya - Sirimon Route 4 days
Trip Summary:
The tour takes you to climb Mount Kenya; this is an African challenging mountain. Although good health, fitness and experience is required but the mountain team with professional and qualified guide and porters will help you to make it. You will enjoy the trekking it self, landscape and high altitude on your way thru various points of views as per itinerary.
You will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, habit and habitat of the fauna and flora in the natural areas, also peoples and culture. Availability 90%
Minimum Rate Per Adult: US$
Departing From: Nairobi
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights Mount Kenya Climb - Sirimon Route
Departure Time: 0830 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)
Departures: Daily
Minimum Persons Required: 2
Best Time: All round the year
Trip Itinerary:
Sirimon Route - Mount
Kenya Climbing & hiking
4 Days Mount Kenya Climb - Sirimon Route
Distance: 53 km | Difficulty: Moderate | Start/Finish: Nairobi
Summary
Much more scenic than Naromoru and it is on the drier side of the
mountain which offers some of the finest walking. Climb up through
forest into a wide ridge approach to the summit area. The route starts
on the northwest side of the mountain near Nanyuki. Access is adequate
and the bunk house facilities are the best on this side of the mountain.
Though Mount Kenya summit can be reached in 4 days as per the below
itinerary, we strongly recommend an overnight acclimatization at the
base in Nanyuki town. This can be arranged for at an extra fee.
Day 1: Nairobi/Sirimon/Judmier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 3-4 hrs, 9km, 860m
ascent
Leave Nairobi at 8 am to Nanyuki town for lunch, taking about 4 hours.
Proceed to Sirimon Gate, 1 hr, 2440m. From the gate follow the track as
it winds uphill though the forest which becomes heath land after about 3
hrs. About 3½ hours from the gate the track veers right to Judmier Camp,
3300m for dinner and overnight, L, D
Day 2: Judmier Camp/Shipton Camp 6-7hrs, 14km, 900m ascent
After breakfast, follow the track uphill, forking left at the junction.
After one hour from Old Moses Camp, the track crosses Ontulili River. Go
right contouring through the Moorland and crossing Liki North and
continue uphill to Mackinders Valley from where there are panoramic
views up the valley towards the main peaks. Dinner and overnight at
Shipton Camp, 4200m, B,L,D
Day 3: Shipton Camp/Point Lenana/Judmaier Camp (Old Moses Camp) 9-10hrs,
21km
Leave at 3am up a steep stony quarry that cuts through a cliff clearing
visible part towards lower Hall Tarns arriving point Lenana at 6:30am,
taking about 3hrs. After the sunrise, descend down to Shipton Camp,
2hrs, for breakfast and further, 4hrs, down to Old Moses Camp for dinner
and overnight, B,L,D
Day 4: Judmaier Camp/Sirimon/Nairobi 2-3hrs, 9km
After breakfast, walk down through the rainforest for 2 hours to connect
with your transport vehicle back to Nairobi, B, L
Tour cost: US$ 540 per person
Included in the price:
• Guarantee price/guarantee trek on confirmation
• Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
• Full board accommodation whilst on the trek. Meal plan as detailed:
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Accommodations in camps/huts as per the itinerary
• All park entrance fees to include government taxes
• Service of an English speaking professional guide, porters and skilled
cook
• Start and finish Nairobi
• Treated water on the trek.
• On completion, successful climb Certificate
Excluded:
• Laundry, sleeping bags, beverages/Drinks, accommodation before the
trek and climbing gears
• International flights
• Visas to Kenya
• Items of personal nature
• Any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
Mount Kenya Natural History
Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest mountain at 5,199m (17,058 feet)
and the highest of all Kenya Mountains. Mount Kenya is roughly circular,
about 60km across at the 200mm contour, where the steep font hills rise
out of the gentler slopes of the centered highlands. At the centre of
the massif, the main peaks rise sharply from around 4,500m to the main
summit of Batian 5,199m, Nelion 5,188m and point Lenana 4,985m. Other
major summits on the mountain include Point Piggott 4,957m, Point Dutton
4,885 and Point John 4,883m. Of the three main peaks (Batian, Lenana and
Nelion), only point Lenana can be reached by trekkers and the other two
being only for technical climbers.
Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and stands somewhat
unjustly in the shadow of it's taller neighbour Kilimanjaro, which lies
some 320km away in the south and is visible on a clear day. Kili may see
much more traffic - due to the possibility of summitting via several
non-technical trekking routes and due to the sometimes dubious honour of
being one of the Seven Summits - but Mount Kenya offers a wealth of
excellent and diverse climbing possibilities on rock, snow and ice.
The rock on Mount Kenya can be of variable quality but is at it's best
high on the mountain where the syenite rock is similar to granite -
rough, hard and well endowed with features.
Apart from the superb climbing potential on Mount Kenya, its tarns and
alpine meadows; exotic, equatorial, high-altitude vegetation; sunbirds,
hyrax and soaring eagles make the walk around the peaks one of the most
beautiful expeditions in the East African mountains.
After the cultivated farmlands on the lower slopes the trails pass
through the rain forest, rich in trees of many species but noticeably
camphors, then onto a bamboo zone growing to heights of more than 12m or
more up through open moor land before reaching the moonscape of higher
slopes. The forests are rich in wildlife including elephant, buffalo and
monkeys with even the moor lands offering a long list of mammals
including the rock hyrax, the nearest living relative of the elephant.
Mt. Kenya is an ancient volcanic mountain much older than Mt.
Kilimanjaro. It’s believed to have once reached well above 600m. What is
left today is volcanic plug which erosion has fashioned into the complex
jagged outline of the central peaks.
Getting to Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is approximately 200km north of Nairobi, the capital of
Kenya, and is comfortably accessible by road using a variety of
transport options - buses, mini buses, taxi cab or a car hire will get
you close to the mountain on the tarred roads to the nearest town:
Naromoru town for Naro Moru route, Nanyuki town for Sirimon route and
Chogoria town for Chogoria route. Mt Kenya Hiking, Mount Kenya Climbing,
Mount Kenya Trekking, Climbing Africa Mountains, Climbing Mt Kenya,
Walking on Mount Kenya, Mount Kenya Trekking Route, Naro Moru Route,
Nanyuki, Sirimon Route on Mount Kenya, Shiptons Camp,
The last stretch from the nearest town to the various trailheads
(typically +/- 25km) will be on dirt roads and these can be in poor
condition (especially in wet weather) and require a 4WD, or an approach
on foot.
When to Trek Mount Kenya
Although, Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, the highest
rainfall occurs between late March and the middle of May, and slightly
less between late October and mid December. Maximum rainfall occurs in
the forest belt and on the south-east side of the mountain where it
reaches 2500mm. per year at 3000m. Rain and, higher up, snow can however
be encountered at any time of year - even in the driest periods (January
and February). Normally the drier seasons are associated with clear, dry
weather which can last for many days on end. The best weather is
generally in the mornings, and convectional rainfall, if any, tends to
come in the mid-afternoon.
Temperatures vary considerably with height and with time of day. At
3000m. frosts can be encountered at night while day temperatures range
from 5 to 15°C. Night time temperatures on the summit are well below
freezing. The south-facing side of Mount Kenya receives more sunshine in
the December to March period. During this time rock climbs are
"in-condition" and snow and ice climbs gradually deteriorate. In the
June to October period the north-facing rock climbs and south-facing ice
climbs are best.
It's safest to climb Mt. Kenya during the dry seasons: January -
February and August to September off the most reliably fine weather. The
main routes are likely to be more crowded at this time of the year. If
you favor complete solitude over the sunny skies, try going slightly off
the peak season. It’s best to avoid the two rainy seasons from mid March
until June and from late October to the end of December.
Mount Kenya Vegetation
Mount Kenya is home to some fascinating high-altitude alpine vegetation
including giant groundsels and lobelias.
In the lower-altitude forest zone trekkers may come across some rather
large and uncompromising African wildlife such as elephants and buffalo
- fortunately these are mostly active only at night. Lions, leopard,
rock hyrax, various antelope species and a wide range of other creatures
large and small occur in the park.
Mount Kenya Forest Vegetation And Coverage In Percentage:
Bamboo - 10%
Bamboo and Forest Mix - 23%
Forest - 32%
Bushy Forest - 11%
Grassland - 8.5%
Plantation - 9%
Other - 6.5%
Mount Kenya climbing Routes/Itineraries
There are three main routes, which penetrate the forest and the
moorland. The routes are Naromoru route, Sirimon route and Chogoria
route and each of which has something different to offer.
Climbing Mount Kenya Naromoru route - The fastest route to point Lenana
but not as scenic as the other two. It is often overcrowded with many
climbers since it's the most popular route compared to Chogoria route
and Sirimon route.
Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria route - The most scenic and interesting of
the three main routes on the mountain.
The route passes the enchanting Hall Tarns and looks down sheer cliffs
into the spectacular Gorges Valley and onto the beautiful Lake
Michaelson.
Climbing Mount Kenya Sirimon route - The least used of the three main
routes, but features the most gradual ascent profile and best
acclimatisation options and above all the most interesting since its on
the drier side on the mountain. The route passes through impressive
Yellowwood forests in the lower reaches and features abundant wildlife
and beautiful alpine scenery higher up.
There are other four routes up Point Lenana but are least known and
used. These are: Burguret Route, Timau Route, Meru Route and Kamweti
Route
Note: The normal pattern of weather on Mount Kenya is for clear mornings
with mist closing in from 10:00am although this can clear by evening.
Therefore, early morning starts are the order of the day with a 2am
start for the final ascent to point Lenana, if you want to catch the
sunrise.
