Mount Kenya National Park
Africa's Second Highest Peak
Kenya's roof. Mount Kenya National Park encompasses one of Africa's most dramatic landscapes — the glaciated, multi-peaked summit of Mount Kenya (5,199m), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the continent's most rewarding trekking destinations.
Quick Facts
- Location: Central Kenya, straddling Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Meru counties
- Summit: Batian (5,199m), Nelion (5,188m), Point Lenana (4,985m — trekking summit)
- Distance from Nairobi: ~175 km (3 hours by road)
- UNESCO status: World Heritage Site (1997)
- Best time to visit: January–February and July–September (dry seasons)
Why Mount Kenya is Special
- Dramatic Summit: Unlike Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya has a jagged, multi-peaked alpine profile — a technical climber's dream
- Unique High-Altitude Flora: Giant lobelia, senecio trees, and moorland vegetation found nowhere else on Earth
- Wildlife: Forest elephants, buffalo, giant forest hog, and over 130 bird species in the lower forest zones
- Cultural Significance: Sacred mountain in Kikuyu cosmology — Ngai (God) was believed to reside at the summit
Trekking Routes
- Sirimon Route: The driest route, ideal for acclimatisation — 4–6 days to Point Lenana
- Naro Moru Route: The most popular and direct route — 3–5 days
- Chogoria Route: Considered the most scenic — passes Lake Michaelson
- Technical Climbs: Batian and Nelion require technical rock climbing skills
Wildlife You'll See
- Forest elephants and buffaloes in the montane forest zone
- Giant forest hog, bushbuck, and eland in the bamboo belt
- Sunbirds, eagles, and alpine swifts at higher elevations
- Rock hyrax and mole rats near the summit zone
Where to Stay
- Mountain Huts: Met Station Hut, Shipton's Camp, Mackinder's Camp (booking required)
- Lodges: Mount Kenya Safari Club, Serena Mountain Lodge, Sirimon Lodge
- Base towns: Nanyuki and Naro Moru for pre/post trek accommodation
How to Get There
- By Road: Nairobi to Nanyuki (Sirimon route) or Naro Moru — approximately 3 hours on good tarmac
- By Air: Charter flights to Nanyuki Airport from Nairobi Wilson Airport
Kenya's Alpine Crown
Mount Kenya is Africa's most beautiful mountain. Whether you trek through its otherworldly moorland, scramble to Point Lenana for a sunrise unlike any other, or simply admire its snow-capped peaks from the plains below, Mount Kenya commands a reverence that is deeply felt. This is a landscape of mythology, wonder, and raw natural power.
Africa's second peak. Kenya's first wonder.
Recommended Tours
4-Day Mount Kenya Trek (Naro Moru Route)
Summit Point Lenana (4,985m) on Africa's second-highest peak on this guided 4-day Mount Kenya trek via the popular Naro Moru route, passing through montane forest, bamboo zones,...
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Climb Mount Kenya
Plan your Mount Kenya trek with Kora Culture Tours — from the Sirimon Route to technical ascents of Batian and Nelion.