15-day walking, game viewing + Mt. Kenya trekking

BOOK THIS TOUR

Mount Kenya, sitting on the Equator, is the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro. Our tour takes you to Point Lenana at 4985m. This is a non-technical trek, which anyone in good physical condition can do.

Successful mountain expeditions require stamina and good physical condition, two inputs which every climber must individually deliver. They must then be backed up by good planning from your expedition outfitter. The planning must aim to make the climbers adapt easily to high altitude.

No matter how physically fit climbers are, many who attempt Mt. Kenya soon after landing in Kenya struggle to reach Point Lenana because they cannot adapt quickly to the altitude. It is worth noting that the combined effect of high altitude and jet lag is not the most conducive for a physically exhausting activity undertaken too quickly. From our experience, pre-mountain hiking in high altitude before the mountain trekking is the surest way of altitude adaptation and it guarantees an enjoyable climb.

We would like you to make an informed decision about your mountain expedition. Do you want to enjoy or endure it? There are many packages that will promise to take you to Point Lenana on "3 days flat". This type of tour starts from the gate of the Mount Kenya Park with no pre-mountain hiking and no acclimatization day in the mountain. We offer you a tour that prepares you thoroughly with the bonus that all our pre-mountain hikes are in game rich areas of the Rift Valley and Masai Mara, making your mountain trip become one with wonderful opportunities for wildlife viewing.

You take five days doing the mount Kenya trek including an extra acclimatization day at the Shipton's Hut. To make it even more scenic we climb Mount Kenya from the Sirimon route and descend from the Naro Moru route.

After descending you will overnight in the Naro Moru River Lodge, giving you the chance to reflect your experience.

Day 1 Nairobi

Arrival at the airport at night and reception. Transfer from the airport to the La Mada Hotel in Nairobi.

Day 2 Crater Lake. O/N Lake Naivasha Country Club

After breakfast there is the briefing by the guide about the program. By 8.30 a.m. we leave Nairobi via the Nakuru road to the Rift valley. The Nairobi - Nakuru road is on a contour along the rim of the Rift valley and on a viewpoint we will be able to see our whole route for the next days.

We arrive at the Lake Naivasha Country Club, our base for three days, before lunch. This lodge opened in 1937 as a staging post for Imperial Airways' flying boat service from Durban to London. The 55-acre property boasts green lawns shaded by mature acacias and spreading fever trees, that stretch down to the lake's shore.

Today's walk is at Crater Lake: a lesser lake in the Rift Valley but a place where nature is at its best.

We do a circular trek on the top of the crater from where we see the lake from various angles. Our first count of African game should start here as this sanctuary is home to Giraffes, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Zorillas, Aardvarks, Leopards and a range of Gazelles.

We will also get a close view of the many birds that are found here. Today's program should be taken as light as possible so that clients can be able to wear off the jet lag.

Day 3 Hell's Gate National Park. O/N Lake Naivasha Country Club

We wake up for breakfast with the sun giving a wonderful effect over the Lake. An early morning here should not be missed by anyone with an eye for birds since the lake boasts a wide variety of water and woodland birds.

After breakfast we do a short transfer to the gate of the park. This is a unique park where walking is done in the middle of wildlife. Giraffes, zebras, warthogs and many types of gazelles are found here. The first part of this walk is done in typical flat African savannah in a volcanic area with huge rock boundaries. There are camphor and acacia trees all over and this is where to look for the giraffe as they mainly feed on them. A picnic lunch provided by the hotel will be at the Rangers post.

The last part of the walk is done in the Hell's Gate Gorge by descending into a steep canyon with running water from geysers and wild vegetation. The climax of the day is in walking in the Side Gorge where the rocks have split to leave only a walking path.

Day 4 Longonot Crater or Crescent Island. O/N Lake Naivasha Country Club

An early rising will ensure that one gets another magical display of the water birds. After breakfast we do a transfer by bus to Longonot National Park. This is an extinct crater in the Rift Valley. The first part of today's trekking is a steep climb of 550m from 2220m to 2770m. We are encouraged along the climb by the herds of zebras, giraffes and gazelles. The chance should not be lost to observe the birds that are also found here in a wide variety.

This takes us to the rim of the crater, the highest point in the Rift Valley in Kenya and it rewards with a wide view of the crater, which is full of monkeys and soaring eagles.

The second part of today's trek is around the rim of the crater. This is a 3 hrs walk with the picnic on a scenic spot, the highest point on the rim. On completing the circuit we descend to the park gate. We then drive back to the camp for dinner and overnight.

A gentle alternative to the Longonot Crater: Crescent Island.

This Island on the Eastern shore of Lake Naivasha is privately owned and it has a lot of easy to see game e.g. giraffes, water bucks, elands, zebras and impalas. It is also a heaven for birds with +200 species recorded. The walk is gentle, not as challenging as Longonot, but equally satisfying.

Day 5 To Masai Mara. O/N Fig Tree Tented Camp / Sarova Mara / Keekorok

We now take a break from walking to put all our attention to watching wildlife. To see the best of Kenyan wildlife Masai Mara is the place to be. Elephants, rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles and all the big cats are found here. So, after breakfast we start our journey passing through Narok Town; a colorful Masai town. Our game viewing does not actually start at the park gate.

We will be able to see many animals along the way grazing side by side with the Masai livestock. We reach the tented camp or lodge, our home for the next three days, in time for lunch.

Day 6 and 7 Masai Mara. O/N Fig Tree / Sarova Mara / Keekorok

These are our cultural and activity days in Masai Mara. We do morning and afternoon game drives through the park and on day 7 we hike to a Masai manyatta (=homestead). Here we will see how the typical Masais live.

Day 8 Return to the Rift Valley. O/N Lake Elementaita Lodge

We now return to the Rift Valley. We reach the Lake Elementaita Lodge in time for lunch. We will stay at the Lake Elementaita Lodge, an old colonial house converted into a splendid lodge overlooking the lake. This lake may not have the big name of Lake Nakuru but its scenic beauty is unmatched. We walk up to the shores of the alkaline lake. From there we proceed up to the hot springs and into the Kikopey Hills surrounding the lake.

We walk mainly in open savannah land and occasionally we will stop for a chat with a Masai herdsman. The gentle sloping hills give a good panorama.

Day 9 Transfer to the Mount Kenya region. O/N Naro Moru River Lodge

A morning transfer takes us to the Kenyan Highlands. We break the ride at the spectacular Thompson's fall in Nyahururu. We reach Naro Moru, which is the base for climbing Mount Kenya, by lunchtime. O/N is in the Naro Moru River Lodge.

Day 10 eginning of the climb of Mount Kenya.

At the lodge we connect with our mountain support team. A 2-hour drive takes us to the park gate (2600 m) from where we walk through the rain forest aiming to get to Old Moses Camp (3400m) in the early afternoon. Today's walk allows us to see birds that are only found on high altitude. From Old Moses Camp, which is just above the tree line, we get our first sightings on the peaks.

Overnight is in the mountain hut of Old Moses Camp.

Day 11 To Shipton's Camp

Through the Mackinder's Valley we walk to the Shipton's Camp. This walk will take us 6 to 8 hours. For the first time we encounter the lobelias which will be covering most of the ground. All around us will be various streams and the area is at times quite boggy. Picnic is on a scenic spot along the way. Animals are still with us though just represented by the rock hyrax, its pint-size not withstanding, is the closest relative to the elephant. We should reach Shipton's Camp (4236 m) by early afternoon.

Batian, Nelion and Lenana, the three majestic peaks of Mt. Kenya will be clearly visible from here. This is a point from where great panoramic photos can be taken.

Dinner and overnight in the mountain hut of Shipton's Camp.

Day 12 Acclimatization day

Walks in preparation for the climbing of Point Lenana. Dinner and overnight are at Shipton's Hut.

Day 13 Point Lenana (4985 m), the highest point of the trekking.

We start with a light breakfast early in the morning. We then set off for the ultimate of our trip, Point Lenana, which we hope to reach with sunrise. The view from here is truly rewarding as the whole of the area, including the complete Aberdare range can be overviewed. After a short rest we start the descending along the Lewis glacier to reach Mackinder's Camp (4200 m) for a hearty brunch. In the afternoon we descend further to Met Station (3050m), which is below the tree line, for overnight.

Day 14 To the park gate. O/N Naro Moru River Lodge.

Walk to the park gate from where vehicles await us for the transfer to the Naro Moru River Lodge for lunch and overnight.

Day 15 Back to Nairobi.

The morning is spent at leisure. Time to reflect the trekking we have done. After lunch transfer to Nairobi for the evening flight.

BOOK THIS TOUR

©2005 GoWalkabout Travel Ltd. All rights reserved.

1 877 328 3798
call us today

Get a quote on your trip! GoWalkabout Travel Ltd.
Let us tailor make your dreams.