Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria-Naromoru Route 6 Days
Day 1: Nairobi- Mt Kenya Bandas.
Depart from Nairobi at 0800hrs, driving through agricultural country up to Chogoria town for lunch. After lunch, we take 4×4 and drive up to the edge of the bamboo forest where we start our trekking through the dense bamboo forest for distance of 10 km up to the Mt Kenya Bandas.
Dinner and overnight at the Mount Kenya Bandas.
Day 2: Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni and the Giants Billiards Table, whilst if we follow the river near road head, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful.
Lunch on the banks of a stream, then it’s time to cut up the left hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.
Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria-Naromoru Route 6 Days
Day 3: Lake Ellis- Minto`s Camp.
Similar early start. Again well off the beaten track to follow a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to eventually join the tourist track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of about 4,100m. Breath taking views over the Gorges Valley and back over towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands.
Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m and our night’s rest.
Afternoon is spent relaxing at camp, though a 10 minute walk to the “Temple” is well worth the effort. This is a 150 meters vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying.
Day 4: Minto`s – Austrian hut.
Today we begin our trek ascending up along the foot of huge rock walls.
From the top we`ll have an excellent view of Mt. Kenya. After ascending for a couple of hours you reach Tooth Col. From here you traverse until you reach the Austrian Hut for dinner and overnight.
Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria-Naromoru Route 6 Days
Day 5: Austrian camp – Point Lenana – Meteorological station
Leave at 5.00am for predawn attempt, climbing for 1 hour across bare rock and scree slopes characteristic of the alpine region up to Pt Lenana – the hiker`s summit, arriving in time to catch the African sunrise.
Descend to mackinders camp for breakfast and a short rest. After breakfast we begin a 5 hour descent via tereki`s valley to the met station camp (3,300m). The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the the Moorland and the vertical bogs arriving in time for lunch. Dinner and overnight at the Met Station camp.
Day 6: met station camp – Nairobi.
After early morning breakfast, descend for 3 hours through the rain forest to the Naru moru Park gate to catch a vehicle for the return journey to Nairobi arriving early evening.
Mount Kenya Climbing Chogoria-Naromoru Route 6 Days
General trekking information and recommended mountain clothing:
-Warm, windproof jacket with hood.
-Waterproof Jacket and over trousers.
-Walking trousers, shirts and pullover.
-Warm underwear.
-Walking socks.
-Good comfortable walking heavy boots.
-Training shoes (for evening).
-Gaiters, sun hat, warm hat or balaclava.
-Scarf, gloves, sun glasses.
-Sleeping bag.
-You can hire some of the equipment available at a reasonable cost.