Mount Kenya Trek to Point Lenana

If you are flying in to Kenya then we can help with airport transfers to Naro Moru, evening arrivals will mean at least one night in Nairobi before transferring up to Naro Moru on the western side of Mt Kenya. Accommodation is available in a variety of places, but for the purposes of this itinerary we use a local hotel called Blue Line.

Load up the vehicle(s) for the 50 km drive around the west of the mountain and up to the Sirimon gate. After checking into the park we head off along the vehicle track through the forests hardwood forest. After 15 minutes or so we cross the equator, with a big signpost to let you know you are there! We stop for a picnic lunch at a convenient spot before continuing on up to our first camp at Old Moses (also known as Judmier Camp), where you have good views of the peaks ahead.

We set off across the alpine heath and moorland and traverse around and over a couple of streams and ridges before dropping into the MacKinder Valley. We usually have lunch under a cave-like outcrop before continuing up the valley towards the main peaks. There is a short steeper section as we pass Shipton’s Cave and then another as we arrive into Shipton’s Camp. Here we again set up camp next to the huts and prepare dinner.

Today is a day hike from Shipton’s to aid acclimitisation. There are a few options for this but a good one is to climb up the side of the valley to the West and onto the Hausberg Col. The col sits just next to the main peaks and high above the camp and the valley we walked up the day before. It also allows us to see across to Point Lenana and most of our route for the following day. We then return to Shiptons for lunch, rest and final preparations for our early morning ascent to Point Lenana.

This morning we will be up around 2am to prepare for our night-time ascent to Point Lenana, it is an exhilarating feeling stepping out into the cold under the starlight and crunching up the frozen scree. Passing the bowl of Harris Tarn we skirt above it and then cross an area of bare rock and a small scramble. If we are ahead of schedule there is a small niche/cave where we can huddle up for a rest before continuing to the top. The sun will rise around 6am and after enjoying the spectacular view we drop down the ridge of Lenana on the Naro Moru route to Austrian Hut. The ridge is initially quite narrow in sections but it does get broader as you get closer to Austrian Hut and we will take our time over the short sections that need hands as well as feet. there are steel cables on the upper two thirds of the ridge and though they are not really necessary, they can be reassuring. From Austrian Hut we continue down to Mackinder’s Camp for brunch and R&R before continuing our descent down the Teleki Valley and the infamous ‘Vertical Bog’ to reach Met Station and our camp mid-afternoon.

Leaving Met station we follow the track back down through the forest and bamboo to the Naro Moru gate. There are a couple of short sections where the track goes up-hill and this may try your patience a bit but soon enough we will be at the gate. We take the short drive back down to Naro Moru.

It is possible to get back to Nairobi on this date, however if you have time then a couple of days in Naro Moru is well worth it. Aside from our own Moving Mountains projects, Naro Moru offers safe and comfortable accommodation at the Blueline Hotel, some great walks and other activities in the surrounding area, including the Mau Mau caves, a number of excellent restaurants and day visits to the curio shops at the Equator.