Things to do in

Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is the biggest mountain in the country, and people often take 3 to 5 days to climb to the summit and back. However, this tour offers you the opportunity to see the beauty of the mountain and take part in a vigorous 6-hour hike, but also to be home to Nairobi for dinner. Your day starts with an early pickup from your hotel in Nairobi before heading off to Mount Kenya National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, due in part to its importance as an area of great scenic beauty. You’ll arrive at the Naro Moru Gate to start your hike at 9:00 AM and head out. Hike through rainforests up the mountain with your knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the flora and fauna surrounding you. This Park is inhabited by, among others, elephants, black-and-white colobus, monkeys, and Cape buffalos. You'll also catch sight of some beautiful birds. At approximately noon, you’ll reach the Meteorological Station and start to head back down the mountain through the bamboo forest. At around 2:00 PM, you’ll arrive back at the Naro Moru gate and enjoy a well-deserved packed lunch. Finally, you'll take the 3-hour drive back to Nairobi. This hike, while strenuous, will certainly be worth it; Mount Kenya is a favorite for hikers due to its snow-capped peaks, breathtaking scenery, and the challenge it presents.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as you depart Nairobi in the early morning, the city's bustling streets giving way to the tranquility of the countryside. Your destination is Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its stunning scenery and rich biodiversity. Upon arrival at the Naro Moru Gate, your 6-hour hike begins, offering a condensed yet exhilarating glimpse into the beauty of this majestic mountain. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you through rainforests alive with the chatter of black-and-white colobus monkeys and the rustle of Cape buffalos. Keep your eyes peeled for the colorful array of birdlife that calls this park home. As you ascend, the landscape changes around you, transitioning from dense forests to towering bamboo groves. By noon, you'll reach the Meteorological Station, a perfect spot to pause and take in the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding mountainside. After a brief rest, begin your descent, retracing your steps through the bamboo forest back to the Naro Moru gate. Arriving back at the gate around 2:00 PM, you'll enjoy a well-deserved packed lunch, savoring the flavors of local cuisine against the backdrop of Mount Kenya's peaks. Then, it's time to begin your journey back to Nairobi, reflecting on the day's adventure and the beauty of one of Africa's most iconic mountains.

Get an early start on the day with a 5:00 am pickup at your accommodation in Nairobi. Then begin the trip to Nanyuki Town, where you’ll stretch your legs by the official equator line. On the way, enjoy panoramic views of the green vegetation and the beauty of the Kenyan coffee farms. Continue for another 15 minutes to Ol Pejeta Conservancy for the first game drive of the day. Explore the park’s northern area, which is home to a plentiful population of chimpanzees, and keep watch for some of the Big Five that live within the conservancy: lions, cape buffalo, African elephants, leopards, and rhinoceros are all spotted here - including the very rare white rhino. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary, the only one of its kind in Kenya that rescues and takes care of orphaned chimpanzees. You will enjoy a hot lunch at the Sweet Waters Serena Camp and 30 minutes of relaxation before going back to the park for more game drives. You will depart the park at around 4.30pm heading back to Nairobi. You can expect to arrive at 8.00pm with a lot of memories following a great tour.

You will be picked from your Nairobi hotel/ residence at 5.00am and drive to Nanyuki town the capital of Laikipia County. From Nanyuki Town (1980 meters) we drive toward the Mount Kenya to the Sirimon gate at 2650 meters. The distance between Nanyuki and Sirimon Gate is 23 kms. At 10:30 am, upon completion of park entry formalities at the Sirimon Gate, you begin a 3½ hour (9 km) hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to Old Moses camp at 3300 meters. We gain 740 meters on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bush bucks and a plethora of bird species At 13:30pm you will hike a little higher about 1 km from Old Moses camp to 3600 meters to see 2 Mount Kenya peaks – Nelion and Batian next to each other. These peaks are climbed only by professional alpinists. 14:00pm: After taking pictures we descend down from 3600 meters to Old Moses camp at 3300 meters for our picnic lunch. 15:00 pm: After lunch we descend down for 9 km (1.5 hours) to Sirimon gate where you get your driver guide and transfer back to Nairobi. 19:00pm: We arrive back to Nairobi, transfer you to your hotel/ residence.

After a pickup from your hotel at 6a.m depart from your hotel drive to Nanyuki. Nanyuki continues to be an important town for Mt Kenya climbers and is close to ranches, game parks conservancies in the region. From Nanyuki Town we drive toward the Mt. Kenya to the Sirimon gate at 2650 meters. The distance between Nanyuki and Sirimon Gate is 23 km. On arrival, you begin a 3½ hour (9 km) hike through the forest, bamboo, rosewood, and heather zones to Old Moses camp at 3300m. We gain 740m on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, bushbucks, and a plethora of bird species. We hike a little higher about 1km from Old Moses camp to 3600m to see 2 Mt. Kenya peaks – Nelion and Batian. After taking pictures we descend from 3600m to Old Moses Camp at 3300m for our picnic lunch. After lunch, we descend for 9 km (1.5 hours) to Sirimon gate where you get your driver-guide and transfer back to Nairobi and be dropped off at your hotel.

07:00 am: Pick up from your Nairobi hotel/ residence and drive to Nanyuki town the capital of Laikipia County. Presently Nanyuki is a base for the Kenya Air Force and a training area for the British Army. Nanyuki continues to be an important town for Mount Kenya climbers, supply centre for farms and is close to ranches, game parks conservancies in the region. From Nanyuki Town (1980 meters) we drive toward the Mount Kenya to the Sirimon gate at 2650 meters. The distance between Nanyuki and Sirimon Gate is 23 km’s. 10:30 am :On completion of park entry formalities at the Sirimon Gate, you begin a 3½ hour (9 km’s) hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to Old Moses camp (also called Judmeier Camp) at 3300 meters. We gain 740 meters on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks and a plethora of bird species 13:30pm: We hike a little higher about 1 km from Old Moses camp to 3600 meters to see 2 Mount Kenya peaks – Nelion and Batian next to each other. These peaks are climbed only by professional alpinists. 14:00pm: After taking pictures we descend down from 3600 meters to Old Moses camp at 3300 meters for our picnic lunch. 15:00 pm: After lunch we descend down for 9 km’s (1.5 hours) to Sirimon gate where you get your driver guide and transfer back to Nairobi. 19:00pm: We arrive back to Nairobi, transfer you to your hotel/ residence.

Day 1: Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve. Morning pick up from Nairobi hotel/apartment/airbnb/airport at 5:40 AM. You will then drive to the rich agricultural area around Mount Kenya and you will have the opportunity to cross the equator just before you arrive in the famous town of Nanyuki. Here you will eat lunch at a budget hotel before making your way to Samburu via Isiolo. Check-in at the camp and then proceed on a game drive, which will take you near the elephant bedroom tower. Dinner and Overnight at Heshima Camp or similar. Day 2: Samburu Full Day Game Drive. This day will be spent exploring this breathtaking game reserve. The reserve is reach in wildlife with fame for abundance in rare northern specialist species such as the Gravy Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk and the Beisa Oryx (Also referred as Samburu Special). It is also home to elephants, lions, rhino, leopards, buffalo, endangered wild dogs and the pun cake tortoise. Over 450 species of birds have been identified here including vultures, kingfishers, marabous, bateleurs and guinea fowl (among others). Dinner and Overnight at Heshima Camp or similar. Day 3: Samburu National Reserve - Nairobi. Wake up and head out on an early morning game drive. After the game drive, you will return to the camp for breakfast. You will then visit a Samburu village nearby, where you will get the chance to interact with the local people and experience their culture. This is a good opportunity to purchase traditional Samburu souvenirs, art and collectibles. drive to the view point Mt Ololokwe, later drive to Isiolo natural swimming pool You will then leave and head back to Nairobi, stopping in Nanyuki for lunch. You will arrive in Nairobi in the evening and be dropped off at your hotel/apartment/airbnb/the airport.

Day 1: Nairobi – Nanyuki – Old Moses camp (Judimier) Assemble in Nairobi CBD for departure at 7:00am. We drive to Nanyuki to where we shall meet our mountain crew. Stop check for supplies and proceed to Sirimon gate 2600m for registration and payment of park fees. Picnic lunch will be served here. We shall hike for 9km through the tropical rain forest, bamboo belt, haegenia rosewood to the open moorland to reach our camp Old Moses camp 3300m a.s.l. Dinner and accommodation in the bunk house. Day 2: Old Moses camp – Shipton’s camp via Mackinder’s valley After breakfast we hike 13km through Mackinder`s valley to Shipton`s camp 4,300m a.s.l. This takes roughly 6-7 hour through rivers and ridges. We pass the newly metrological station for eastern Africa. On clear day the main peaks can be seen clearly. Lunch is served enroute. Dinner and overnight in bunk house. Day 3: Shipton’s camp – Point Lenana – Mackinder’s camp Wake up at 2:00am for some hot snacks before ascent to our main target point Lenana 4985m a.s.l. for sunrise. On a clear day, Kilimanjaro at 320km can sighted. The panoramic view is unforgettable and this will be recorded by our cameras. We descend to Austrian hut {Top hut} 4750m a.s.l. Further descend to Teleki valley, Mackinder`s camp 3,300m a.s.l through American camp and Rangers camp. Hot brunch awaits you at the camp. Here you have an option to walk around the camp or even relax to recover from fatigue and lost sleeping hours. Dinner and overnight in bunk house. Day 4: Mackinder’s camp – Met station camp After breakfast we descend through the alpine moorland to the bamboo zone where our camp Met station. It takes 4-5hrs. Hot lunch is served at the camp. Syke monkeys among wild animals that are sported with ease. Dinner and overnight Day 5: Met station – Nairobi After breakfast descend through the rainforest to Naromoru park gate headquarters. We will sign out and bid the crew farewell. We will travel back to Nairobi, expected time of arrival is 4:30pm

Day 1:06:00 am: Pick up from your Nairobi hotel/ residence and drive to Nanyuki town the capital of Laikipia County. Presently Nanyuki is a base for the Kenya Air Force and a training area for the British Army. Nanyuki continues to be an important town for Mount Kenya climbers, supply centre for farms and is close to ranches, game parks conservancies in the region. From Nanyuki Town (1980 meters) we drive toward the Mount Kenya to the Sirimon gate at 2650 meters. The distance between Nanyuki and Sirimon Gate is 23 km’s. 10:30 am :On completion of park entry formalities at the Sirimon Gate, you begin a 3½ hour (9 km’s) hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to Old Moses camp (also called Judmeier Camp) at 3300 meters. We gain 740 meters on the ascent and begin to truly acclimatize. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks and a plethora of bird species 13:30pm: We hike a little higher about 1 km from Old Moses camp to 3600 meters to see 2 Mount Kenya peaks – Nelion and Batian next to each other. These peaks are climbed only by professional alpinists. 14:00pm: After taking pictures we descend down from 3600 meters to Old Moses camp at 3300 meters for our picnic lunch. 15:00 pm: After lunch we descend down for 9 km’s (1.5 hours) to Sirimon gate where you get your driver guide and transfer back to Olpejeta. Dinner and overnight at Serena Sweetwaters or Similar Day2: Start of first game drive that will last 3 1/2 hours and this will take you to see the chimpanzee and more wild animals on the northern side of the vast conservancy. Arrive at Serena sweet waters lodge by 2 pm. Here you will have a look at the animals coming to the watering hole in front of the lodge to drink water while you enjoy taking photos of the resident monkeys at the lodge. Enjoy lunch and start the afternoon game drive enroute off to Nairobi. You will drive to the eastern side of the park where you will be able to visit a blind rhino called Baraka and also be able to see the three Northern white rhinos freely roaming in their vast enclosure. End of the game drive at 3 pm. Start to drive back to Nairobi to arrive around 6pm where you will be dropped off at your hotel

Early morning departure from Nairobi city driving westwards stopping at the viewpoint on the Great Rift Valley to view the Loita plains and the sparkling Lake Naivasha in the thousands of feet below. Some people use Mt Longonot hike as a preparation to hiking the more difficult mountains like Mt Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya. Mt. Longonot is one of the volcanic mountains of the Great Rift Valley of geological importance. A hike on this mountain takes about 2 hours from the park gate to the rim of the crater and back. For those going round the crater, the hikes about 4 hours for the round trip. The path up the slope is pretty steep and slippery at some points, so you might need to be reasonably fit for the hike to mount Longonot. Optional boat ride at the Crescent Island is available at the lake. Bird watching and plant study by the lakeside will be compelling. Itinerary 0700 hrs: Pick up from location/location within Nairobi. 0800 hrs: Arrive Mount Longonot Park Gate – Briefing 0830 hrs: Begin the hike to crater rim 0830 hrs – 1230 hrs: Hiking on Mt Longonot – Descend 1430 hours Return to Nairobi with lunch en route