from 1 review
5 Days 4 Nights
Daily Tour
Unlimited
English, spanish
“The Gorge Valley on the Chogoria approach appears without warning. One moment you are moving through heather moorland. Then the ground drops away and you are standing above a glacially carved U-valley, Lake Michaelson far below in a bowl of ancient rock, the twin peaks of Batian and Nelion framing the skyline above. This is the most beautiful single view on any trekking route in East Africa. And most trekkers have never heard of it.”
The Sirimon-Chogoria traverse is Mount Kenya’s finest route — combining the gradual, scenic Sirimon ascent with the dramatically beautiful Chogoria descent through the Gorge Valley and past Lake Michaelson. Experienced trekkers consistently rate it as the best mountain experience in East Africa, with greater ecological variety, more dramatic scenery, and a more complete mountain experience than the standard up-and-down routes.
Five days allows a proper acclimatisation profile, a full summit day to Point Lenana (4,985m), and the unhurried descent through Chogoria’s extraordinary landscape. This is the route for trekkers who want to do Mount Kenya properly.
This is the Mt Kenya route that experienced trekkers choose when they’ve done their research. The Sirimon-Chogoria traverse is longer, more varied, and dramatically more beautiful than any single-route option. The Gorge Valley descent in particular is a landscape that most of the world has never seen — we think it is one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in Africa.
Private (max 8)
The Sirimon–Chogoria traverse is the most popular multi-route option on Mount Kenya, combining the drier, more gradual Sirimon approach (northwest) with the wetter, more dramatic Chogoria descent (east). Lake Michaelson sits at approximately 4,000 metres in the Gorge Valley and is one of the highest lakes in Africa. Chogoria Gate (3,050m) is the starting point for the descent and is served by a rough track accessible by 4×4. The full traverse requires crossing from Shipton’s Camp (4,200m) after the summit before descending via the Hall Tarns and Mintos Hut to Chogoria. This route is rated moderate-strenuous and requires good physical fitness.
Nairobi-Mount Kenya Bandas
You will depart Nairobi at 8:00 am and drive through agricultural farmlands to the town of Chogoria and have lunch. Afterward, you will board your 4x4 vehicle and drive to the edge of the bamboo forest. You will begin the 10 km trek to Mount Bandas through the dense bamboo forest. Dinner and an overnight stay at the Bandas.
Mount Kenya Bandas-Lake Ellis Campsite
After breakfast and porter's luggage sorting, you will head into the mountains at an easy and leisurely pace. A short walk across Ellis Lake offers beautiful views of Mugi, Ithanguni and Giants billiard table. The foreground scenery and vegetation are particularly beautiful as you follow the river near the start of the road for about 3 km upstream. After lunch by the stream, you walk up the left slope towards our camp, about 3,600 meters away from the tourist area.
Lake Ellis Campsite–Minto's Camp
You will have an early start as well. You will climb again on a secluded ridge for about 3 hours and join the usual Chogoria route sightseeing course at an altitude of about 4,100m. Great views across the gorge and back to Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands. After lunch at a small stream crossing, a further one hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m for a night's rest. You will spend the afternoon relaxing at the camp, but the 10-minute walk to the 'temple' is well worth it. It is a cliff with a height of 150 meters, and the name comes from the fact that visitors look down at the edge of the cliff and look like they are praying. An early night is recommended as you are attempting the summit next day.
Minto's Camp–Point Lenana-Old Moses Camp
The Dawn Summit attempt begins at 3:00 am. You will hike for about three hours up to Point Lenana (4985m), the hiker’s summit, arriving there in time to watch the African sunrise. You will descend to Shipton camp for breakfast. After breakfast, you will begin a 5-hour descent via Mackinder`s valley to the Old Moses camp (3,300m). The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp.
Old Moses Camp – Nairobi
After early morning breakfast, you will descend for 3 hours to the Sirimon Park Gate. The descent doesn’t take long. Congratulate yourself on the tremendous achievement of summiting Mount Kenya. Here you will catch your vehicle for the journey back to Nairobi and will arrive in the early evening. You will be dropped off at the hotel/residence/airport.
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