Chogoria – Sirimon Traverse

Arrive in Chogoria Town (2,100 m) before 12:00 noon, with everything required for the trek prepared and ready. After completing the final preparations, we board a vehicle and drive to the Chogoria lower gate, where we complete park registration and entry formalities. From the gate, we continue by vehicle to approximately the 10 km mark at 2,550 m, where the trek begins. After a picnic lunch, we set off on foot through the beautiful mountain forest. The trail gradually climbs for approximately 10 km, taking us through the forest toward the treeline at around 2,950 m, where we reach Anabas Campsite. Upon arrival, we set up camp and have time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. In the evening, dinner will be served around the campfire before settling in for the night. Overnight: Anabas Campsite Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast is served at 7:00 am, and we aim to begin hiking by 8:00 am. Today’s trek takes us deeper into the spectacular upper mountain environment. We hike toward the Nithi Waterfalls, reaching approximately 3,200 m after about 8 km of trekking. The Nithi area offers beautiful scenery and an opportunity to appreciate the changing vegetation as we gain altitude. We then continue to the roadhead at approximately 3,300 m, where we stop for a hot lunch and a short rest. After lunch, we continue for another 4 km toward Lake Ellis (3,450 m), our campsite for the night. We aim to arrive at camp at around 2:00 pm, leaving plenty of time to relax and explore the area. Depending on weather conditions and personal preference, the afternoon can be spent walking around the lake, enjoying the scenery, or trying some trout fishing. Dinner will be served at camp before an overnight stay beside Lake Ellis. Overnight: Lake Ellis Camp meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast is served at 7:00 am, and we aim to start hiking by 8:30 am. Today’s trek takes us from the heather zone into the upper moorland and alpine environment of Mount Kenya. We hike approximately 12 km, gradually gaining altitude as we approach the spectacular high-altitude landscape surrounding the mountain’s main peaks. One of the highlights of the day is the magnificent Gorges Valley. On a clear day, the valley provides breathtaking views of the surrounding cliffs, lakes, valleys, and mountain peaks. Visibility can sometimes be reduced by mist and changing mountain weather, which is a normal feature of Mount Kenya. Our campsite for the night will be either Hall Tarns or Mintos Camp, at approximately 4,200 m. These camps are ideally located close to the main peaks and offer impressive views of the surrounding gorges, lakes, and alpine landscape. After arriving at camp, we have time to rest, acclimatize, and prepare for the summit attempt the following morning. Dinner will be served early, followed by an early night in preparation for the summit hike. Overnight: Hall Tarns / Mintos Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This is the summit day, and we start very early. At approximately 2:00 am, we wake up for a light breakfast consisting of tea and snacks. After preparing our equipment, we begin the 4.5 km ascent toward Point Lenana, the highest trekking summit on Mount Kenya at 4,985 m. The goal is to reach Point Lenana in time for the spectacular sunrise at around 6:30 am. Standing on the summit as the sun rises over the surrounding landscape is one of the most memorable moments of the trek. We take time to celebrate the achievement, enjoy the views, and take photographs before beginning our descent. We descend approximately 3 km on the Sirimon side toward Shipton’s Camp (4,200 m). Here, we stop for a well-deserved full breakfast and a short rest. After breakfast, we continue our descent toward Likii North Camp (approximately 3,990 m). This section takes us through the fascinating alpine landscape, including the giant Lobelia vegetation characteristic of the high-altitude environment. The distance from Shipton’s Camp to Likii North is approximately 7 km, taking around 4 hours, depending on the pace and trail conditions. Lunch may be served at the camp or along the route, depending on the group’s trekking speed and arrival time. In the evening, we enjoy dinner and a campfire before spending our final night on the mountain. Overnight: Likii North Camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner