Chogoria – Sirimon Traverse

Arrival in Chogoria Town is scheduled before or by 12:00 noon. The day begins with a final mountain gear and equipment check to ensure that everything required for the trek is ready. After the equipment check, you will meet the mountain team, including your guide, cook, and porters, before starting the trek toward Mount Kenya. A short vehicle transfer of approximately 20 minutes takes you to the Chogoria Forest Gate, where park entry payments, registration, and other entry formalities are completed. From the forest gate, the vehicle continues for approximately 10 km through the beautiful mountain forest to the trekking starting point at around 2,400 m. After enjoying a picnic lunch, the trek begins. The approximately 10 km trail gradually climbs through the mountain forest toward the treeline at approximately 2,950 m. The walk takes around 4 hours, with the landscape and vegetation changing gradually as altitude is gained. Arrival at Bandas Camp is expected in the afternoon, in time for the traditional 4:00 pm tea, coffee, and cookies. After refreshments, there is an opportunity to take a short walk around the camp and explore the surrounding area, including nearby wildlife water points. Dinner is served at camp, followed by an overnight stay at Bandas Camp.

Breakfast is served at 7:00 am, with the day’s trek beginning at approximately 8:00 am. The trail continues through the spectacular upper mountain environment toward Lake Ellis at 3,450 m, passing through the heather zone and open moorland. The route heads toward the impressive Nithi Waterfalls, providing beautiful scenery and an opportunity to experience the changing landscape as the elevation increases. The trek continues toward the roadhead at approximately 3,300 m, where a hot lunch is served. After lunch and a short rest, the final section of the day’s trek continues toward Lake Ellis. The approximately 13 km journey brings you to Lake Ellis Camp at around 3,450 m. Arrival is expected at approximately 3:00 pm, leaving time to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the lake. Depending on weather and local conditions, the afternoon can be spent trout fishing in the lake or taking a leisurely walk around the tarn while enjoying the surrounding mountain scenery.At 4:00 pm, tea, coffee, and cookies are served at camp. Dinner follows later in the evening, with an overnight stay at Lake Ellis.

Breakfast is served at 7:00 am, with departure scheduled for approximately 8:00 am. The day’s trek continues deeper into the spectacular upper mountain environment toward Lake Michaelson at approximately 4,100 m. The approximately 12 km route takes around 7 hours and passes through the upper moorland and alpine landscape. The trail gradually climbs toward the Gorges Valley, with increasingly dramatic views of the surrounding cliffs, valleys, tarns, and mountain peaks. A lunch break is taken at the Gorges Valley viewpoint at approximately 4,200 m. From this high viewpoint, you can enjoy panoramic views across the magnificent valley and surrounding mountain landscape. After lunch, the trail descends into the floor of the Gorges Valley, eventually reaching the spectacular Lake Michaelson. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and alpine scenery, the lake is one of the highlights of the Chogoria Route. After arrival, there is time for a short rest before taking a walk toward the shores of Lake Michaelson. Depending on weather conditions, you can enjoy the scenery, take photographs, or try some trout fishing. The surrounding alpine landscape provides an excellent opportunity to appreciate the unique environment of Mount Kenya at high altitude. At 4:00 pm, tea, coffee, and cookies are served at camp. Dinner follows, with an overnight stay near Lake Michaelson.

The trail continues upward toward Upper Simba Tarn at approximately 4,600 m. The approximately 6 km ascent takes around 5 hours as the landscape changes into the cold, rugged alpine and high-altitude desert environment. As the elevation increases, vegetation becomes increasingly sparse and the terrain more dramatic. The route provides impressive views of the surrounding peaks, tarns, and high mountain landscape. Upon arrival at Upper Simba Tarn Camp, a hot lunch is served, followed by a short rest. In the afternoon, an acclimatization trek is undertaken, ascending to approximately 4,700 m before returning to camp. This gradual exposure to higher altitude helps the body adjust before the summit attempt. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the early morning summit ascent. An early dinner is served, followed by an overnight stay at Upper Simba Tarn Camp.

Summit day begins at approximately 3:00 am with a light breakfast consisting of tea, hot drinking chocolate, and cookies. After final preparations, the summit trek begins at approximately 4:00 am. The approximately 2.5 km ascent toward Point Lenana at 4,985 m takes around 2.5 hours. The goal is to reach Point Lenana between approximately 6:00 and 6:30 am, in time to witness the sunrise from the highest trekking summit on Mount Kenya. As daylight breaks over the surrounding peaks and valleys, Point Lenana provides spectacular panoramic views across the mountain and, on a clear morning, toward the surrounding landscapes. Time is allowed at the summit to celebrate the achievement, take photographs, and enjoy the incredible high-altitude scenery before beginning the descent. The trail then descends approximately 2 km toward Shipton’s Camp at 4,200 m. On arrival, a full breakfast is served, followed by a well-earned rest. A hot lunch is served later in the day. The afternoon is dedicated to relaxation and recovery after the summit attempt. At approximately 4:00 pm, tea, coffee, and cookies are served at camp. Dinner follows in the evening, with an overnight stay at Shipton’s Camp.

Breakfast is served at approximately 7:30 am, followed by the start of the descent at around 8:30 am. The trail descends approximately 10 km toward Likii North Camp at around 3,990 m. As the elevation decreases, the landscape gradually transitions from the high alpine environment into the moorland zone. The descent offers changing views of Mount Kenya’s distinctive vegetation and rugged terrain, with the surrounding landscape becoming increasingly open as altitude is lost. Upon arrival at Likii North Camp, a hot lunch is served, followed by time to rest and recover. In the afternoon, there is an opportunity to take short walks around the camp and enjoy the surrounding mountain environment. At 4:00 pm, tea, coffee, and cookies are served. Dinner follows later in the evening, with an overnight stay at Likii North Camp.