5 DAYS 4 NIGHT MT KENYA TREKKING VIA SIRIMON ROUTE

Transfer from Nairobi to Mountain Rock Lodge on the western slopes of Mt Kenya. Options for horse riding, fishing and forest natural history walk in afternoon.

Here at 2,000m you begin acclimatization as you relax and prepare for the trek.

Short drive, crossing the equator en-route, to the Sirimon Park Gate. Trek up through magnificent virgin forests, bamboo and giant heather zones before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first hut, “Old Moses” at 3,340m.

This first day’s gentle trek takes 3-4 hours and climbs 690m.

Up the spectacular Mackinder Valley past strange giant groundsel and lobelia plants to emerge onto what looks like a set from Star Trek – Shipton’s Camp at 4,236m.

A surreal setting below the towering peaks and glaciers, with its resident population of bizarre rock hyrax.

Early start to reach Pt Lenana at 4,895m for sunrise. The climb starts on frozen scree and continues on a rocky track with some very minor scrambling. With a good moon you barely need a torch.

Without a moon, then the pollution-free sky, bang on the equator, gives you as good a view of the stars as almost anywhere on Earth. The climb takes between 3 and 5 hours and to add to the exhilaration Kilimanjaro is usually visible on the horizon.

A further 3 hours down to Hall Tarns in the magnificent Gorges Valley for breakfast then a further gentle descent down the Gorges Valley past spectacular chasms, waterfalls and weirdly eroded lava flows to hot showers and log fires in Mt. Kenya huts.

Wildlife viewing in evening – often from your cabin window as the elephant and buffalo graze outside!

Descend on a broad track through bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet vehicles for the return to Nairobi – usually arriving mid to late afternoon.