3-day trek to Mount Kenya via Sirimon Route

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Enjoy the view of Mount Kenya

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Highlights

Trek to Mount Kenya via Sirimon route

Admire sunrise views from Point Lenana

Nairobi, Mount Kenya

nature, trekking, camping

Group Tour

3 Days

Hard

English

Description

Head on this quick trek to Mount Kenya, and follow the Sirimon route to reach the summit of Mount Kenya, Point Lenana, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the sunrise. Stay in camps and pass through forests, valleys, African mountains and spot wildlife on the way.

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (1,650m) - Old Moses Camp (3,340m.)
- Meet your tour guide in Nairobi and drive to the base lodge on the western slopes of Mt Kenya for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a full briefing and check the equipment before you begin the mountain trek. You'll meet the crew at this point, each one has a personal porter, and there are extra porters for mountain equipment and food. It takes about one hour to get to the Sirimon Park Gate (2600m) crossing the equator en-route.
- On completion of park entry formalities, begin a 3-4 hour hike through forest, bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to Old Moses camp (3300m). Today you will gain 740m on the ascent and begin to acclimatise. The forest and bamboo are home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks and a plethora of bird species.
Overnight in the Old Moses hut (3340m).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A.M transfer, Nairobi to Sirimon Gate (225Kms / 4-5h)
P.M trek, Sirimon Park Gate – OldMoses hut (2,600m – 3,340m)
Ascent: +740m.
Span: approx. 10Kms. / 2-3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest / Bamboo / Hagenia /Heather zones
Day 2: Old Moses Camp (3,340m.) - Shipton's Camp (4,236m.)
- Commence a 7-8 hours trek to Shipton's camp (4,236m). Today's trek is long and interesting but also a good test on individual fitness. You will need to ascent close to 900m going up the surreal Mackinder Valley with its strange vegetation of giant lobelia and groundsel, unique to equatorial African mountains.
- Stay at Shipton's hut (4236m), just below the glaciers and jagged peaks of bare rock that surround the main summits.
Overnight at Shipton's Camp (4,236m.)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Trek: Oldmoses - Shipton’s Camp (3,340m – 4,236m)
Ascent: +900m
Span: Approx.14Kms / 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland zone
Day 3: Shipton's Camp (4,200m) - Lenana (4,985m)
- Start at predawn (3: 00 am) for the summit attempt - you’ll need a bright head torch for this. Go up steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the hiker's summit, Pt Lenana at 4,985m in time for sunrise – to add to the exhilaration, Kilimanjaro is usually visible 340 km to the south on a clear day. The climb is tough going through frozen scree and requiring some scrambling on the final stretch to reach the summit - this is unavoidable on any route. You will aim to reach the summit and witness the magical sunrise over the equator at 6.30 am.
- Descend back to Shipton’s camp for a big brunch then, continue the descent to Old Moses Camp (3340m) arriving in a further 4-5 hours. Or relax the rest of the day at Shipton’s and descend on day four if time permits.
- Once you descend from the Old Moses camp, drive back to Nairobi.
(Summit climb) Shipton’s camp (4236m) – Pt. Lenana (4,985m) – Oldmoses or Shipton’s
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ascent: 749m to the summit
(3-day Option) - Descent: -1645m to Oldmoses Camp
(4-day Option) - Descent -749m to Shipton’s camp.Span, approx. 20kms / 10h from Shipton’s to Pt. Lenana down to old Moses Or, 6kms/6h from Shipton’s to Pt. Lenana and back to Shipton’s
Habitat: Scree / rocky summit / Moorland

What's Included

All transportation to/from the mountain

All Park fees

All food while on the Mountain

Accommodation in mountain huts/ camping where applicable

All guiding services

Porter support for the climb

What's Excluded

Personal clothing and equipment

Tips and gratuities for guides and porter (recommended to be 10 – 15% of climb costs)

Beverages while not on the mountain

Climbing Gears

Know Before You Go

Preamble: A quick trek to Mount Kenya that’s only recommended for the well-acclimatised and energetic mountain hikers. It is a challenging hike to the summit following straightforward paths and making use of accommodation huts located along the way. However, attempting the summit on Day 3 and descending up to the Sirimon road head on the same day will be difficult though achievable.

This is a common itinerary for hikers with limited amounts of time for their hike or those on a weekend break. The routing is quite convenient for larger trekking parties since it follows the same trail up and down allowing those unable to reach the very top to wait behind at the lower camps as the fitter ones attempt the summit.

An optional night spent at our base lodge before the trek allows for time to prepare and to do a nature hike in the Mount Kenya forest kicking off the much-needed acclimatisation. If time does not permit for this, it’s passable.

3 Days Challenge: Hikers intending to complete this hike in 3 days should be very well prepared and fit enough. The trek today combines a demanding attempt at the summit and descend to Oldmoses camp (or even further down) where you connect with the vehicle for transfer off the mountain. This task is challenging and needs a lot of resilience.

Additional 4th-day consolation: Hikers who can spare an extra day on the mountain are strongly advised to spend this extra night at the Shipton’s Camp after the summit attempt to relax the pace of descent. Alternatively, this additional day might be utilised to boost acclimatisation before the summit attempt. BLD indicates those meals included. i.e. B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner

Kenya General Health Risks:

Altitude Illness

Travellers climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (5790m / 18996ft) and Mt. Kenya (5180m / 16994ft) are at risk. Description: Altitude Illness occurs as a result of decreased oxygen pressure at high altitudes. The illness is divided into three syndromes recognized by a cluster of symptoms arising from rapid ascent to high altitudes, especially more than 2400m / 7874ft.

Risk: Altitude Illness can occur to anyone at any time, regardless of physical fitness. All non-acclimatized travellers, including children, are potentially at risk of developing altitude illness which depends on the level of exertion, speed of ascent, altitude reached, humidity, oxygen, and air pressure levels, as well as personal susceptibility. The human body can acclimatize to high altitudes but must be given time to do so, ideally 3 to 5 days.

Acclimatizing to high altitudes:

Your ascent schedule should include rest days and flexibility in case you need to slow down and adjust to the new altitude. A gradual ascent to high altitude over a few days is ideal. If this is not possible, make sure to allow extra time to acclimatize: 1 day for every 1000m / 3280ft.

Avoid strenuous exercise for the first two days and avoid all alcoholic beverages for the first few days.

Set a reasonable pace, avoid overexertion, and keep hydrated. Do not overload yourself with extra gear. If you are camping at high altitudes, ensure that there is good ventilation when using camp stoves and heaters in confined spaces.

Consult with your healthcare provider if taking acclimatization medication is appropriate for you.

Persons with pre-existing health conditions such as angina, heart failure, and pulmonary diseases should consult with a high altitude medicine specialist before travelling to mountainous areas.

Symptoms:

The first syndrome, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is characterized by headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and sometimes vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and disturbed sleep appearing 2 to 12 hours after arrival at high altitude. Symptoms usually disappear within 24 to 72 hours as the body acclimatizes to the altitude. If AMS symptoms persist, rest and acclimatization medication is needed. Do not continue to ascend to a higher altitude if symptoms persist. If there is no improvement, descend to a lower altitude, by at least 300m / 984ft.

In rare cases, AMS progresses to the second syndrome, High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), which is characterized by worsening AMS symptoms, drowsiness, confusion, staggering gate and ataxia (lack of voluntary muscle coordination). Immediate descent to a lower altitude is important since developing HACE symptoms can be life-threatening if untreated immediately. HACE is rare at altitudes below 3600m / 11811ft.

The third syndrome, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), affects the lungs and is characterized by increased breathlessness with exertion progressing to breathlessness during rest, a dry cough, chest tightness or congestion, rapid heartbeat, general weakness, and blue/purple skin tissue colouration. Developing HAPE symptoms can be life-threatening if untreated. Immediate descent to a lower altitude and administration of oxygen are imperative.

Immediate descent, combined with medication (and oxygen, if available), is the best treatment for severe AMS, HACE, or HAPE. Consider evacuation if necessary.

Prevention

Plan your ascent over several days to ensure proper acclimatization (at altitudes of more than 2400m / 7874ft, ascend at a rate of no more than 300m / 984ft per day).

Learn about the symptoms before you go and heed the warnings when symptoms appear.

Do not continue to a higher altitude, especially to sleep, when symptoms appear even if you feel they are minor.

Descend to a lower altitude (at least 300m / 984ft) if symptoms persist while resting at your current altitude

4 Days Naro Moru Route; Price: USD 570 per person.

Meeting Point

Nairobi, Kenya

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.

3-day trek to Mount Kenya via Sirimon Route

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (1,650m) - Old Moses Camp (3,340m.)

Day 2: Old Moses Camp (3,340m.) - Shipton's Camp (4,236m.)

Day 3: Shipton's Camp (4,200m) - Lenana (4,985m)

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

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3-day trek to Mount Kenya via Sirimon Route

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi (1,650m) - Old Moses Camp (3,340m.)

Day 2: Old Moses Camp (3,340m.) - Shipton's Camp (4,236m.)

Day 3: Shipton's Camp (4,200m) - Lenana (4,985m)

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Check Availability Hide

Price On Request

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

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