5 Day Mt Kenya Trek - Beginning at Naru - Moru, Descent via Chogoria Route
This itinerary is recommended throughout the year.
Arrival
Arrive at Nairobi International Airport (NBO) and transfer to Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport / Best Western Meridian, or any accommodation in Nairobi thats best suited to your needs (own booking, accommodation and taxi).
Mount Kenya
Day 1: Collected by your mountain guide, chef and driver for transfer to Naro Moru Park Gate at 2,400m where we meet our porters and begin the trek (around 3-4 hours) to the Met Station at 3,050m on the western hills of Mount Kenya.
Day 2: After breakfast you will begin your trek from Met Station to Mackinder Camp at 4,200m along the valley. You will start trekking through the moorland to the woodland edge. Alpine plants are distinctive on the moorland, extending from several vegetation zones to the summit of Teleki Valley. The peaks are readily visible from here, covered in glittering white. Today you will walk for approximately 5 to 6 hours.
Day 3: Morning hike via Two Tarns to Hausberg Tarn at 4,370m for lunch. After lunch, you will continue to Shipton's Camp at 4200m for early dinner and sleep.
Day 4: Begin the summit bid at around 0300, aiming to reach Point Lenana 4,985m at dawn to witness the African Sunrise. Descend to Hall Tarn for breakfast. After breakfast you will descend to Lake Ellis for lunch and your overnight stay.
Day 5: Descend from Lake Ellis to Chogoria Park Gate through the bamboo forrest for some 1 - 2 hours to the pick up point where we'll be met by a vehicle at around lunch time and transported by private vehicle back to Nairobi for overnight in Nairobi (own booking).
Equipment on our Advantage Series
- Tunnel tents with large vestibules.
We have made this decision in response to our having noticed that many climbers do not have much experience in administering themselves in a confined space, so while this new design has a much larger surface area to anchorage ratio and so is less storm-resistant, there is more circulated air under the tentβs outer and therefore less condensation forms, and climbers tend to enjoy the convenience of having plenty of space to stow their kit and do their morning and evening personal admin.
We have not yet experienced any problems in storms with these tents, but please note that where we expect stormy weather and for some Excel Series climbs we may substitute this design for a more stable tent.
Please also note that on our Lite Series climbs we will often use smaller, lighter tents, but manufactured to the same exacting standards.
- Mess tents for meals. (On our Lite Series climbs we do not use mess tents).
- Tables and chairs.
- All necessary cutlery and ancillaries for meals and drinks.
- Custom-designed 4cm-thick foam sleeping mattresses.
We find around 95% or so of our climbers who are asked or who volunteer their opinion, find these to be considerably more comfortable than Thermarests, or similar. On our Lite Series climbs we use Thermarests so as minimise weight.
- Wash basins for rudimentary personal ablutions.
- Private portable toilets are an inclusive feature on our Advantage and Excel Series climbs.
- First aid kits complete with reactive drugs for the treatment of AMS.
- Our Gamow bags and defribrillators are not standard features of our climbs but can be hired by large groups and those defining themselves as βhigh riskβ climbers and who wish to equip themselves for extremely rare eventualities that disallow rapid evacuation from the crater.
Inclusions
The above arrangements include:
- Pick up from hotel near Nairobi Airport and transfer to Mount Kenya in dedicated private vehicle
- Guided ascent of Mount Kenya's trekking peak, Point Lenana, to include all necessary park fees
- Transfer in private vehicle from Mount Kenya to your preferred hotel in Nairobi
- Use of
Exclusions
- Tips to mountain crew. Please see our Tipping page for recommendations.
- Meals other than breakfast at included hotels
- Beverages at included hotels
- Additionally requested services at included hotels, such as laundry, massage, etc.
- Hotel stays in Nairobi (airport and city centre)
If you want to make a significant, positive contribution towards cleaning up Kilimanjaro and help us return its ecology to a pristine wilderness environment, please make use of the following payment facility:
Following Frank John's sad passing away in March 2022, some former climbers have requested the opportunity to contribute towards helping Frank's surviving wife, Clara, cover the costs for the family.
Several years ago, Team Kilimanjaro were approached by representatives of the Maasai community that live close to the Lake Natron region of northern Tanzania, with a request to assist villagers in obtaining clean water.
It is estimated that since the turn of the previous century, the world has lost more than 99% of its rhino population, and that today, only 29,000 of these majestic creatures survive.
Wilderness first aid is the knowledge and ability to effectively address injuries, illnesses, or emergencies outside of modern facilities, out in the wild. Skills include knowing how to dress a wound, treat a burn or bite, or set an injured limb. These are important skills that can save your life or the lives of other outdoor enthusiasts. Learn more and be better prepared for your next hiking or backpacking adventure.
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Many people spend a lot of time and money training and equipping themselves for a Kilimanjaro climb, only to fail in their objective of reaching the summit. Failure is avoidable and we really want trekkers to understand how to prevent it.
As from March 2021, PCR testing (or rather, sample-taking) is now available at Seronera and Ndutu airstrips in the Serengeti. This facility has been implemented to prevent clients having to either curtail their safaris or dissect their safaris with a journey to Arusha or, more recently, Karatu (FAME Hospital), mid-safari - so as to satisfy the "less than 72 hours old" validity rule that most airlines are required to enforce.
Arusha Pedal Series club aims to organise a group ride three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and Saturdays. All keen cyclists are welcome to join.
We read widely divergent estimates of deaths on Kilimanjaro, but how dangerous is it really? In this post we share our own experience of the dangers.
First of all - you can definitely still climb Kilimanjaro during COVID-19! There is absolutely no impediment within Tanzania. Issues only potentially arise with your own country's rules.
Although there is no requirement to have a PCR test for COVID in order to enter Tanzania, many climbers are nonetheless required by their airline to show evidence of a negative COVID test before boarding the flight home.