| Distance from Nairobi | About 210km |
| Starting Point | Chogoria Park Gate |
| Ending point | Point Lenana |
| Walking Duration | 4 - 5 days |
| Terrain | Dirt road to Road Head, followed by a narrow trail through the alpine zone to Mintos Hut, then rocky steep climb with loose gravel in some sections before reaching the summit. |
| Difficulty | Moderate to High. You need to be reasonably fit to do this hike. |
Mt Kenya is the ultimate hiking and climbing destination in Kenya. It is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa at 5199m above sea level (asl), and features ice-capped peaks, outlandish glacial valleys, an array of crystal-clear glacial lakes (Tarns), and a myriad of other attractions.
Out of the three popular routes for climbing Mt Kenya, the Chogoria Route is without question the most scenic and rewarding for hikers interested in sightseeing as well as summiting. The Chogoria route is on the east side of the mountain while Naro Moru and Sirimon routes are on the west and north sides of the mountain respectively.
Route Description
Most visitors spend the first day travelling either on foot or by vehicle from Chogoria town to the Chogoria Park Gate at 2950m asl. This journey is 29km long and goes over a motorable dirt road that passes through fertile farmlands before getting into a tropical forest, followed by a bamboo zone. Most people choose to spend their first night at the Kenya Wildlife Service campsite at the Park Gate, or at Meru Mt Kenya Lodge a few hundred meters from the Park Gate.
The second day typically entails hiking 7km further up to the Road head at 3300m asl. Camping next to the Nithi River at this place helps with acclimatization. Since it only takes 2hrs to get here, that leaves you with plenty of time to explore the surroundings. One of the attractions here is the Nithi waterfalls, approximately 100ft high, accessible by crossing the river and following the trail to the left for about 300m. Other attraction are Lake Ellis at 3500m asl and about 3km to the right of the road head, and Mugi Hill next to the Lake. If you climb to the top of Mugi Hill, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the neighboring flat-topped Giant’s Billiard table.
The third day is spent hiking for about 4 to 6 hrs to Mintos Hut at 4297m asl. Along the way, you get magnificent views of Lake Ellis to the right, the Gorges Valley to the left, and the 1500ft (457m) Vivienne waterfalls which appears at position 117 on the list of the World’s tallest Waterfalls. Even more striking is the view of Lake Michaelson at the top of this waterfalls, and the view of the peaks on a clear day.
Once you get to Minto’s hut, you have the option of using the hut or camping on the shores of the adjacent Hall Tarns. A short 5 minute walk to the side of these Tarns is a sheer cliff drop called the Temple, with a stunning view of Lake Michaelson directly below.
The forth day is when most people summit. The day starts at 3.30am with the aim of getting to Pt Lenana at Sunrise. The terrain is a bit wet in the first 2km, followed by a series of steep gravelly climbs. The first slope levels off at Simba Tarn, to be followed by another steep incline that meets the trail from Shiptons near Square Tarn. The trail then weaves its way above this Tarn till Pt Lenana, taking 3hrs or more from Mintos Hut.
From this point, you have the option of descending through any of the three popular routes. If going through Naro Moru route, you’ll drop to Mackinder’s Camp and beyond. If going through Sirimon route, you’ll drop to Shipton’s Camp and beyond, while for Chogoria route, you’ll retrace your steps. It is possible to descent all the way to the Park Gates in one day on any of the three routes.
Getting There
If driving, you’ll need to have a good 4WD vehicle, hopefully with a differential lock, and off-road driving skills that will be tested to the limit on the last 10km to Chogoria Park Gate. From Nairobi, use Thika Road and go past Thika and Makuyu all the way to Makutano junction. Turn right on to Embu/Meru road and go past Mwea, Embu, Runyenjes and Chuka till the Chogoria turn off to your left. This will take you to Chogoria town. From here, follow the Mt Kenya signs along the dirt road past Chogoria Forest Station till the Chogoria Park Gate for Mt Kenya National Park.
Typical charges by Land Rover operators: Ksh 7,000 or Ksh 4,500 if you hike the last 10km.
Typical charges by boda boda operators: Ksh 800.
Contacts of some Land Rover operators:
Mugendi +254(0)732 773609
Jayford Mutembei +254(0)722 323399, email mutembei2002@yahoo.com
Guide
Kinaru +254(0)721 642553
Accomodation
Accommodation in Chogoria town:
Transit Motel Chogoria (Mukatha) +254(0)721 973133. This facility has reasonably clean rooms with hot showers, and a restaurant. If you expect to be getting into Chogoria late in the evening, they can even arrange to pick you from the junction on the Meru Road.
Accommodation at Chogoria Park Gate:
Meru Mt Kenya Lodge; This is a Meru South County Council facility providing self-catering bandas with hot showers and a warm fire. You can either book on location and settle with the caretaker, or book through the Lets Go Travel agency in Nairobi. Price range is Ksh 1,200 per day for an adult, and Ksh 1,000 per day for each child.
Camping; If you have a tent, you can pitch on the KWS campsite next to the Park Gate, or go to the Special campsite about 3km into the Park as you head towards the Road head. Both campsites have tap water.
Accommodation at Minto’sHut:
This unmanned wooden cabin at Hall Tarns can accommodate about 16 people. However, it is poorly ventilated and therefore tends to get stuffy. As a result, many visitors choose to pitch tent instead. Water from the nearby Hall Tarns is of questionable quality due to carelessness of visitors passing through over the years, so you’d be well advised to treat your drinking water at this place.
Entry Requirements
Here are the latest Park entry fees for this National Park. You can get further information from the Kenya Wildlife Service site.
Other interesting hikes
- Ol Essakut
- Kereita Cave and Waterfall
- Gatamaiyu Riverine Walk
- Mt Olorgesailie
- Suswa Crater & Caves
- Ngong Hills
- Ol Donyo Sabuk
- Hell's Gate
- Oloroka, near Oltepesi
- Ole Sayeti
- Karura Caves & Waterfalls
- Mt Longonot
- Elephant Hill, Aberdares
