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En route ascending nearby Mugi Hill to help acclimatise - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
En route ascending nearby Mugi Hill to help acclimatise  | Heike Krumm
A moment of reflection on Mount Kenya - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
A moment of reflection on Mount Kenya  | Lauren Bullen
Follow Shipton's route to the summit of Mount Kenya - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
Follow Shipton's route to the summit of Mount Kenya  | Sue Badyari
Trekking on Mount Kenya - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
Trekking on Mount Kenya  | Lauren Bullen
Sitting upon Mugi Hill before we reach our Lake Ellis campsite - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
Sitting upon Mugi Hill before we reach our Lake Ellis campsite  | Heike Krumm
Approaching our stunning Lake Ellis campsite - Mount Kenya Ascent, Kenya
Approaching our stunning Lake Ellis campsite  | Heike Krumm

Mount Kenya Ascent

Africa's 2nd highest peak offers a more varied, remote & affordable trek than Kili

Kenya
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 12 reviews

7 Days from

$ 

Trip Code: MKA
View dates to Book
Essential Information
Duration
  • 7 Days
Activities
  • 5 day trek
Style
  • Classic Adventures  
Accommodation
  • 1 night hotel
  • 5 nights camping/ mountain hut
Meals
  • 5 Dinners
  • 6 Lunches
  • 6 Breakfasts
Difficulty Grading  
6 / 10

Moderate to Challenging

Carbon Footprint  

38kg of CO2-e PP per day

(228kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Mt Kenya Trek Trip highlights

  • Summit Point Lenana (4,985m/16,355ft), a rewarding personal achievement with panoramic sunrise views over Africa’s highest peaks
  • Sleep beside alpine lakes, camping at Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson, two of East Africa’s most beautiful high camps
  • Spot wildlife in the wild, Colobus monkeys, antelope and birds of prey
  • Full east-to-west traverse, experience varied scenery without retracing your steps

Overview

A Mount Kenya trek is one of Africa’s most rewarding alpine experiences, offering dramatic landscapes, rich biodiversity and far fewer crowds than Kilimanjaro.

Rising to 4,985m (16,355ft), Point Lenana is the highest trekking peak on Mount Kenya and an achievable challenge for fit hikers seeking something more remote, more varied, and more immersive than the region’s better-known climbs. With towering cliffs, glacial tarns, and Afro-alpine flora, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed massif is often considered the most visually stunning of Africa’s ice-capped mountains.

Our Mount Kenya trek begins in Nairobi and takes the scenic Chogoria approach, renowned for its alpine lakes and excellent acclimatisation. After a night in the forest Bandas near the park gate, we begin the ascent via Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson — two of the mountain’s most picturesque high camps — before entering the alpine zone at Simba Tarn. The pre-dawn summit of Point Lenana is a highlight of the journey, with panoramic views over the jagged peaks of Batian and Nelion, and Kilimanjaro visible in the far distance on clear days.

The descent via the Sirimon Route completes a spectacular mountain traverse, offering contrasting views and a peaceful final walk through the Mackinder Valley.

With unique wildlife sightings, varied terrain, and some of the most dramatic scenery on the continent, this Mount Kenya trek is ideal for those seeking a quieter, more scenic alternative to Africa’s more commercial climbs.

Itinerary

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On arrival in Nairobi, please make your way to the group hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure in Kenya's capital city. Overnight: Best Western Nairobi Upper Hill Hotel

Meals: Nil

This morning we head to Chogoria Village (approx. 4-5 hours drive). In the afternoon you will ascend the steep and rutted track to the Bandas (cottages) in woodland near the Chogoria gate (3,017m) of the Mt Kenya National Park. We will stay here for the night. Our gear will be transported by Land Rovers while we acclimatise with our first walk at altitude (approx. 1 hour).

Meals: B,L,D

The flora and fauna surrounding the Bandas is prolific, with the possibility of seeing game in the surrounding forest (Elephant, Buffalo, Antelope, Colobus Monkey, Augur Buzzard & Verreaux's Eagle). As we walk, the forest gradually drops away and we enter a high moorland zone. En route we ascend nearby Mugi Hill (3600m) to help with acclimatisation before arriving to camp. Lake Ellis (3500m), where we camp tonight, is a peaceful spot with good views of the main peaks and we arrive in time for lunch. (approx. 6 hrs)

Meals: B,L,D

The initial trek away from the lake ascends gentle moorland to attain a ridge that eventually joins the main Chogoria route at its best viewpoint. After enjoying views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley we descend to the little visited Lake Michaelson (4000m) and possibly the most beautiful campsite on the walk. Overhead tower the cliffs of the Temple while Tacazze Sunbirds flit amongst the giant Groundsel and Lobelia and Hyraxes hop around in the rocks. (approx. 6-8 hours)

Meals: B,L,D

The trek now enters the Alpine Zone - after quite a boggy start to the walk the walking surface soon becomes scree. You will soon reach Simba Tarn at 4560m, in time for a late lunch. An afternoon walk will assist with acclimatisation. (approx. 4-6 hrs)

Meals: B,L,D

After a hot drink you will leave at 3:30 am for the steep ascent (2 - 2.5 hrs) of Point Lenana (4,985m) in time for sunrise. Although the climb is straightforward, the final section is hard work at this altitude. From the summit it is often possible to see Mt Kilimanjaro 320km away as well as the nearby climbing peaks of Mt Kenya; Nelion and Batian which should be bathed in golden sunlight at this time of the morning. We descend back to Simba Tarn for a well-earned cooked breakfast, and continue our descent via the Mackinder Valley to Shipton's Camp before joining the Sirimon Route to Liki North where we camp. The walk today is long and exhausting and will challenge even the fittest of walkers. However the thrill of standing on the roof of Kenya, will be sure to make the effort worthwhile. (approx. 9-10 hours walking)

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast we continue descending for approximately 2 hours to Old Moses camp 3400m and the tarmac roadhead at the forest line. Here we bid farewell to the porters and crew and drive down through the lush forest belt to the Park Gate. After completing the exit formalities our transport will take us on the 5 hour drive back to Nairobi, where the trip concludes on arrival at the hotel from where we started. We farewell our Kenyan crew here. (Note: arrival at the hotel in Nairobi is around 16:00hrs. We recommend an overnight stay in Nairobi before commencing onward travel. If you need to depart today, please do not book onward flights departing before 20:00hrs)

Meals: B,L

Ready to start your adventure?

28 scheduled departures between 13 Oct 2026 and 15 Feb 2028.

  • Departs 13 Oct 2026 – ends 19 Oct 2026 (7 days)
  • Departs 12 Dec 2026 – ends 18 Dec 2026 (7 days)
  • Departs 18 Dec 2026 – ends 24 Dec 2026 (7 days)
  • Departs 29 Dec 2026 – ends 4 Jan 2027 (7 days)
  • Departs 9 Jan 2027 – ends 15 Jan 2027 (7 days)
  • Departs 26 Jan 2027 – ends 1 Feb 2027 (7 days)
  • … and 22 more departures.
View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • 1 night in 3 star hotel on a twinshare basis
  • 5 nights fully supported camping on a twinshare tent basis
  • Group camping equipment including tent (sleeping bag and mat not included)
  • Experienced local guides, cook and camp crew
  • Porters to carry personal and group equipment
  • Private return transfers from Nairobi to Mt Kenya
  • Park entrance fees valued at US$300

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel Insurance - compulsory
  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Visa
  • Sleeping bags & sleeping mats
  • Restaurant meals in Nairobi and meals not mentioned in the itinerary as included.
  • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Tips

Reviews (12)

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Very enjoyable hike on a beautiful trail. Well supported by a very experienced leader.

James|New South Wales, Australia
5 Aug 2026
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Hardcore trek but well organised and a great sense of satisfaction reaching the summit of Mt Kenya. Big thanks to Edwin and his crew.

Robert|QLD, Australia
29 Sep 2025
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Excellent trip. All connections with guides and pickups went well. Guides were very caring and the assistance given to all of our group was very encouraging

Pamela|NSW, Australia
18 Aug 2025
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Fantastic, challenging trip. The guides and supporting team were amazing and did everything they could so our trip was fun and for us all to reach the summit

Tracy|NSW, Australia
15 Aug 2025
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Well organised tours and professional safari guides.

Elaine|NSW, Australia
14 Aug 2025
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Excellent guide and porters and so was the food

Susanne|NSW Australia
2 Jul 2025
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Our guide Edwin was great. He set a good pace (pole pole meaning slowly slowly) which enabled us to get to the summit. We were also very well looked after by our guide, the cook and all the porters. We have a lot of respect for them all.

Raymond D.|Cranebrook, NSW Australia
13 Aug 2024
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We had a wonderful Mount Kenya ascent. Our guide Edwin was very experienced and set a slow, measured pace for each day. His team of cook, assistant and porters took exceptional care of us, and enabled us to succeed in our goal of reaching the summit. We cannot recommend the team highly enough.

Josephine D.|Cranebrook, NSW Australia
13 Aug 2024
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Another fabulous adventure with World Expeditions. Super well organised, safe great local guides and brilliant facilities including the wonderful food. Will definitely book with them again.

Gina Jardine|UK
24 Mar 2023

Extra trip info

Will My Trip Run?Why Book With UsWildlife Safari Safety

Every departure date advises whether the date is confirmed, and roughly how full it is. Here is what each one means.

Is the departure confirmed?

Guaranteed to go This departure has reached its minimum number and will run.
It is the point travellers should wait for before booking any non-refundable flights.
Close to guaranteed This appears only when a date is close to reaching minimum numbers. If it shows 1 or 2 to guaranteed, book as a pair on a date needing two and it reaches its minimum. Your booking confirms the date for everybody already booked.

How full is the date I am looking at?

Space is filling or Space is filling fast This date has bookings and places are still open. Filling fast means limited spots available, so don't leave your decision too late.
Closing soon Down to its last few places, or close enough to departure that we are finalising numbers. Still bookable online.
Closed Not bookable online - either full, or inside the notice we need to arrange permits, flights and logistics. Ask us anyway, you never know!

Availability questions answered

Will this trip actually go ahead, or could it be cancelled?

If a date shows Guaranteed to go, it runs regardless of further bookings.

What does 2 to guarantee mean?

It means two travellers are enough to confirm the departure. It could be 2 more to add to the group, or the date only needs 2 people to run. Either way, if you book for two people, the date will become guaranteed to run.

What happens if my departure does not reach minimum numbers?

You will know the status before you book. Every date on this page is labelled, and dates marked “Guaranteed to go” are running regardless of further bookings. Where a date has not reached its minimum we either offer a surcharge to operate for a smaller group size so it can still run, or we cancel it. We contact you directly either way.

Will I get my money back if you cancel a departure?

If we cancel a departure due to not meeting minimum trip numbers, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid us less any non recoverable costs, where insurance may cover you. We cannot refund money committed elsewhere – additional non refundable deposits advised at the time of booking, flights, visas, vaccinations, gear - which is why it is worth waiting for “Guaranteed to go” before booking other arrangements around this trip date. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before you book.

Why can't I book some dates online?

Each trip closes online a set time before departure. Permits, internal flights and hut or campsite bookings all have to be arranged before we take payment. Call or enquire as it might still be possible to organise last minute places.

The date I want is closed. What are my options and why does it say to enquire?

Cancellations happen and places do open up on closed dates, so it is worth being on our list. We can also tell you which nearby date on the same trip has space, which is usually the faster route.

None of these dates suit me. Can you run this trip on another date?

Yes, as a private departure. We can run this trip on a date you choose, for your own group - family, friends, a club, or in many cases, just for the two of you. Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming, and we will build it around that.

  • We've been guiding people along the paths less travelled since 1975
  • Be supported by highly trained local guides, certified in wilderness first aid and experienced in high altitude trekking.
Early morning game viewing walk in Hlane National Park in Swaziland

Your safety is our main priority

Africa's wildlife is wild and unfenced. On many wildlife safaris you may meet them on foot, or from a vehicle. Walking in big-game country carries some risk, and the safeguards are not the same in every country.

Rules on firearms, guide qualifications, group size and how close you may approach an animal are set country by country, park by park. Many incorrectly assume that every wildlife safari in Africa travels with an armed ranger. Several countries prohibit firearms outright. Where an armed escort is required, it is supplied by the park authority.

What is consistent is how these trips operate. You walk in a small group with a professional local guide who knows the country and the animals in it. We do not include captive or hands-on wildlife encounters in any itinerary.

Read more

Guaranteeing A Great Kenya Trip

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