Judmaier Camp/Old Moses Hut Camp Elevation / Altitude: 3,300 m above sea level.
The Judmaier Camp formerly known as Old Moses Camp on Mount Kenya got the name “Old Moses” from a local guide and porter named Moses, who was famous for helping climbers and knew the mountain by his fingertips. The camp was named after him because he often stopped there with the climbers he guided. It’s also named Judmaier Camp after Johann Judmaier, a European settler and mountain climber who helped create trekking routes on Mount Kenya. The two names show both the local history and the role early European climbers played in the area.
Old Moses Hut Camp, now managed by Mountain Rock Hotel and formerly known as Judmaier Camp Campsite while it was managed by Bantu Utamaduni Lodge, serves as the initial campsite for climbers embarking on the Sirimon route up Mount Kenya. Located just 9 km, under 3 hours trek from the Sirimon Gate, this campsite offers convenient accessibility, with a dirt road leading directly to its premises. Formerly known as Judmier Camp, it is privately owned and operated.
Accommodation options at Old Moses Camp include several wooden cabins designed in a dormitory-style layout. Each cabin features multiple rooms with bunk beds, providing ample sleeping space for hikers. Additionally, there is a spacious communal dining hall and a kitchen equipped with facilities for meal preparation. Running cold water is available at the campsite’s amenities.
All toilet facilities at Old Moses Camp are located indoors, within the same buildings as the accommodation rooms. Hikers have the choice of either reserving rooms in advance or pitching their own tents at the nearby campsite.
Old Moses Camp serves as a hub for climbers either ascending to Shipton’s Camp and Point Lenana via the Sirimon route or descending to the Sirimon Gate. Due to its strategic location along the route, the campsite experiences relatively higher traffic compared to its counterpart, Shipton’s Camp, which is primarily used by ascending climbers.
Location
Situated at the end of a dirt road, Old Moses Hut Camp offers a picturesque setting surrounded by the mountain’s rainforest and the early stages of the moorland zone. The surrounding vegetation comprises open scrubland adorned with spectacular plants such as lobelias. Wildlife sightings are common, with smaller rodents and birds frequently spotted in the area.
From Judmaier or Old Moses Camp, the journey continues to Shipton’s Camp, requiring hikers to traverse through the stunning Mackinder’s Valley and cross several rivers along the way. Despite the challenging trek, the scenic beauty of the landscape makes the journey worthwhile for adventurers exploring Mount Kenya.
