12 days Mount Kenya trek and safari

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit various attractions such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see elephants, the Giraffe Center for a hands-on giraffe encounter, or the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the author of “Out of Africa.” You can also visit the Bomas of Kenya cultural center or the Kazuri Bead Factory, a women’s cooperative making bead and pottery crafts.

Mt. Kenya is a broad, largely symmetrical volcanic cone with a diameter of about 74 miles (120 km). Of the main peaks on the mountain, Batian is 17,057 feet (5199 m) and Nelion is 17,021 feet (5188 m), but these two are only accessible to technical mountaineers. Lenana, 16,354 feet (4985 m.), is accessible to trekkers.

You’ll meet your guides at your hotel in Nairobi early in the morning and depart for Chigoria, a four- to five-hour drive away. Start the walk, entering the Mt. Kenya Forest at an altitude of 5,249 feet (1600 m). There’s the option to continue up to 8,530 feet (2600 m) if required, and conditions permit. Most climbers will camp here, although some do continue on to the park gate at 9,678 feet (2950 m). Your evening meal will be served around a campfire. Today’s walk is approximately 8.5 miles (14 km).

Trekking Day 1: Today you are walking up to the secluded campsite at Lake Ellis, at an altitude of 11,154 feet (3400 m), walking through moorland and tussock grass. The heather and proteas are beautiful, particularly when other flowers are in bloom, such as gladiolus, kniphofia, and Senecio. Today you will gain about 2,624 feet (800 m) over 8.5 miles (14 km).

Trekking Day 2: The walk today is well off the beaten track. Walk around the lake, cross over the valley, and follow a ridge up the mountain for three hours before eventually joining the track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of 13,451 feet (4,100 m). Breathtaking views abound over the Gorges Valley and back towards Itinguni and the Northern Moorlands. Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to Minto’s Hut, the night’s camp, at 13,779 feet (4200 m). Make the 10-minute walk to the “Temple” if you have the energy. This is a 500-foot (152 m) vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge—they look as if they are praying! An early night is recommended, as you are attempting the summit the next day. Today there’s an altitude gain of 2,624 feet (800 m) over 5 miles (8 km).

Trekking Day 3: Today you will cover a distance of approximately 12.5 miles (20 km) and will walk for about 14-16 hours. This is an extremely long, hard day, but there are great rewards from the mountain summit. Rise at 2:30 am with a hot drink and a light snack before starting the walk. The majority of the walk to the summit is in the dark, so that you are well on the way to Pt. Lenana, via Simba Col, for sunrise. You’ll hopefully be on the summit for first light to admire the views. Descend the peak via a different route, down the Sirimon Track to Shipton’s Camp. Have a second breakfast before heading off the mountain to Judmier Camp, about 6-7 hours’ walk away.

Trekking Day 4: After a later start and a good breakfast, leave camp and walk the final six miles (10 km) down a dirt track to the park gate. Here, you are met by your transport and will say goodbye to your porters and guide. Head back to Nairobi, stopping at a riverside camp for lunch on the way, and onward to Lake Naivasha for the night.

After an early breakfast, depart for Lake Naivasha to enjoy a morning boat tour with close-up views of hippos, waterbucks, and countless birds. Take a walking safari on Crescent Island, strolling among the giraffes, zebras, and other peaceful animals, in the absence of predators. Optional activities include horse riding among the zebras and giraffes, visiting a local farmer’s home to learn about subsistence farming in Kenya, and exploring Hell’s Gate National Park.

Today you’ll drive approximately 3.5 hours to Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp. This is not a commercial “staged” camp experience, but rather an authentic Maasai community, where real people are still living the Maasai traditions. Activities include walks in the hills with Maasai warriors to learn about traditional life, warrior training, visiting a widow village to experience local traditional life, bead making, campfire with the Maasai warriors, and a hot spring visit. You can also visit community projects such as the school, conservation projects for beekeeping, and a tree nursery.

Today, trek across the plains to a forest bush campsite, where you’ll construct a traditional Maasai temporary camp and sleep out under the stars. Dinner will be prepared in traditional “Olpul” style, with warriors and elders enjoying songs, stories, and blessings around the campfire. You’ll share the ceremonial local brew, made for special occasions from aloe root, honey, and herbs. Spend the night at the bush camp, on traditional leafy beds under the stars in sleeping bags, with the protection of warriors throughout the night.

This morning, drive to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, known for its incredible wildlife and stunning savannahs. You’ll stay at the Naboisho Conservancy, which has a lion population matching that of the Ngorongoro Crater. With more than 70 identified lions, the odds of spotting a lion are very high. Enjoy night game drives, a walking safari, and bush dinners.

Go on morning and afternoon game drives and bush walks, with a night game drive too. If you wish, you can go for an optional hot air balloon safari to get a bird’s-eye view of wildlife and landscapes. Return to the camp for lunch and continue with afternoon safari drives.

After one last, early-morning game drive, fly back to Nairobi to connect with your flight home, concluding your incredible 12-day Mount Kenya trek and safari adventure in Kenya.