Trip Overview

Nairobi • Mount Kenya • Chogoria • Sirimon

Nairobi
Your journey begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s lively capital and the ideal starting point for a multi-day mountain adventure. Here, you will meet your guides, review your equipment, and prepare for one of East Africa’s most scenic alpine traverses. The city’s modern energy contrasts beautifully with the natural silence awaiting you on the mountain.

Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya, standing at 5,199 meters and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Africa’s second-highest peak. It is famous for its dramatic landscapes and rich biodiversity. Trekking routes pass through lush montane forests and bamboo zones, open moorlands, and steep rocky cliffs, offering unmatched variety. Wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, bushbuck, hyrax, and rare bird species inhabit the slopes, while the upper zones reveal rugged alpine beauty found nowhere else. The Chogoria–Sirimon traverse provides the most scenic way to experience this iconic mountain.

Chogoria Route
The eastern Chogoria Route is widely considered the most spectacular side of Mount Kenya. Known for reliable weather, wide open spaces, and breathtaking geological features, it provides an unforgettable ascent. Along the way, you will encounter Lake Ellis, a calm alpine lake reflecting the peaks, the dramatic Gorges Valley, rare volcanic formations such as Mugi Hill, Ithanguni, and the Giant’s Billiards Table, and the Temple viewpoint, a vertical cliff offering sweeping views of the valley. The six-day itinerary allows more time to explore these features, enjoy a slower ascent, and acclimatize comfortably before summit day.

Sirimon Route
The descent via the Sirimon Route completes the full east-to-north traverse of Mount Kenya. This route is known for its gentle gradients, open valleys, and scenic forest paths. The Mackinder Valley offers sweeping panoramas of rocky spires, alpine flora, and the towering Batian and Nelion peaks. The Sirimon descent provides a controlled, comfortable route after the summit, making the journey both safe and rewarding.

Point Lenana
Point Lenana, at 4,985 meters, is the highest trekking peak on Mount Kenya and the pinnacle of your expedition. The summit push begins before dawn, allowing you to reach the top for sunrise. From here, golden light spills across the highlands, glaciers, and jagged peaks, revealing panoramic views that stretch across Kenya’s plains and beyond. This moment is one of achievement, serenity, and awe, offering one of the finest sunrise experiences in East Africa.

What to Expect
This six-day traverse allows a more relaxed ascent than shorter itineraries, ensuring better acclimatization and higher chances of a successful summit. You will experience long but manageable trekking days, gentle elevation gains, open moorlands, alpine lakes, cliffs, and glacier-carved valleys. Expect early mornings, crisp mountain air, star-filled nights, well-planned camps, and experienced guides. The route is non-technical but requires stamina, a positive attitude, and readiness for high altitude, with the Chogoria side offering a quieter and more remote wilderness experience.

Preparing for Your Trek
To maximize comfort and safety, trekkers should be reasonably fit and equipped with appropriate gear. Essential items include warm layered clothing, a waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy hiking boots, gloves, a hat, thermal base layers, trekking poles, sunscreen, a hydration system, and snacks. Weather can change quickly, especially above 3,500 meters, so preparation and flexibility are key. With careful pacing, proper acclimatization, and professional guidance, this six-day traverse provides one of the most scenic and rewarding ways to experience Mount Kenya.

Itinerary

Who Should Go

The Chogoria–Sirimon 6-Day Traverse is ideal for trekkers seeking a rewarding, scenic, and well-paced ascent of Mount Kenya. This route is perfect for adventurous hikers looking to explore some of Africa’s most beautiful multi-day trails, featuring wilderness paths, alpine lakes, and dramatic valleys. It is also well-suited for first-time high-altitude trekkers, as the slower six-day schedule allows for proper acclimatization above 4,000 meters.

For climbers preparing for higher peaks, this traverse provides excellent acclimatization for future challenges such as Kilimanjaro, Ras Dashen, the Rwenzoris, or even expeditions in the Andes and Himalayas. Nature lovers and photographers will be captivated by the stunning landscapes along the Chogoria side, including the Gorges Valley, Lake Michaelson, and the dramatic Temple cliffs.

The trek is fully guided and supported, making it safe and enjoyable for solo travelers, small groups, or families. Compared to other routes, Chogoria feels quieter, more scenic, and more remote, offering a unique experience for those who value natural beauty, comfort, and a well-paced summit attempt.

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