Mount Kenya has three main peaks and the two larger peaks of Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m) are both technical climbs, however the third peak, Point Lenana (4,985m) is a trekking peak and although it is definitely a challenge and if you’re new to trekking, camping and altitude then you may well struggle, however with the correct preparation and a good guide team, then the vast majority of people will successfully summit.
If you regularly trek in hills and mountains then you'll already be well equipped to climb Mount Kenya, but it shouldn't be underestimated as most people that have climbed both Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro will know that the landscape and summit routes are more challenging on Mount Kenya so you need to attempt it with a good guide and support team, ensure that you have the correct equipment, eat well and drink lots of fluids so that by the time you reach the higher camps you’ll be well acclimatised to the lower levels of oxygen in the air, hydrated and full of energy ready to summit.
How long does it take to climb Mount Kenya?
A lot of companies offer 3 day climbs on Mount Kenya but this does not offer a safe acclimatisation plan, our preferred itinerary is 5 days on the shorter options of our Mount Kenya trek and Mount Kenya traverse to allow for a safe ascent and descent. If you plan to use the remote Burguret route then expect to be on the mountain for 6 days, similarly if you include the Summit Circuit in your plans.
How much does it cost to climb Mount Kenya?
The cost varies depending on the Mount Kenya routes and the accommodation that you plan to use, camping rather than using the huts at the various camps is the cheaper option on a Western ascent and decent, either on the Naro Moru route, Sirimon route or a mix of both, a west to east traverse is a little more expensive as you need to use 4x4's to get off / on to the mountain on the Chogoria route.
How hard is it to climb Mount Kenya?
The technical ascent of Nelion or Batian require good technical climbing experience but Point Lenana can be climbed by most people, you just need to have good general fitness and the correct equipment, read up on health and altitude in the mountains, acclimatising safely and our Mount Kenya advice.
What equipment do you need to climb Mount Kenya?
For trekking on Mt Kenya we have a recommended kit list (we provide all the group equipment, particularly tents and cooking equipment, however if you need personal equipment we can rent out kit like sleeping bags, waterproof jackets, trekking poles, etc). When choosing your footwear our trekking boot guide will help point you in the right direction as will our sleeping bag guide when deciding which weight / warmth bag suits you.
When is the best time to climb Mount Kenya?
When is the best time to climb Mount Kenya is a question we get asked a lot, the reality is that it can be climbed all year round, though if you don't fancy trekking in the rainy seasons it's better to avoid mid-March to mid-May and October and November butit's getting increasingly difficult to predict the rains so if you have no alternative but to climb in these months then don't let the rains hold you back, the rain tends to fall after lunch on the mountain so a lot of the time we can avoid trekking in heavy rain.
How do you get to Mount Kenya from Nairobi?
There are a number of options to get to Mount Kenya, most people will ascend on the Western side and you can get a public matatu from Nairobi directly to Naro Moru / Nanyuki, that is the cheapest option. There are also matatu's to Chogoria from Nairobi on the eastern side of the mountain. For those that do not fancy squeezing into public transport, private transfers from anywhere in Nairobi can be arranged, read further details on our Mount Kenya trek options.
Click on the image to explore Mount Kenya on Google Earth