GENERAL INFORMATION
HEALTH & FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
Anyone contemplating one of our expeditions should take regular exercise. It is recommended that you start a training programme at least one, if not two months before your safari.

"Running, swimming, cycling and stair-climbing is all good ways of toning up muscles."

SEASONS FOR CLIMBING MT. KENYA
It has been generally accepted that our climbing seasons are from mid-December to mind- March and from mid June-to the end of September.
However, these traditional weather patterns seem to be the exception rather than the rule: the chances of encountering good weather on the mountain seem to be about equal throughout the year, so the timing of your safari is not as critical as once was.

GUIDES
Our professional local guides provide quality service on all our safaris.

FOOD
All meals for the treks are either fresh or tinned. The porters and guides are trained in cookery and service.

DISCLAIMER
Mountain climbing may be hazardous. Always take advice from your guide.
Pole Pole (Swahili for "go slowly").
Take time to acclimatize
Eat well.
Drink lots of fluids. Tea is considered "dawa ya mlima" (Swahili for "medicine of the mountain).

TECHNICAL CLIMBING ON THE MAIN PEAKS OF MT. KENYA
(Batian 5,169m and /or Nelion 5158m.)

For information only.
Because of Mt. Kenya's unique position on the equator, climbing seasons and route conditions vary with the sun's position. For example, a climber interested in doing one of the best ice routes, which are on the south side of the mountain, should climb when the sun is in the north, between the months of June and December.
However, during the same period the east and north sides are in the best condition for rock climbing. Conversely, when the sun is in the south, the south side offers the best rock routes and north the better ice climbing conditions.

Recommended routes
December-March
Normal Route, Standard IV (rock: South West Ridge, Standard V (rock routes).

June-September
North Face, Standard IV (rock Route).

August-December
South Face, Standard IV, Ice Window, Standard V (ice routes).

Our climbing tours of Mount Kenya
Climbing the mountain of God
The Peaks: Batian (5, 199 m), Nelion (5, 188 m), Lenana (4, 985 m).

Mount Kenya
One of the world's highest National Parks, Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano some three and a half million years old. Straddling the equator, the mountain offers a unique mosaic of forest, moorland, rock and ice and is crowned by the glittering twin peaks of Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m). The sacred home of Ngai , God of the Kikuyu people, Mount Kenya is Kenya's highest mountain, a national icon, a climbers' Mecca, the nation's namesake, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site and a wildlife stronghold.

Mount Kenya Fact File
Altitude: 1,600-5,199 m above sea level.
Area: National Park 715 sq km, National Reserve 2,124 sq km.
Location: Nyeri and Kirinyaga Districts, Central Province, Meru Central, Meru South and Embu Districts in Eastern Province.
Distance from Nairobi: Mount Kenya straddles the equator, 175 km north-east of Nairobi.
Gazetted: the National Park was gazetted in December 1949 and the National Reserve in July 2000.
Climate: Mount Kenya's weather is notoriously unpredictable and varies with altitude. At points over 4,000 m the mountain is usually freezing cold and can be both misty and windy. During sunshine, daytime temperatures may rise to over 15°C (over 4,000 m) and during periods of cloud cover they may drop to nearly 0°C. Nocturnal temperatures habitually drop to around -10°C. Prevailing winds are from the south and east, so the southern and eastern flanks of the mountain receive the highest rainfall (up to 2,500 mm pa at about 3,000 m). The northern slopes receive the lowest rainfall (1,000 mm pa) while over 4,500 m rainfall decreases to around 700 mm pa.
Vegetation: alpine and sub-alpine flora with montane and bamboo forest, moorland and tundra.
Wildlife: includes; giant forest hog, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, elephant, black rhino, suni, black-fronted duiker, bongo, leopard, Mount Kenya mouse shrew, hyrax, duiker and the endemic mole-rat.
Birds: 130 recorded species.
Open: daily 6.00am - 7.00pm (including public holidays). Note: entry is allowed on foot at Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria Gates. Visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm. Trekkers will not be allowed entry in groups of less than two persons.

Day 1: Mount Kenya
Morning spent sorting and organizing equipment for the mountain trek. Lunch at Naro Moru River Lodge (at extra cost). In the afternoon, drive to Sirimon Gate and thence to the road head at 3,300m. An easy walk in the afternoon to help acclimatization: overnight Judmaier's Camp (3,300m) in the high altitude mountain tents.

Day 2: Mount Kenya
After breakfast trek up the moorland and break away from Sirimon track at altitude of 3,940m, contouring into the Sirimon Valley. This is a seldom visited area with a tremendous amount of wildlife. Overnight in Sirimon Valley, altitude 3,940m.

Day 3: Mount Kenya
An early start out of the Sirimon Valley and into the head of the Hinde Valley. We then cross the Nithi and Gorges Valleys. This is undoubtedly one of the most scenic areas of the mountain with its 1,000 - vertical cliffs, its virgin valleys and cascading water-fall, is one of the most spectacular trekked areas in Kenya. Night camped at Hall Tarns (4,300m).

Day 4: Mount Kenya
Descend to Lake Michaelson, in the depth of the Gorges Valley. See the incredible cave formation known as the Temple. Walk down the valley to Vivienne falls (named after the famous author of Speak to the Earth). Return to camp in the afternoon. Overnight at Hall Tarns (4,300m)

Day 5: Mount Kenya
Alpine ascent on the third highest peak Pt. Lenana (4,985m). En route up north face little used by tourists. 4 hours of stiff walking to the summit. Descend to Teleki Valley and spend the night at our Mackinders Camp (4,150m).

Day 6: Naromoru
Descend the mountain via the Naro Moru route completing a fine circuit of Mt. Kenya, to the Naro Moru River Lodge for a well-earned rest.

Climbing Mount Kenya: What you need to know 
How fit do I need to be? 
Because mountain climbing / trekking can be very strenuous, it is wise to be reasonably fit before you start. Strange as it may seem, the best training for trekking - is trekking, or walking, so the more you can do before you attempt your climb - the better. If you have any known medical problems or are concerned about your health, have a full medical check-up before you leave. Better to find out about any problems before you climb rather than halfway up the mountain. The same goes for dental health - you don't want a loose filling at altitude. Similarly, if you wear glasses: take a spare pair.
Having said all this, the ascent itself is mostly just a steep hike (rough underfoot in parts): it's the altitude that can cause the problems. Much more important than physical training, therefore, is that you allow yourself enough TIME to acclimatize, thus allowing your body to produce additional oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

How much acclimatization do I need? 
Do not attempt to climb from the base of the mountain (Naro Moru village) to Point Lenana in less than 72 hours. If you have just arrived in Kenya, allow 5 days for the ascent. If possible, allow a week for the whole trek.

Do I need a guide? 
Guides are not compulsory but unless you are an experienced mountain walker (and can use a map and compass), use of a guide is recommended: a) to improve your chances of getting to the top b) to avoid altitude sickness c) to help with your equipment.
Which guide? Guides (and porters) should be fully licensed and approved by KWS and should carry a KWS authorization card to prove this (this card also entitles them to a 50% reduction on their Park fees). Note: it is recommended that you hire your guides from the local rural community and insist on seeing a KWS authorization card since experience has proved that ‘guides' engaged in major cities or without possession of the KWS authorization card may prove to be totally inexperienced. Your guide, once engaged, can also hire reputable porters on your behalf.
What is the difference between a guide and a porter? Porters carry loads; guides show the way (and may require a porter to carry their own load).
How much do they cost? Costs vary according to route and you should agree a price before you start. Also, if you ascend the mountain via one route and descend via another, you will be expected to pay for your guide's transport costs back to his/her starting point.
Tips: if you wish to tip, the accepted rate is: an extra day's wages for every porter and guide (based on a 5-day trek). Tipping disputes have marred the end of many an expedition. To avoid dispute make it clear to guides and porters that good service will be rewarded by a specific tip to be paid at the end of the climb.
Porters: will carry up to 18kg for a three day trip or 16kg for a longer trip (excluding the weight of their own food and equipment).

How do I arrange my climb? 
The best way to do it is by using a reputable organization which will organize the whole thing for you. The best-known are:
Naro Moru River Lodge arranges all-inclusive treks up the mountain, hire of equipment, hire of guides, porters and cooks and administers the two bunkhouses on the Naro Moru Route (the Met Station and Makinder's Camp).

Mountain Rock Bantu Lodge: offers all-inclusive mountain treks, hire of gear and tents and administers the two bunkhouses on the Sirimon Route (Old Moses and Shipton's Camp).

How do I avoid the effects of altitude? 
As outlined above, make a slow ascent, thus allowing sufficient time for your body to acclimatize to the altitude. Also, keep your fluid intake as high as possible (3-5 litres a day is recommended) and avoid alcohol.

What is Acute Mountain Sickness? 
Above 3,500 m you may notice the effects of altitude, especially if your body is tuned only to sea level. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) usually develops in the first 8-24 hours at high altitude, and is rare below 4,500 m. Physical symptoms are unpredictable and vary greatly between individuals but they can include: breathlessness, nausea, disorientation, slurred speech and headaches, especially at night. If you experience any of these symptoms do not proceed to a higher camp and treat the condition in situ with plenty of fluids, an 18-hour rest and anti-inflammatories. If the symptoms are no longer present, you may then proceed with your climb.
Note: in the event that treatment has no effect on your condition, or you experience further deterioration in your state of health, DESCEND QUICKLY as this may signal the fact that your condition of AMS (acute mountain sickness) has progressed to HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema), which is fluid on the lungs; symptoms are shortness of breath and frothy/pink spit. Alternatively your condition may have progressed to HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) which is a swelling of the brain; symptoms are severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance, blurred or double vision and drowsiness progressing to coma. Warning: both HAPE & HACE conditions are potentially fatal, and the only treatment is IMMEDIATE DESCENT.

What kit do I need? 
Tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag (‘2-seasons' if staying in a hut or ‘3-seasons' if camping), emergency foil blanket, rucksack (50-65 litres) and daypack (approx 20 litres) if you intend hiring a porter. Stove, fuel, containers, cooking pots, cooking equipment, matches/lighter, fire-starter, water bottles (minimum 2 litres per person per day), water purifying tablets, map, compass, whistle, pocket knife, first aid kit, insect repellent, camera, zippered plastic bags, torch, eating and drinking utensils, sunglasses, trekking poles, headlamp/flashlight, spare bulbs, batteries, toiletries and toilet tissue.

Clothing: jacket(s), outer shell/waterproof jacket and pants, shirts, trousers, shorts, underwear, sun hat, woollen hat and gloves. Footwear: walking boots, training shoes, sandals, socks and gaiters.

What rules must I follow? 
Food and cooking: because the boiling point of water is reduced at high altitude, fast-cooking foods such as tinned/pre-cooked/instant or dried meals are ideal. Also useful are citrus fruits, chocolate and dried fruit.
Eco-friendly trekking: some 15,000 tourists climb the mountain every year, leaving tonnes of rubbish in their wake, all of which must be removed by voluntary groups lest it damage the delicate ecosystem. So, as on any other mountain in the world, the rules are:
Pack it in; pack it out, collect ALL your rubbish and carry it with you to dispose of - off the mountain. Do not bury rubbish. (You will be required to show your rubbish to KWS personnel on departure).
Personal hygiene: where there is no lavatory or latrine bury your waste at least 100 m from any watercourse. Don't use detergents or toothpaste within 50 m of watercourses.
Respect the environment: stick to existing tracks and avoid making short cuts.
Do not remove the plant life; it keeps the topsoil in place.
Protect against fire: open fires in the moorland and peak zones of the mountain are strictly prohibited.

When is the best time to climb? 
While the mountain can be climbed all year round, experts suggest that it is easier and more pleasurable to make the ascent during the driest months, which are usually January, February, August and September. There are two rainy seasons; the ‘long' rains, which last approximately from mid-March to June, and the ‘short' rains, which last from October to mid-December. Mount Kenya is unique in that its sheer faces and equatorial location give it at any time both a summer and winter climbing face. June-October the sun is on the north face of the mountain and the south face is covered in snow and ice, making for spectacular ice climbs. December-March, the sun is on the south face and the rock climbs are more popular.

Which route? 
There are three principal routes up the mountain; the Naro Moru Route, the Sirimon Route and the Chogoria Route. Climbers may ascend and descend using the same route, or traverse the mountain using the Summit Circuit Path which links all the routes, and descend by a different route.

How long will it take? 
The number of days indicated for each of the routes given below is the ‘usual' amount of time taken, but much depends on fitness and altitude acclimatization
The Naro Moru Route 
Overall altitude gain: 2,985 m. Distance: 38 km. Time: 3 days minimum. Start point: Naro Moru Gate. Finish point: Met Station. Highest point: Point Lenana.
The Sirimon-Chogoria Traverse 
Overall altitude gain: 2,335 m. Distance: 77 km. Time: 5 days minimum. Start point: Sirimon Gate. Finish point: Chogoria Town. Highest point: Point Lenana.

Which peaks can I reach? 
Anyone in reasonable health can attempt the steep trek to Point Lenana, which is the highest point for trekkers. However many people find themselves ill- prepared for the harshness of high altitude exertion and approximately 25% of those who attempt Point Lenana do not succeed.

Can I reach Batian and Nelion? 
Only if you are an experienced and well-equipped mountaineer. These climbs are rated Grade IV in difficulty, i.e. they are more testing than most of the routes up the Matterhorn.