Mount Kenya National Park : Mount Kenya has influenced the customs of the people who live near it. The Kikuyu tribe, which lives on the mountain’s southern and western flanks, regards Mount Kenya as the sacred throne of their god, Ngai. The Kikuyu used to build their homes with doorways facing the sacred mountain.
AT A GLANCE
Mount Kenya National Park, located in central Kenya, is dominated by Mount Kenya (5,199m), Africa’s second-tallest summit after Mount Kilimanjaro. The Park is home to a unique afro-alpine ecology and acts as an important drainage basin that supplies Kenya with water.
The Kenyan government established a national park around Mount Kenya in 1978 to encourage tourism and safeguard the country’s ecology. In 1997, both the park and the forest reserve were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Park spans 715 km2 and includes a variety of environments such as alpine rivers, woodlands, and mountain slopes.
MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK SAFARI IDEA
Mount Kenya National Park is located 175 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, and most itineraries begin in Nairobi. The park contains some of Kenya’s most breathtaking landscape, and a Mount Kenya trip is a 4-5-day stand-alone excursion for trekkers.
Or, as part of a larger Kenyan trip, you might visit Mount Kenya’s slopes for a single day. As part of a 1-2-week tour, some visitors combine the park with Lake Nakuru National Park and the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
WILDLIFE AT MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK
The alpine woods of Mount Kenya National Park are home to a plethora of wildlife. The woodlands support larger creatures such as elephants, Cape buffaloes, and leopards as well as lesser mammals like many antelope species. The forests are also home to black-and-white colobus monkeys.
The Mount Kenya hyrax, a small herbivorous mammal, and the common duiker, a small antelope, have evolved to exist at high altitudes on Mount Kenya. Almost 130 bird species live in the area, including sunbirds, starlings, and bearded vultures.
GETTING THERE
The Park is 175 kilometers from Nairobi through one of three major routes to the summit. Alternatively, you can fly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Nanyuki Airfield, which is just outside the Park.
The aircraft takes 35 minutes and significantly shortens the travel time; however, most travelers choose to hire a car. We will take care of your transportation if you book with us.
TREKKING AT MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK
Mount Kenya has three summits of varying difficulty, but most people climb the smallest, Point Lenana (4,985m), because it can be reached without long climbing. Only experienced climbers equipped with advanced climbing equipment can reach the summits of Batian (5,199m) and Nelion (5,188m).
The Naro Moru trail is the main trekking route to Point Lenana, and the ascent takes three days. The path starts in Naro Moru town on Mount Kenya’s western slope and continues to Mackinder’s Camp before joining the Peak Circuit Trail, a difficult 10km hike around Batian and Nelion.
The Kenya Wildlife Agency recommends that your ascent last at least three nights to allow for acclimatization. The dry seasons, from June to October and January to March, are ideal for climbing Mount Kenya. The trails might get slick during the wet seasons, so plan to avoid them.
ACCOMMODATION AT MOUNT KENYA NATIONAL PARK
Serena Mountain Lodge: Serena Mountain Lodge is located at 2,194 meters in Mount Kenya’s alpine woodland. This timbered lodge is built to provide sweeping views of the canopy, as well as the resort’s own water hole and a saltlick that attracts elephants and buffalo herds.
You can select between 41 log cabin-style accommodations, each with a private balcony and spectacular views of the waterhole. The dining room is located in the canopy and offers a buffet with a variety of local and international dishes.
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club: The Fairmont Nanyuki is an upmarket resort with 110 magnificent accommodations on the slopes of Mount Kenya. William Holden, a 1950s Hollywood actor, founded the resort, and the main building has 1950s colonial architecture.
Fairmont provides excellent amenities, such as a 9-hole golf course and the Riuki Spa & Wellness Centre, which includes three treatment rooms, a spa, a steam room, and a sauna. Nature walks, fishing, and horseback riding are also available at the resort.
