Your Kenya Safari Trip begins with the excitement of leaving Nairobi behind and heading north toward the base of Mount Kenya. Early in the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, your driver-guide collects you for the four-hour journey to Nanyuki. The drive itself is an introduction to central Kenya’s diverse scenery. Rolling tea plantations stretch out in neat green rows, coffee farms cling to hillsides, and vibrant towns bustle with activity as locals head to markets. Along the way, you may catch glimpses of Mount Kenya’s snow-capped peaks in the distance, a tantalizing preview of the adventure that lies ahead.

By late morning, you arrive in Nanyuki, the lively frontier town that serves as the gateway to Mount Kenya. Here, you pause for a briefing with your guides, double-check equipment, and purchase any last-minute supplies. From Nanyuki, the road climbs steadily for another hour to Sirimon Gate (2,650m). At the park gate, you register with the Kenya Wildlife Service, meet your porters and cook, and begin the trek in earnest.

The first leg of the hike is a gradual ascent through rich montane forest. Towering cedars, podo trees, and African rosewoods dominate the landscape, their canopies alive with birdsong. Black-and-white colobus monkeys leap between branches, and with luck, you may spot bushbucks or buffalo in the undergrowth. The air is crisp, cooler than Nairobi, but invigorating. Every step on this first stretch is part of the acclimatization process, allowing your body to adjust to the higher altitude.

The trail winds upward for about 9 kilometers, a hike of three to four hours. As you climb, the forest gradually gives way to bamboo stands and eventually to open moorland. The scenery shifts dramatically—the dense greens of the forest are replaced by rolling hills dotted with giant heather and tussock grass. The views open wide, offering glimpses back toward the lowlands and forward to the towering peaks of Batian and Nelion.

By afternoon, you arrive at Old Moses Camp (3,300m), your base for the night. The camp offers basic mountain huts and a communal dining area where your cook prepares a hearty meal to replenish your energy. The altitude is noticeable, and you’re advised to move slowly, hydrate, and rest. As night falls, temperatures drop sharply, and the stars blaze in the sky with astonishing clarity. This first day of your Kenya Safari Trip combines scenic drives, cultural encounters, and the first taste of trekking through Kenya’s extraordinary mountain ecosystems.

Accommodation: Old Moses Camp

The second day of your Kenya Safari Trip begins with an early breakfast at Old Moses Camp. By now, you’re firmly in alpine territory, and the day’s trek is more challenging, covering about 14 kilometers and gaining nearly 900 meters of altitude. This is a full-day hike, typically taking six to seven hours, and it offers some of the most striking scenery of the entire Sirimon Route.

The trail leads you upward into the moorland zone, a landscape characterized by open valleys, dramatic ridges, and unique flora. Giant heather shrubs dot the hillsides, while lobelias and groundsels—plants adapted to the harsh alpine climate—stand like sentinels along the trail. These unusual species, found only in East Africa’s highlands, remind you that trekking Mount Kenya is as much a botanical safari as it is a mountain climb.

Your guides set a steady pace, encouraging “pole pole”—the Swahili phrase for “slowly, slowly”—to ensure proper acclimatization. Along the way, you cross streams fed by glacial meltwater and pause to enjoy panoramic views of the valleys below. Wildlife is still present at this altitude; you may spot rock hyraxes basking on boulders or hear the call of malachite sunbirds feeding on alpine flowers.

Midday, you stop for a picnic lunch in one of the valleys, surrounded by dramatic ridges and clear blue skies. After lunch, the ascent continues toward the Mackinder Valley, one of Mount Kenya’s most breathtaking landscapes. Here, the valley floor is carpeted with lobelias and giant groundsels, while the jagged peaks of Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana rise dramatically ahead. The sense of scale is overwhelming, and this stretch is often a highlight for photographers.

By afternoon, you reach Shipton’s Camp (4,200m), located at the head of the Mackinder Valley. The camp is more rugged and colder than Old Moses, but its setting beneath Mount Kenya’s highest peaks is spectacular. Dinner is served early to allow for rest, as tomorrow’s pre-dawn summit attempt requires energy and preparation. The altitude makes sleep challenging for some, but lying in bed with the jagged silhouettes of the peaks against the starry sky is part of the magic of a Kenya Safari Trip that ventures into high mountain terrain.Accommodation: Shipton’s Camp

The third day of your Kenya Safari Trip is the most challenging and rewarding: the summit attempt on Point Lenana, the trekking peak of Mount Kenya. Wake-up is at 2:30 a.m., with hot tea and a light snack served in the cold mountain darkness. Headlamps illuminate the trail as you begin the steady climb toward Point Lenana. The air is thin, and the path winds steeply upward over scree and rocky ridges. This is where determination and preparation come together, as every step takes you higher into the alpine zone.

The climb typically takes three to four hours. Just before dawn, you reach Point Lenana (4,985m), where the reward for your effort is an awe-inspiring sunrise. From this vantage point, you stand above the clouds, with the horizon glowing in shades of pink and gold. The jagged peaks of Batian and Nelion rise to one side, while far below, the African plains stretch endlessly. On a clear day, you can see as far as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This moment—standing at the summit of Mount Kenya’s trekking peak as the sun rises—is one of the most powerful highlights of any Kenya Safari Trip.

After celebrating at the summit and taking photos, you begin the descent toward Mintos Hut on the Chogoria side. The trail down is equally dramatic, winding past tarns, high ridges, and the breathtaking Gorges Valley. You stop to rest and enjoy breakfast at Shipton’s Camp before continuing the trek. The descent into Chogoria showcases a different face of Mount Kenya—lush valleys, sparkling alpine lakes, and cascading waterfalls that add beauty to every step.

By afternoon, you arrive at Mintos Hut (4,300m), perched on the edge of the spectacular Gorges Valley. From here, the views are jaw-dropping: sheer cliffs drop into the valley below, while Lake Michaelson shimmers in the distance. Dinner is served as you rest and reflect on the incredible achievement of the day. Between the summit experience and the dramatic descent, this is often remembered as the defining moment of a Kenya Safari Trip that includes Mount Kenya hiking.

Accommodation: Mintos Hut

The final day of your Kenya Safari Trip on Mount Kenya begins with breakfast at Mintos Hut, perched on the edge of the dramatic Gorges Valley. The morning light reveals one of the most spectacular panoramas on the entire mountain: jagged cliffs plunging deep into the valley, waterfalls cascading down sheer rock faces, and Lake Michaelson glistening below like a sapphire set in stone. It’s the kind of scenery that stays etched in memory long after the journey is over.

Today’s trek is a long but rewarding descent along the Chogoria Route, often considered the most beautiful way down Mount Kenya. Unlike the Sirimon ascent, which focused on gradual acclimatization and wide alpine valleys, Chogoria introduces trekkers to rolling moorlands, tarns, and lush forests that provide a colorful conclusion to the adventure. As you begin walking, the trail takes you along ridges with sweeping views of the valley, where unique alpine plants such as giant lobelias and groundsels thrive in the cool mountain air.

The descent gradually lowers you into the bamboo and montane forest zones. Here, the scenery changes dramatically once again. Towering bamboo thickets sway in the wind, and you may encounter wildlife such as bushbucks, monkeys, or even buffalo. Birdsong echoes through the canopy, reminding you that this mountain is not only a geological marvel but also a living ecosystem filled with life. The contrast between the barren alpine desert of Point Lenana and the vibrant greenery of the lower slopes underscores the diversity of Mount Kenya’s habitats—a reminder of why including this climb in a Kenya Safari Trip is such a rewarding choice.

By midday, you arrive at Chogoria Gate, where vehicles are waiting to transfer you to Chogoria town. Here, you bid farewell to the porters, guides, and cooks who have supported you throughout the trek. Their expertise and dedication are what made it possible to enjoy the mountain safely and comfortably. After a well-deserved lunch, you continue by road back to Nairobi, a drive of about four to five hours.

Arriving in Nairobi by evening, you’re dropped at your hotel or directly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport if you have a flight scheduled. As the city lights appear on the horizon, you reflect on the four unforgettable days spent trekking Mount Kenya: the gradual climb through forests and moorlands, the magical summit sunrise over Point Lenana, the descent past tarns and valleys, and the sense of achievement that comes from completing such an adventure.

Though shorter than a traditional safari, this hiking itinerary is a powerful addition to a Kenya Safari Trip. It allows you to experience not just Kenya’s wildlife but also its mountains, forests, and alpine landscapes, offering a perspective of the country that few visitors see. Whether combined with a visit to the Maasai Mara or Amboseli, or enjoyed as a stand-alone journey, this trek provides a unique balance of physical challenge, natural wonder, and unforgettable moments.