Itinerary

1. Day 1 : Nairobi to Shamata Gate & Ascent to Karuru Falls

   • Morning: Depart Nairobi early for the scenic drive north through the Central Highlands to the Aberdare National Park's Shamata Gate. Complete park formalities and meet your guide and porters. Feel the temperature drop and the air freshen as you enter the cool, misty montane realm.
   • Afternoon: Begin your trek, ascending through dense bamboo and podocarpus forest. Your destination is the thunderous Karuru Falls - Kenya's highest waterfall. Your fly camp is pitched on a sheltered plateau with the falls' roar as your soundtrack, a powerful introduction to the wilderness.
   • Evening: Enjoy a well-earned hot meal as mist swirls through the camp. Drift asleep to the sounds of the forest and falling water, recharging for the challenging days ahead.

2. Day 2 : Karuru to the Peaks – Satima Summit & Lake Gura

   • Morning: Wake amidst the clouds. After a hearty breakfast, break camp and trek along the Aberdare's dramatic eastern escarpment. Pass the powerful Gura Falls before ascending onto the open, rolling moorlands dotted with giant heather and lobelias.
   • Afternoon: The trail steepens as you approach the summit of Oldoinyo Lesatima (Satima Peak, 4,001m). The 360-degree view from the top—over the moorlands, the Rift Valley, and Mount Kenya—is your monumental reward. Descend to the serene shores of Lake Gura to make camp.
   • Evening: Experience the profound silence and alpine chill of the high moorlands. Share stories around the campfire under a spectacular blanket of stars, feeling on top of the world.

3. Day 3 : Traversing the Ridge to Elephant Hill

   • Morning: Break camp with the sunrise, traversing the rugged, undulating ridge southwards. This is wilderness trekking at its purest, with vast skies and the ever-present chance of spotting buffalo or antelope in the valleys below.
   • Afternoon: Reach the base of your second major climb: Elephant Hill (Kinangop Peak). This iconic, rocky summit offers a thrilling non-technical scramble. Your efforts are rewarded with panoramic views back towards Satima and south over the Kinangop Plateau. Descend to a sheltered col to set up your final fly camp.
   • Evening: Your last night high in the Aberdares. Celebrate your summit successes with a special camp dinner, reflecting on the raw beauty and personal endurance of the journey.

4. Day 4 : Descent through History to Elephant Hill Gate & Return to Nairobi

   • Morning: Wake up on the slopes of Elephant Hill for a final alpine breakfast. Break camp and begin your long, beautiful descent through changing ecological zones—from heathland to dense rainforest.
   • Afternoon: Pass the historical Queen's Cave, where history was made in 1952. The final stretch winds through lush, bird-filled forest before you emerge at the Elephant Hill Gate (Njabini). Bid farewell to your crew.
   • Evening: Transfer back to Nairobi, arriving in the early evening with the deep satisfaction of having traversed one of Kenya's most magnificent mountain ranges. You will be dropped off at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), carrying the indelible memory of mountain silence and vast, open skies.