Kenya, Tanzania · Trekking

5-Day Mount Kenya Trek via Sirimon and Naromoru to Point Lenana

5 Days Round trip from Nairobi Hard pace

Admire the sunrise at the top of Mount Kenya

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Traverse Mount Kenya by ascending the Sirimon route and descending via Naromoru
02 Hike through equatorial forest and moorland with views of the main peaks
03 Summit Point Lenana, the third-highest peak on Mount Kenya
04 See Batian and Nelion from Shipton's Camp in Mackinder's Valley

Traverse Mount Kenya on a camping trek that ascends via the Sirimon Track and descends through the Naromoru route. This route offers some of the best views of the main peaks, with a gradual ascent that can be done at a leisurely pace. Hike through equatorial forest, moorland, and high mountain valleys before making your summit bid to Point Lenana. Reach the peaks of glory in just 5 days on this rewarding Mount Kenya adventure.

A pre-dawn start at 04:00 am is made to ensure a successful summit bid and to reach the top in time for clear views of the majestic scenery after sunrise.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Nairobi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Naro Moru

Languages Afrikaans, English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Nairobi to Judmaier Camp via Sirimon Park Gate

Depart Nairobi after breakfast at 08:00 am and drive to the Mount Kenya region, a journey of about 3 hours.
Arrive at the Naromoru office by 10:00 am to sort out your personal equipment for the mountain trek.
Then drive to the Sirimon Park Gate to sign up and begin a 3-hour hike through the equatorial forest to the camp for your overnight stay at 3,300 m.
Packed lunch is served en route.
Enjoy an easy trek in the afternoon to help with acclimatization.

Overnight at Judmaier Camp (3,300 m) in high-altitude mountain tents.

Accommodation facility: High-altitude tents - camping

Trekking time: 3 hours

Distance: 9 km

Rating: Medium

Altitude gained: 400 m

Day 02

Judmaier Camp to Likii North Camp

After breakfast, hike up along the Sirimon Track to Likii North Valley through the moorland. The camp is set between two beautiful little valleys below the subsidiary peaks of Teleki and Sendeyo, two ancient parasitic vents of the main peaks.
Lunch will be served at the lunch point.

Overnight in high-altitude tents on a full-board basis.

Accommodation facility: High-altitude tents - camping

Trekking time: 5 hours

Distance: 7 km

Rating: Medium

Altitude gained: 600 m

Day 03

Likii North Camp to Shipton's Camp

After breakfast, trek out of the North Valley and into Mackinder's Valley, one of the broadest valleys on the mountain, with many giant groundsels. The camp is set at the head of Mackinder's Valley, just below the main peaks of Batian and Nelion.

Overnight at Shipton's Camp in high-altitude tents on a full-board basis.

Accommodation facility: High-altitude tents - camping

Trekking time: 5 hours

Distance: 7 km

Rating: Medium

Altitude gained: 300 m

Day 04

Shipton's Camp to Point Lenana and Met Station

A pre-dawn start at 04:00 am is made to ensure a successful summit bid and to reach the top in time for clear views of the majestic scenery after sunrise.
With the help of the guide, ascend Point Lenana (4,985 m), the third-highest peak, in about 4-5 hours.
At the peak, on a clear day, you may be able to see Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Spend a few minutes celebrating and taking photos before descending via Austrian Hut to Teleki Lodge for breakfast and a rest.
In the afternoon, continue hiking down for 5 hours through the moorland to Met Station, arriving in the late afternoon.
Packed lunch will be served en route to the camp.

Arrive at the camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation facility: High-altitude tents - camping

Trekking time: 14 hours (with breaks)

Distance: 17 km

Rating: High

Altitude gained: 700 m

Day 05

Met Station to Nairobi via Naromoru Park Gate

After breakfast, depart from Met Station camp and hike through the forest to Naromoru Park Gate, where your vehicle will be waiting, then transfer to the Naromoru office.
Proceed to Nairobi.

End of tour.

Trekking time: 3 hours

Distance: 9 km

Rating: Medium

Where this trip takes you

Sirimon Track equatorial forest and moorland, Mackinder's Valley below Batian and Nelion, Point Lenana summit

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Nairobi 4 cities · 5 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Pick-up from your Nairobi hotel or the airport
Park entry fees
Camping fees
Full board on the mountain (3 meals per day - lunch, dinner, and breakfast)
Professional English-speaking Mount Kenya guide, cook, and porters
Accommodation in high-altitude mountain tents
Drop-off back in Nairobi after the trek

What's Not Included

All personal trekking gear - gear is available for hire from our store. Book in advance for reservation.
Accommodation in a hotel or lodge before and after the trek
Drinks
Tips and extras while on safari

What to bring

For the head and face:
- Wool hat: Bring one that covers the ears; a balaclava type is excellent.
- Shade hat: Visor hats with good brims are essential for protection from the equatorial sun.
- Sunglasses: Essential for eye protection in the tropics and at altitude.
- Sunscreen: Bring plenty of complete sunblock.
- Lip balm: Your favourite.
For the upper body:
- Upper body layers: For climbing the mountain, we recommend three warm layers. Items must be made of wool, synthetic, or pile. Make sure all layers fit comfortably over each other and provide good insulation.
- Down jacket or a heavy wool jacket.
- Fleece jacket or warm wool sweater.
- T-shirts - 3 pcs. Synthetic is best.
- Gloves: Wool or pile. One pair of heavy mittens and a light pair of gloves work well.
- Rain parka: Afternoon showers are common in East Africa, especially on the mountain. Bring a good rain parka made of waterproof nylon that has been seam sealed.
Lower body:
- Quick-dry hiking shorts: 1 pair. Good for hiking at lower elevations on the mountain.
- Long underwear bottoms: One pair. Wool or synthetic.
- Wool, bunting, or pile pants: One pair that fits loosely and is comfortable.
- Rain trousers: Bring a good pair of rain pants made of waterproof nylon that has been seam sealed.
- Tights: Lycra or polypropylene type are comfortable to hike in and provide good warmth.
- Undergarments: Enough for the duration of the trek.
For the feet:
- Thin socks: Two pairs of synthetic socks to wear under heavy wool socks. These help prevent blisters and keep feet dry.
- Thick socks: 3 pairs of heavy wool or synthetic socks to wear with hiking boots for warmth.
- Hiking boots: One pair of medium-weight hiking boots, large enough to be comfortable with one liner sock and one heavy wool or synthetic sock.
- Tennis shoes or sandals: To wear in camp after a day of hiking.
For sleeping:
- Sleeping bag: On the mountain, temperatures can get down to zero degrees Fahrenheit at night, so bring a warm bag.
For drinking:
- Water bottle: One wide-mouthed plastic bottle of at least 2 litres.
For carrying your gear:
- Rucksack (60 ltrs): A comfortable pack with some support is adequate for porters to carry your personal gear.
- Day pack: A small day pack for your personal loads, including camera gear, water for the day, rain jacket, and personal effects.
- Store bag for the clothes to be left at the hotel. This will meet you at the hotel after the climb.
- Plastic bags: Several, to double-bag your sleeping bag and clothes on the mountain. It can rain every afternoon.
For personal health and comfort:
- Toiletries: Bring enough for the entire trip. Keep it simple and light, but bring enough for all your needs.
- Walking sticks: Optional, but helpful for balance on steep terrain.
- Headlamp or head lamp: Important on summit day and handy in camp. Bring plenty of batteries.
- Personal first aid and drug kit.
- Trail munchies: Although plenty of snack food is provided.
- Hot drink mixes: We will provide plenty of coffee, cocoa, and tea, but non-caffeinated drinks are not readily available here. Bring a supply of your favourite herbal teas.
- Towel: For washing up in camp; a small one is fine, or you can use a bandana.
- Towelettes: Such as "Wash 'n' Dries" for general hygiene.
- Spare glasses: For contact lens wearers in dusty conditions and for any eyeglass wearer while on vacation.
- Umbrella: Very useful against rain and sun. Most guides use one.