Kenya · Trekking

5-Day Mount Kenya Trek via Sirimon Route to Point Lenana

5 Days Round trip from Nairobi Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Wake up early for a thrilling ascent to Point Lenana, the third-highest peak of Mount Kenya at 4,985 meters above sea level
02 Trek through diverse landscapes, from tropical rainforest and bamboo belt to open moorland and alpine zones
03 Hike through Mackinder's Valley to reach Shipton's Camp at 4,300 meters above sea level
04 Take in sunrise views from Point Lenana, with Kilimanjaro visible on a clear day
05 Climb Mount Kenya via the Sirimon route and descend through the Naromoru side

The Sirimon route offers some of the finest walking on Mount Kenya, climbing from the mountain's drier side near Nanyuki Town through lush green forests, U-shaped valleys, and a wide ridge approach to the summit area. Over five days, this trek takes you from Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Camp, through Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp, and up to Point Lenana for sunrise before descending via the Naromoru route. Along the way, you pass through tropical rainforest, bamboo belt, open moorland, and alpine terrain. This side of the mountain also has good access and some of the best bunkhouse facilities.

Wake up at 2:00 am for some hot snacks before ascending to our main target, Point Lenana at 4,985 m above sea level, in time for sunrise.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Nanyuki, Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Naro Moru

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Nairobi to Nanyuki and Old Moses Camp

Assemble in Nairobi CBD for departure at 7:00 am. We will drive to Nanyuki, where we will meet our mountain crew. After a stop to check supplies, proceed to Sirimon Gate at 2,600 m to register and pay park fees. Picnic lunch will be served here. We shall then hike 9 km through the tropical rainforest, bamboo belt, and Hagenia rosewood to the open moorland, reaching Old Moses Camp at 3,300 m above sea level.
Dinner and accommodation in the bunkhouse.

Day 02

Old Moses Camp to Shipton's Camp via Mackinder's Valley

After breakfast, we hike 13 km through Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp at 4,300 m above sea level. This hike, through rivers and ridges, takes roughly 6-7 hours. We pass the new meteorological station for eastern Africa, and on a clear day, the main peaks can be seen clearly. Lunch is served en route.
Dinner and overnight in the bunkhouse.

Day 03

Point Lenana Sunrise and Descent to Mackinder's Camp

Wake up at 2:00 am for some hot snacks before ascending to our main target, Point Lenana at 4,985 m above sea level, in time for sunrise. On a clear day, Kilimanjaro, 320 km away, can be sighted. The panoramic view is unforgettable, and our cameras will record it. We then descend to Austrian Hut (Top Hut) at 4,750 m above sea level, and continue further down to Teleki Valley and Mackinder's Camp at 3,300 m above sea level through American and Rangers camps. A hot brunch awaits you at the camp. Here, you can walk around the camp or relax to recover from fatigue and lost sleeping hours.
Dinner and overnight in the bunkhouse.

Day 04

Mackinder's Camp to Met Station Camp

After breakfast, we descend through the alpine moorland to the bamboo zone, where our camp, Met Station, is located. It takes 4-5 hours. A hot lunch is served at the camp. Sykes monkeys are among the wild animals that are spotted here with ease.
Dinner and overnight.

Day 05

Met Station to Nairobi

After breakfast, descend through the rainforest to Naromoru Park Gate headquarters. We will sign out and bid the crew farewell before travelling back to Nairobi. The expected time of arrival is 4:30 pm.