Access:
Naro Moru Route: Tarmac roads in 170km from Nairobi. The park gate at 2400m is 17km from Naro Moru along a good dirt road. Several buses and matatu services Nairobi-Naro Moru. From here matatus only go part way to the gate; a ride on passing vehicles can be tried. From the gate it is occasionally possible to get a lift to the 3050m roadhead. See also the Naro Moru River Lodge vehicle service mentioned above.
Sirimon Route: Tarmac roads to Nanyuki, 190km from Nairobi. Continue 15km north on tarmac and at a signpost turn right onto a dirt road up to the Sirimon Gate (2700m) in 10km. Buses and matatus ply tarmac road; from the turning to the Sirimon Gate, failing a lift, one must walk.
Chogoria Route: Tarmac roads to Chogoria, 180km from Nairobi, then a dirt road for 9km to the forestry gate, and in a further 22km the park gate and Meru Mt Kenya Lodge bandas are reached at 2900m. Good bus and matatu services to Chogoria. From here a lot of luck would be needed to get a lift to the park gate. It is possible to book a 4WD vehicle to take you from the Chief's Camp to the gate; the booking should be made through The Manager, Meru Mt Kenya Lodge, PO Box 365, Chogoria; it is also possible to obtain a vehicle at short notice through the porters and guides offices by Chogoria Hospital (for prices, see above).
Other Routes: Bantu Lodge is the best base. The lodge lies one km off the main tarmac road and 5km north of Naro Moru town. It is important to check on the status of these routes beforehand.
APPROACHES
Naro Moru Route. To south side of Mt Kenya, well marked throughout. The Vertical Bog is often the rather unpleasant, muddy crux of the walk. From the park gate (2400m) the track rises through splendid forest for 9km to the Meteorological Station (3050m) and roadhead for private cars (2h30-3h on foot). Radio contact with gate, possible to store equipment with a caretaker. Beyond barrier continue up track to top of forest. Now ascend the Vertical Bog (marker posts) till a drier ridge leads to a vantage point commanding the Teleki Valley (4000m). No water on this section (4h).
Either take the low level trail, soon crossing the Naro Moru stream (possible campsite); or the high trail, more scenic but swampy in wet weather. Continue up the valley till a path ascends from the floor to a hidden flat area on the left where Mackinder's Camp (4200m) is located. The scenic route crosses the stream to meet the path leading off left to Mackinder's Camp. A short way up the valley, on the left, is the Ranger Post with a radio mast beside it. Numerous pleasant campsites along the stream (1h30); nights here are very cold. Walking in the early morning is pleasant as the boggy areas are frozen.
Now ways diverge. Hut Tarn (4490m) can be reached by following a steep trail diagonally up and north from the Ranger Post. The hut is small with good campsites nearby (2h). For Top Hut (4790m) take the main path from the Ranger Post, traverse northwest side of the valley and cross the Naro Moru stream to the right side. The trail goes up long screes and zigzags to finish on a ridge before reaching the hut; spacious but bleak interior (3h).
Again, from Ranger Post, instead of crossing the stream, a gently rising path just left of a low, bouldery moraine ridge, follows left side of the valley to the highest flat, grassy area - American Camp (4320m, 1h). Above this screes rise to a terminal moraine below the snout of the Tyndall Glacier (possible bleak campsite at Tyndall Tarn). Scree and easy rocks on the right lead to a flat bouldery area at 4600m between the Darwin Glacier and Pt John; so reach base of this glacier (1h from American Camp). Just south of tiny ponds a good shelter can be found under a boulder. From here the foot of the Normal Route on Mt Kenya or Top Hut could be reached by scrambling over the col (4649m) between Midget Peak and Pt John, traversing below the sheer walls of Pt John, then crossing scree on northwest side of the Lewis Glacier (cairned) - either crossing glacier to Hut, or rising to foot of the Normal Route.
Sirimon Route. To north side of Mt Kenya. Here is some of the best forest walking in the park; a long hike crossing a high ridge while the Mackinder Valley can be boggy in wet periods. From the park gate a track winds up to roadhead at 3350m in the moorland; bunkhouse, campsite and water. Saloon cars can get most of the way, and 4WD vehicles all the way, unless the track is very wet (4h). Then follow the gradually deteriorating track till a horizontal traverse right is made; cross a small stream, gain a ridge top and descend into the Liki North Valley. One km up the valley, on the west side, is the Liki North Hut (3940m), a small, often dirty building with pleasant campsites nearby (3h30). Shortly before the hut a path rises diagonally west over the hillside to cross a ridge at 4180m, then drops southwest into the Mackinder Valley. After one km it crosses the stream and passes right of a band of rocks. Near the left end of these is located a poor shelter, Shipton's Cave (4050m), with good campsites before and after it. Shortly beyond the cave is a bunkhouse (2h45).
The route divides. One way goes south, rising high above the valley floor to reach the Kami Huts and their Tarn (4439m); campsites nearby (1h45). By following the main stream southeast, Simba Col (4620m) is attained. From here it is possible to reach Top Hut by a long traverse round the east and south faces of Lenana, or to descend to Minto's Hut and the Chogoria Route. Going south from the bunkhouse a cairned trail leads up a gully to a flat area, then up steep screes to the base of the north ridge of Lenana.
Chogoria Route. To east side of Mt Kenya. The most spectacular approach to the main peaks, with beautiful views into the Gorges Valley. From the forest gate at 1700m follow good track for 22km in the forest to the park gate at 2900m (9h). Halfway up the track pass a big clearing on the right which provides a possible campsite; water available one km north in a valley in the forest; difficult access.
Now by a vehicle track towards the Kinithi River and after a few hundred m take a turn off left onto a grassy trail. Go down and cross the stream. Then the Urumandi Hut (3063m) is reached in about 30min (1h). Access to water on south side of the stream and some 30m east of the natural bridge. Cross the natural bridge below the hut and follow a path upstream to reach the track-head and a small campsite by the Nithi North stream at 3300m. Fine waterfall 100m below campsite (1h). It is possible to walk directly to the roadhead by taking the main vehicle path (R fork) to the Kinithi River. Cross this and follow the main trail to reach the roadhead in 2h from the park gate.
Cross the stream and gain a ridge. Follow the well-marked path to Minto's Hut (4270m), beside Hall Tarn (campsite) in a magnificent situation. No water on this section (5h). The path continues up the valley and finally climbs steeply on scree to Simba Tarn, just below Simba Col (1h30). This is a good start point for the north ridge of Lenana.
Various ways to continue. From Simba Col a traverse west leads in just over lh to Kami Hut. Initially keep high, then drop down a moraine ridge and lastly take a well-cairned traverse over scree and boulders to hut. From Simba Tarn a traverse south over a col, then E, leads in 2h to Top Hut. By going straight down northwest from Simba Col the Sirimon route is reached.
Other approaches. Several unspoiled routes exist. As they are ill-defined it is important to obtain more information and possibly a guide and porters.
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Kenya Safari