Mt. Kenya, Burguret to Chogoria traverse

Same itinerary is adjustable to 5 or 7 days

Duration: 7 days

A green route up to the peaks that is little known to Mt. Kenya trekkersThis is the one route we take great pride in, having put it back to use ourselves after more than 30 years of disuse and neglect. The route was pioneered during colonial days and then abandoned for many years until it was re-opened by our guides in the early 90s. It provides a unique and completely natural mountain trekking experience. Up to Point Lenana then descent on the Chogoria route provides the most spectacular views and completes a traverse of the mountain.

Going up this route is quite challenging: rough underfoot going through bushy track more used by wild animals than humans, muddy when wet, no accommodation huts and with dense stands of giant bamboo and montane forest. So why are we so passionate about it? Well, it's for those who want a different experience away from the crowd and help releave pressure on the over utilised Naro-Moru and Sirimon routes.   

Day 1: MOUNTAIN ROCK LODGE - 1950m

AM. Transfer to Mountain Rock lodge Approx. 200kms /3.5hrs. PM.  Acclimatisation nature hike. approx. 12kms /3hrs.

D1 details: Depart after breakfast and journey north past agricultural lands and landscapes to the slopes of Mount Kenya. After lunch at the base lodge you take part in some easy walks around this predominantly Kikuyu area, exploring local farms and villages and perhaps local schools. We can gain a privileged insight into the lives of the people who live on the slopes of Mt Kenya and know what our visit is contributing towards their local economy. Meals and overnight at the lodge. .

Day 2: GIANT BAMBOO CAMP – 2,600m.AM. transfer to Gathiuru Forest. Approx. 15kms / 1hP.M Trek to Giant Bamboo camp. Approx.10kms / 4hrs.Ascent: +740m.

D2 Details: Short drive to Gathiuru forest station via the renowned Mau Mau caves and a 4 hour ascent through dense strands of towering bamboo to our own Giant Bamboo camp. Elephant and buffalo are common here. 

Day 3: HIGHLAND CASTLE – 3,700mTrek to Highland Castle. Approx.10kms / 5-6h. Ascent: +1,100m. 

D3 Details: The luxuriant bamboo yields to enormous podocarpus and pencil cedar forest before we climb to the hagenia rosewood zone at the edge of the moorlands. This marks our lunch spot before heading up through the extraordinary giant lobelia and groundsels. We spend the night close to the sheer lava cliffs of the "Highland Castle".

Day 4: SHIPTON'S CAMP – 4,236m.Trek via Hausberg col (4,600m) to Shipton's Camp. Approx.10kms / 5-6h). Ascent: +900m.

D4 Details: Spectacular scenery as the jagged volcanic peaks and shimmering glaciers tower above our trek around the summit circuit. Turquoise tarns nestle in the valleys, eagles and buzzards soar overhead - it's difficult to believe we're on the equator! We might, for the first time, meet other trekkers here as we hike for 5-6 hours to overnight at Shipton's Hut at 4,236m. 

DAY 5: NITHI CAMP - 3,300m.Trek via Pt. Lenana (4,985m) to Nithi Camp . Approx. 17kms / 10hrs Ascent: 749m to the summit / Descent: -1,685m to Nithi Camp. 

D5 Details: After the rest day comes the highlight of the Mount Kenya trek: the stiff, but exhilarating, scramble by starlight up to Point Lenana, the "trekkers' summit", in time to see the African dawn from a vantage point of nearly 5,000m. We leave at 4am and climb the 800m to the peak in 3-4 hours. A further 3 hours down to a late breakfast by Hall Tarns in the magnificent Gorges Valley. Then in the afternoon another 3 hours down past spectacular chasms, waterfalls and weirdly eroded lava flows to camp by the track-head in the giant heather zone. 

DAY 6: MERU BANDAS – 3300mTrek to Meru Bandas (3,000m). Approx. 7Kms / 2-3h.  Descent: -300m. 

D6 Details: Short descent through the forest zone to the mountain cabins and afternoon relaxing. Log fires, hot showers, Tusker beers, and beds for overnight. Wildlife viewing in evening - often from your cabin window as the elephant and buffalo graze outside!

DAY 7: NAIROBI  - 1650m.

AM. Hike to Pick up point (2600m). Approx.10kms / 2hrs Descent: 400m.  

P.M. Pick up point – Nairobi by car. Approx. 230kms / 4-5hrs).

D7 Details: Descent on a broad track for about 10 kms through bamboo and virgin rain forest to meet vehicles for the return to Nairobi - usually arriving mid to late afternoon.