DESTINATION GUIDE // KENYA
Mount Kenya National Park
Africa second highest peak, with glaciers on the equator and a trek that most walkers can finish.
5,199m
BATIAN PEAK
4,985m
POINT LENANA
4-5 days
TREK LENGTH
1997
UNESCO SITE
175 km
FROM NAIROBI
Quick answer: Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa at 5,199 metres. The summit peaks of Batian and Nelion require technical climbing, but Point Lenana at 4,985 metres is a walkers summit reachable in four to five days. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Mount Kenya National Park At A Glance
Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano sitting almost exactly on the equator, and it still carries glaciers. Most trekkers aim for Point Lenana, which needs no ropes or technical skill, only fitness and time to acclimatise. The routes pass through farmland, bamboo forest, heath and finally alpine desert and the vertical ascent through those zones in a few days is the appeal.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Central Kenya, straddling the equator |
| Distance from Nairobi | Approximately 175 km, 3 to 4 hours by road |
| Summit | Batian 5,199 m; Point Lenana 4,985 m for trekkers |
| Main routes | Sirimon, Chogoria, Naro Moru |
| Typical trek | 4 to 5 days to Point Lenana |
| Established | 1949, UNESCO World Heritage Site 1997 |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Point Lenana Trek
The trekking summit. No technical skill needed, but altitude is real and the Chogoria route in particular is worth the extra day for the scenery.
Equatorial Glaciers
Shrinking but still present. Standing on ice within a few kilometres of the equator is the mountain’s signature moment.
Forest Wildlife
The lower slopes hold elephant, buffalo, colobus monkey and the occasional leopard, seen on the drive in and the first day of walking.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jan to Feb | Driest and clearest, best summit conditions | High |
| Jun to Oct | Dry season, cold but reliable | High |
| Mar to May | Long rains, wet and slippery, not advised | Low |
| Nov | Short rains, mixed conditions | Low |
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