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Five days on Mount Kenya’s Sirimon–Naro Moru circuit takes you from mossy forest to high alpine ridges and a pre-dawn summit at Point Lenana. This guide outlines the route, daily camps, terrain, and practical tips for a successful ascent.
Five days on Mount Kenya’s Sirimon–Naro Moru circuit takes you from mossy forest to high alpine ridges and a pre-dawn summit at Point Lenana. This guide outlines the route, daily camps, terrain, and practical tips for a successful ascent.
A thin moon hangs over the Sirimon gate as your minibus eases out of Nanyuki and the road folds into the mountain. By midday the trail has slipped into old-growth forest — trunks dark with lichen, streams that seem to dare you to cross — and you gain Old Moses Camp at 3,300 m as light thins. Over five days the route moves from forested lower slopes to a high, stony world where giant lobelia and spiky heather pressure the path, and the final push up frozen scree to Point Lenana makes the mountain feel deliberately testing.
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Operated by Africa Tours · Nanyuki, Laikipia County
A thin moon hangs over the Sirimon gate as your minibus eases out of Nanyuki and the road folds into the mountain. By midday the trail has slipped into old-growth forest — trunks dark with lichen, streams that seem to dare you to cross — and you gain Old Moses Camp at 3,300 m as light thins. Over five days the route moves from forested lower slopes to a high, stony world where giant lobelia and spiky heather pressure the path, and the final push up frozen scree to Point Lenana makes the mountain feel deliberately testing.
Geologically Mount Kenya is the eroded core of an extinct stratovolcano; its jagged peaks are the weathered remains of a once-massive cone. The massif is culturally significant to the Kikuyu and Meru peoples and today sits within Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protecting unique afro-alpine ecosystems.
Practically: this itinerary is five days with summit at 4,985 m (Point Lenana). Typical campsite progression: Sirimon gate → Old Moses (3,300 m) → Liki North hut (3,993 m) → Shipton’s/Mackinders (4,250 m) → summit and descent to Met Station, exiting via Naro Moru. Expect 3–6 hour approach days and a pre-dawn 3:00 a.m. summit push taking ~3 hours up over rocky, often icy scree. Guides and park permits are standard; carry layered clothing for 20–40 °C swing from day to pre-dawn cold, extra water and slow ascent pace for acclimatization. Good boots, a warm sleeping bag, poles and respect for rapid weather shifts will make the difference between memorable and miserable on Kenya’s high slopes.
Yes — Mount Kenya National Park requires permits and using a licensed guide is strongly recommended for navigation, safety and permit processing.
The summit push to Point Lenana is a steep, rocky 3-hour ascent from camp starting pre-dawn; expect cold, loose scree and reduced oxygen at ~4,900 m.
January–March and July–September generally offer drier, more stable weather; however conditions can change quickly year-round.
Altitude sickness can occur—prevent by hydrating, sleeping low, avoiding alcohol, ascending slowly, and recognizing symptoms early; guides can arrange descent if needed.
Africa Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A thin moon hangs over the Sirimon gate as your minibus eases out of Nanyuki and the road folds into the mountain. By midday the trail has slipped into old-growth forest — trunks dark with lichen, streams that seem to dare you to cross — and you gain Old Moses Camp at 3,300 m as light thins. Over five days the route moves from forested lower slopes to a high, stony world where giant lobelia and spiky heather pressure the path, and the final push up frozen scree to Point Lenana makes the mountain feel deliberately testing.
A thin moon hangs over the Sirimon gate as your minibus eases out of Nanyuki and the road folds into the mountain. By midday the trail has slipped into old-growth forest — trunks dark with lichen, streams that seem to dare you to cross — and you gain Old Moses Camp at 3,300 m as light thins. Over five days the route moves from forested lower slopes to a high, stony world where giant lobelia and spiky heather pressure the path, and the final push up frozen scree to Point Lenana makes the mountain feel deliberately testing.
Geologically Mount Kenya is the eroded core of an extinct stratovolcano; its jagged peaks are the weathered remains of a once-massive cone. The massif is culturally significant to the Kikuyu and Meru peoples and today sits within Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protecting unique afro-alpine ecosystems.
Practically: this itinerary is five days with summit at 4,985 m (Point Lenana). Typical campsite progression: Sirimon gate → Old Moses (3,300 m) → Liki North hut (3,993 m) → Shipton’s/Mackinders (4,250 m) → summit and descent to Met Station, exiting via Naro Moru. Expect 3–6 hour approach days and a pre-dawn 3:00 a.m. summit push taking ~3 hours up over rocky, often icy scree. Guides and park permits are standard; carry layered clothing for 20–40 °C swing from day to pre-dawn cold, extra water and slow ascent pace for acclimatization. Good boots, a warm sleeping bag, poles and respect for rapid weather shifts will make the difference between memorable and miserable on Kenya’s high slopes.