Africa’s second-highest mountain is also one of its finest treks — and far quieter than Kilimanjaro. Mount Kenya’s jagged, glacier-carved peaks rise from equatorial forest, and the standard trekking goal, Point Lenana at 4,985 metres, is a genuine high-altitude summit reached on foot with no technical climbing. The true high points, Batian (5,199m) and Nelion, need rock-climbing skills; Lenana needs fitness, acclimatization, and a good pair of boots.
Choosing your route
Three routes serve the trekking summit. Sirimon, approaching from the northwest, is the most gradual — widely considered the best acclimatization profile and the most popular choice. Naro Moru, from the west, is the shortest and steepest, doable in three days but with noticeably lower summit success because the ascent is so fast. Chogoria, from the east, is generally called the most scenic, passing through pristine forest and past spectacular gorges, and it is often used as the descent leg.
The classic recommendation is the 5-day Sirimon-Chogoria traverse: up one side, down the other, roughly 50 kilometres in total, sleeping in mountain huts. Sirimon nights are typically at Old Moses (3,300m) and Shipton’s Camp (4,200m); the Naro Moru side uses Met Station and Mackinder’s hut; the famous Austrian Hut sits high near the summit on the Naro Moru side. Chogoria accommodation is mostly camping. The summit push starts around 2-3 a.m. from Shipton’s, timed to reach Lenana for sunrise over the main peaks.
Costs and the guide question
Budget on a per-person basis for a 5-day guided trek runs roughly USD 900-1,650 for group or joining departures, with private treks and solo departures higher; very cheap local listings exist but may exclude park fees, so read the inclusions carefully. The Kenya Wildlife Service park entry fee for non-residents is USD 70 per adult per 24 hours under the fee schedule in force since October 2025 — a meaningful line item over five days, and one reason to confirm exactly what your quoted price covers.
A licensed guide is effectively mandatory: KWS regulations require trekkers to be accompanied by a licensed guide, and independent solo trekking is not permitted in the national park. Porters, a cook, and hut or camping arrangements are normally bundled into the package.
Best time to go
Mount Kenya has two dry windows: January to February (stretching into early March) and July to October. The long rains fall roughly March to June, the short rains October to November; trails turn muddy and the summit approach gets significantly harder in the wet months. Year-round trekking is possible, but the dry seasons give you the best odds of clear summit mornings.
Altitude and safety
At nearly 5,000 metres, Point Lenana is high enough for acute mountain sickness to be a real factor — most summit failures are altitude-related, not fitness-related, which is why the gradual Sirimon route and a 4-5 day itinerary matter more than speed. Nights at the high camps are very cold, well below freezing. Ascend steadily, hydrate, and be honest with your guide about headaches or nausea; the mountain will still be there for another attempt.
Getting there
Most treks stage from Nanyuki, the market town on the northwest side, reached by road from Nairobi in roughly four hours; operators then transfer you to the Sirimon Gate area (around 2,650m) to start walking. Book the trek before you fly — reputable operators arrange the KWS paperwork, huts, and staff, and the best ones fill the dry-season slots early.
Arjun Mehta is the pen name behind Mountains Bliss — practical mountain-travel guides with routes, costs, seasons and safety notes, researched from real trekker discussions and cross-checked before publishing. No sponsored posts, ever.
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