At 17,050ft, this approximately 3 million-years-old volcano is the second-highest mountain in Africa. Mount Kenya, the jewel of the eponymous country, boasts a number of different trekking routes that vary in length and offer a range of spectacular views of the mountain and the surrounding area. The scenic Chogoria route starts about 13 miles up the hill and follows a network of trails towards the stunning peaks. Less frequented than other routes, it offers a good chance of seeing wildlife and gives a feeling of solitude and peace while maintaining the comfort of the more crowded routes. Its lakes and tarn—a consequence of millions of years of glacial activity—give it an almost mystical charm. Follow a gentle ascent trail up to Mount Kenya and see why it is one of the top trekking destinations in the world!
An amazing location to camp and relax after a long day of trekking
Ancient landscape dotted with glaciers, spires, and beautiful unique wildlife
Summit the second highest mountain in Africa and enjoy unique scenery
As you climb the Chogoria route, follow a network of game trails leading toward the remote Enchanted Lake, Carr’s Lakes and Lake Michaelson that boast stunning scenery and unique wildlife. Over five days, you’ll pass verdant forests and vast valleys and encounter numerous wild animals, including zebras, buffalos, and, if you’re really lucky—an occasional leopard or a cheetah. Join your guide for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and spend your days surrounded by peaceful nature and fresh alpine air as you climb the highest mountain in the country!
After an early breakfast at your accommodation, you will be collected by your guides and taken to the start of the route. This drive often takes about 4 hours from Nanyuki and about 4 hours from Nairobi—you and your guide will agree on the meeting point. Once you check into the park, you will start your hike through the forest that merges into moorland. The trek follows a jeep track for about 2 hours and continues for another hour or two down a network of game trails, clear paths through forests. You will reach the camp about mid afternoon.
Driving: 4 hours
Walking: 3-4 hours
The walk to the stunning Carr’s lakes follows a network of trails through an area seldom walked by people, so be prepared for some uneven terrain and a little bushwacking. This route crosses two vast valleys with incredible views of the dramatic Delamere peaks above.
Walking: 7 hours
The walk up to Enchanted Lakes takes you past a couple of smaller lakes into another smaller valley adjacent to the Hobley Valley. The Enchanted lake is quite big, and in the right light, boasts a striking turquoise color.
Walking: 4-5 hours
The walk up the Hobley Valley takes you up through the last of the vegetation zone past a beautiful high altitude lake full of algae named Gallery tarn.The route then takes you up to the valley to the top of the pass which offers spectacular views over Lake Michaelson in the Gorges Valley. The final walk down to Lake Michaelson is another 1-2 hours of walking. For those extra adventurous, you can also climb point Lenana. However, it will add an extra 3-4 hours to your journey.
Walking: 5 hours
After four days of hiking, head back to the Chogoria gate, about 5-6 hours away, and enjoy one of the most scenic walks on the mountain! The trail takes you along the top of the ridge overlooking the Gorges Valley before you reach the end of the trail.
Walking: 5 hours
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Kenya please refer to the U.S. Embassy in Kenya websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about hiking the Chogoria route of Mt. Kenya is that it requires no technical climbing skills. This intermediate hike will see a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles. This trek requires a well established fitness base but it is certainly one of the more adventurous and rewarding treks on the mountain. Keep in mind, the weather can change quickly and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
For camping, you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans. Keep in mind that despite Mount Kenya being on the equator in Africa, it can get very cold. In the early morning hours the temperature can get to about -4 degrees Celsius and as high as 18 degrees Celsius during the day.
A porter can carry max 18kg/39.6Lbs, including food, accommodation, wages, etc. There will be multiple porters depending on the amount of baggage and in case your baggage weight more, you can hire another porter for an additional fee.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Kenya can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Registration for an adventure with your guide requires a 50% non-refundable deposit. The balance of program fees will generally be due 90 days prior to the starting date of the program. It is your responsibility to adhere to the fee payment schedule. Late payment will result in cancellation of program reservations and forfeiture of all fees paid.
If your guide has to make an alteration to the time of departure or return to the your home exceeding 12 hours between the date of your booking and the date of departure to, you can decide no to proceed with the booking. In that case, you can:
If your guide increases the basic price of the trip by 10% or more and you do not wish to continue with the trip, you may cancel your booking and get a full refund in respect of the basic cost of the trip but your guide will not be responsible for other incurred costs.
Should you cancel for any other reason the following charges will apply:
If your guide is forced to cancel your trip, you will be given the opportunity either to:
If the reason for the cancellation less than 8 weeks before the advertised departure date is a lack of bookings, a compensation of $30 per properly booked person will be paid.
To get to Mt. Kenya, most people fly into Nairobi International Airport which is under an hour away from the trailhead. Nairobi is the major hub for East Africa and is served by many airlines so there’s a competitively priced choice of flights. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.
There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to East Africa. The fastest routes to Nairobi are usually two nonstop legs viaLondon or another European city such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Paris.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location.
