Best time to hike mountain Kenya 

Mountain Kenya, a dormant volcano, is best hiked in the dry season when the paths are more accessible and the weather favors walking for a long distance. The dry season is usually June, July, August, September, October, December, January and February.

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Mountain Kenya has three main picks: Nelion, Batian, and Lenana. The highest peak of Mountain Kenya measures 5199 meters above sea level and is called Batian. Lenana Peak is 4895 meters above sea level and is the most visited. It takes about five days to ascend to this point. 

Hiking Mountain Kenya can best be done via several routes. Still, some include the Sirimon route, Burguret trail, Chogoria route, Naro Moru route, Kamweti route, Timau route, and others. 

These routes offer stunning views as you walk through the different vegetation zones that are cultivations at the base about 2000meters above sea level, the montane forest at 2000 to 2500meters above sea level, bamboo zone at 3000 meters above sea level, timberland 3500 meters above sea level, afro-alpine and Heather land scape at 3800 meters above sea level and nival zone at 4500 meters above sea level and over.

The dry season attracts many adventure seekers to hike mountain Kenya, so expect company. 

The wet season may not be great for hiking mountains in Kenya to avoid chances of accidents and delays on the mountain in case the rains intensify. The wet season around Mountain Kenya is usually in March, April, and May.

If you wish for a more quiet adventure experience during a hike on mountain Kenya, this low season may provide you with this opportunity. 

When Is The Best Time To Climb Mountain Kenya Month By Month

 Climbing Mountain Kenya in June, July, August, September, and October

This is the perfect time for hiking in mountain Kenya when little or no rain is expected. The trails are dry, and the river flows in the ordinary course. You need to follow the path the ranger guide takes to avoid creating more trails on the mountain, as sustainable hiking is advised.

Although some light showers may be received during this season, they are not as intense as those that can stop you from carrying on with the hike, so you need to pack rainproof gear no matter the season. For the best mountain photography, the dry season provides a great environment to take super shots while hiking in Kenya.

Climbing Mountain Kenya In March, April And May

These months are usually wet, so hiking mountain Kenya may be challenging. Even the trails are more slippery and get soggy, mainly when matter decomposes.

Climbing Mountain Kenya From mid-October to November 

This is a rainy season, too, so it is not a recommended period to climb mountains in Kenya. More grass is on the trails, and rain falls almost the entire day. You may have to spend an extra day at the hut before proceeding with the hike, which will sabotage the flow of your mountain Kenya hiking itinerary.

Climbing Mountain Kenya in December, January and February 

This dry season is a great time for hiking mountains in Kenya. The routes are drier, and less vegetation protrudes to cover the way. As you stroll Mountain Kenya, you capture stunning sceneries as you walk through several vegetation zones that may up Mountain Kenya. You can use your binoculars to spot out the beautiful sceneries that are far ranging.

What Routes To Follow On A Mountain Kenya Hike

Naro Moru Route

The Naro Moru route is on the western part of Mountain Kenya. The Kenya Wildlife Service has the mountain headquarters close to this route. By taking this route, there are two Met stations at about 3050 meters above sea level. Before arriving at this station, you go through forest and bamboo before arriving in alpine heather.

Another station is the Mackinder station, which lies 4200 meters above sea level. By walking through more bamboo and forest to alpine heather, you arrive at the Mackinder station. To reach the Lenana point, you continue climbing via the south approach.

 Along the way, you have chances to spot several animals like sykes monkeys, bushbucks, forest elephants, buffaloes, and others. Walk through hygienic forests, giant heathers, alpine moorlands, and more.

Sirimon Route

The Sirimon route is the shortest, but it emerges from the gate of Shirimon National Park in Kenya. Two huts are found on the Sirimon route: old Moses at 3400 meters above sea level and Shimpton at 4200 meters above sea level.

When you take the Sirimon route on Mountain Kenya, the first day, you walk up to the open moorland, and the next day, you walk up to the Mackinder Valley. By taking the north approach, you get to Lenana Peak.

 On the way, walk through sparse forest and the bamboo zone and then open moorland. Later, cross the bridge into Mackinder, where you can enjoy some of the most stunning views. While at Mackinder Valley, you can see giant lobelia and Groundsel.

Chogoria Route

Chogoria route from the Eastern part of Mountain Kenya for excitement and unique mountain Kenya locations. Close to this route is the National Forest Reserve entrance close to the Chogoria village. The Chogolia route is the longest but can be cut short with a drive, but a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

You drive through the forest till you get closer to Meru Bandas. You can follow the 4x4 track to the road head. Branch to the left or use the direct or left route past Lake Ellis and Mugi Hill.

Whichever direction you take leads to the amphitheater of rock cliffs, also referred to as the temple. At the bottom of the cliff is Lake Michealson. On the western side is a large nick where River Nithi Passes.

There is a lot to admire when you take the Chogoria route, which is often used as a descending route after using either of the other two routes.

Timau Route

The Timau route gets its name from the Timau village. This route is attempted from the north. You can use a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle to ascend this meandering route, which goes through the gentle northern slopes until they steepen around 4200 meters above sea level. The cars only move up to 3400 meters above sea level via this route.

 Later, this route drops across the Hinde Valley and river Nithi to the north. The Timau route connects to the Chogoria route via Hall Tarns.

Before taking the Timau route on mountain Kenya, you need to know the conditions under which it is so as not to get stuck.

Burguret route

The Burguret route is less traveled, so some parts of this route may be quite challenging to walk. This route has no gate, so the park entrance fees can be paid first from another gate before ascending.

Since fewer tourists use this route, chances of finding some obstructing vegetation along the way are high, but the range guide with a machete tries to trim it to create a path. The clear path of this route is hard to trace at the starting part until arriving at the moorland part. The first campsite is at Kampi ya Machengeni.

It is more likely that by using the Burguret route on Mountain Kenya, you may be alone since fewer people wish to use this route.

What to Pack for Mountain Climbing in Mountain Kenya?

• Camera to take photos while at Mountain Kenya is a task that is on the bucket list of many adventure seekers worldwide.
• Hiking boots that are comfortable for you to hike for a long distance. They must be waterproof, too.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from getting sunburns.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the direct sunlight and buzzing insects.
• Insect repellant to protect your skin from stinging insects you may find along the way.
• Garden gloves to protect your fingers from touching rough surfaces along the way.
• Some extra clothes to change into after the long day on the mountain.
• Energy bites to munch on when hungry because meals are taken from designated points.
• Hiking rods to give you extra support when hiking the mountain.
• Backpack to carry with your belongings so they do not scatter while you hike.
• A torch to use for lighting.
• Some cash in case you need to do ground purchases like hiring hiking equipment, even porter hiring before starting your hike, purchasing food, cooking equipment, fuel, and others
• Warmers because the higher you go, the cooler it becomes.
• A pair of binoculars to get better visibility of far-ranging features.
• A pair of stockings to protect your feet from getting cold.
• Head gears to cover yourself from getting cold while hiking to get to the top of the mountain in Kenya
• Sleeping bag for your nights on mountain Kenya.
• First aid kit with emergency medication in case you need it.
• Rainproof gears to protect you from getting wet and cold when it rains while up the mountain.

You can hike some of the following hiking gear, too.

Ice axes, ropes, harnesses, crampons, and others.

Is Hiking Mountain Kenya Challenging?

Hiking Mountain Kenya is challenging but very exciting to attempt. You just need to prepare properly so that you are not out-spotted and lose out on this opportunity to test your fitness levels. Before heading for mountain Kilimanjaro, why not try the first attempt with mountain Kenya?

Ensure you carry the right hiking gear and do a thorough medical checkup to ensure your body is in good health and you can complete the hike on Mountain Kenya. 

What to do before Hiking Mountain Kenya?

Book your hike to mountain Kenya in advance so that you can start all the necessary mountaineering preparations in time. It may be hard for last-minute clients to feel comfortable ascending this extinct Volcano.

Do a medical checkup so that your body is in great shape and you can take on this challenge. It feels sad not to complete this African safari adventure because you missed medical treatment. Some are affected by altitude sickness, so they cannot complete the entire trek.

Start your exercise in advance so that you can keep your muscles ready for the time you are hiking on mountain Kenya. It takes a lot of time while on a hike and requires patience and resiliency. 

Pack the right mountaineering gear so that you do not run out of the necessary supplies while up on the mountain. Also, train yourself to have limited meals because there is limited time for meal breaks while climbing Mountain Kenya.

During the hike on mountain Kenya, help with the garbage dumped on the mountain like plastic wraps, tins, and much more. This is responsible for travel, and as more litter is dropped on the mountain, it alters the nature of the environment around this mountain.

What are the Rules of Hiking Mountain Kenya?

• Follow the trails the ranger guides use to avoid creating more that is degrading the environment.
• Dumping garbage on the mountain is forbidden as this alters the nature of the environment around it.
•  Most toilet breaks are done before carrying on with the trek ( at the stopover points) so that waste is managed properly. The mountain is a water catchment area for some of the places around it, so hygiene has to be maintained. 
• You need to learn to respect each other and be ready to share some things with others. 
• Speak at a low tone or use earphones when listening to the radio so that you do not disrupt those sleeping.
• Do not pick anything from the mountain so that you do not cause gradual degradation.
• In case you notice something odd, do not panic because you may scare the rest of the hikers and use them to Panic. Report to the ranger guides as they know better about what you may come across while hiking mountain Kenya.

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