East African School Programmes
Mt Kenya
A fantastic mountain in every way, with unique flora and fauna,
glacier sculptured valleys, rocky peaks, equatorial ice, stunning
tarns and clear streams abounding with trout, dramatic scenery
and arguably the Summit Circuit walk is the inest piece of
trekking all of East Africa. In our experience Mt. Kenya is
a far more interesting and exciting ascent that the more travelled
Mt. Kilimanjaro .
The commanding topographic feature of the Kenya highlands east
of the Rift Valley is Mount Kenya; a large central type volcano
whose summit stands at 5199 metres above sea level. It was built
by intermittent volcanic eruptions, mainly in the period 3.1
to 2.6 million years ago. The base of Mount Kenya is a little
over 100 kilometres in diameter and originally the summit must
have reached over 7000 metres. Since then about 35% of the volume
has been removed, mainly by glacial erosion on the upper part
of the mountain. The highest trekking point, Point Lenana (4985m)
involves passing through a dense forest belt, followed by a narrow
bamboo belt, before passing into heath and moor lands and finally
the alpine zone. The summits of Batian and Nelion are surrounded
by glaciers and often covered in snow where the night time temperature
can drop to below -10 degrees Celsius.
Safety
It is crucial that any guide on Mt. Kenya holds a valid Wilderness
First Aid qualification. All Rift Valley Group Leaders and Instructors
hold international qualifications in Abseiling and Rock climbing,
Canoeing and Rafting, Mountain Biking, Caving, Wilderness Trekking,
Group and Risk Management and Wilderness First Aid. Instructors
carry a GPS, Mobile Phone and VHF radios. All of the Rift Valley
Adventures activity and safety equipment is of the highest quality
at international approved standards and regularly serviced and
checked.
A Rift Valley Adventures 4WD vehicle is parked at Old Moses Camp
for every Mt. Kenya Sirimon route ascent in the unlikely event
of an emergency evacuation. All airstrips in the area are known
by Rift Valley Adventures and we carry the GPS coordinates of
these for the Flying Doctor’s.
What’s Included:
• Fully hosted 5 Day/ 4 night Mt.
Kenya Adventure with 24 hour safety care
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, trail snacks and refreshments
• All instruction and safety equipment for adventure activities
• Entrance fees to National Parks/Game Reserves/Wildlife Conservancy
• Porter and Guide fees
• All camping and accommodation fees
• Our comprehensive Public Liability Insurance
• A team of qualified and experienced instructors and leaders.
Mt. Kenya Adventure
Day 1: Mt. Kenya: Sirimon Gate
Accommodation: Camp at gate to acclimatise
Day 2: Mt. Kenya: Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Bunk House
Length: 9km
Time: 4-5 hours
Ascent: 690m
Accommodation: Old Moses Bunk House (3150m)
Today we start our Mt. Kenya Ascent via the Sirimon route. The
track route takes us uphill through a beautiful section of the
forest dominated by Pencil Cedar and Podo trees before entering
into heath land. For the lucky we may see one of the many elephants
that inhabit the region. We walk purposely slow to acclimatise
to the altitude.
Ascent Route: Sirimon
Descent Route: Naro Moru
Ascent Distance: 45km
Descent Distance: 38km
Finish Point: Sirimon Gate
Highest Point: Point Lenana (4985m)
Overall Altitude Gain (from Sirimon Gate): 2335m
Day 3: Old Moses Bunk House to Shiptons Camp
Length: 13km
Time: 8 hours
Ascent: 890m
Accommodation: Shiptons Camp Bunk House (4200m)
A long day that sees us finish at the base of the old volcanic
plug that makes up the rocky peaks of Batian, Nelion and Pt.
Lenana. On the trek up, the vegetation changes to moorland grass
with small flowering plants and the amazing giant lobelias and
groundsels and senecios. We pass by Shiptons caves, once a hideout
for the Mau Mau. Leopard also live in this region and have been
observed at an altitude of 4500m!
Day 4: Shiptons Bunkhouse to Pt. Lenana (4985m) to Old Moses
Bunk House
Length: 7km
Time: 8 hours
Ascent: 755m
Descent: 820m
Accommodation: Old Moses Bunk House (4160m)
An early 3.00am start sees us on the Summit Circuit Path, which
is arguably the finest walking trail in all of East Africa. Stunning
views, tarns, glaciers, ice carved rock formations and precipitous
valleys and the views! We are in search for Pt. Lenana for a
sunrise celebration with spectacular views to the Aberdare Ranges
and Mt. Kilimanjaro. After a cup of tea or coffee we start our
descent via the Summit Circuit Path to Shiptons camp and then
Old Moses for a well earned rest.
Day 5: Old Moses Bunkhouse to Park Gate
Length: 16km
Time: 4 hours
Descent: 1860m
Descent is via the route we ascended from the Sirimon Park gate.
Here you can meet your vehicle and transfer back to Nairobi.
Ascent/Descent options:
Chogoria Route
Timau Route
Naro Moru Route
If you want to extend your Adventure programme we have many
options available.
Extension Option 1
Extension Cost: 10000/= per person
Day 6: Mountain Bike cycle to Il Polei
Length: 38km
Time: 8 hours
Accommodation: Il Polei Campsite
With a short car ride
from Naro Moru House we start cycling from the junction of the
Dol Dol – Rumuruti road that winds
through stunning topography, with the Loldaiga Hills on our right
we weave our way to Il Polei campsite. Il Polei is a Maasai group
ranch, rich in culture and tradition, where the money received
from camping and conservancy fees goes directly to the community
for use in building schools, water points and other life enriching
uses. We are now in elephant territory and we might just get
a close up view of one from our tents!
Mountain Biking is one of the best ways to explore and see a
large amount of Kenya while still being close to nature. We operate
a fleet of fully serviced 21 speed, front suspension, shimano
equipped, hybrid bikes. They offer a relaxed and comfortable
riding position and handle rough terrain with ease while allowing
easy access onto and off the bike.
Day 7: Il Polei to Kijabe Group Ranch
Length: 22 km
Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Kijabe Campsite
Continuing our cycle across the Laikipia plateau our first
stop is to have a look at a local school and meet the students.
With
its mud walls, lack of windows, and no facilities it is often
a profound and enriching moment for people from abroad. Onwards
we peddle passing Maasai and Samburu tribe members in traditional
attire before we reach Kijabe Group ranch. Arguably one of Kenyas
finest pieces of scenery, Kijabe Group Ranch is on the edge of
the Laikipia Plateau with wonderful views to Ololokwe, Mathews
Ranges and the vast Northern Frontier District. At certain times
of the year there is abundant game to view such as elephant,
cheetah, kudu and lion and you could also get involved in radio
tracking the pack of Wild Dogs that frequent the ranch. There
is an option of abseiling and rock climbing on Lendille rocks
with sundowners afterwards looking over the Northern Frontier
District.
Day 8: Kijabe Campsite to Uaso River Raft
Length: 22km cycle
Time: 3 hours cycle – 4 hours raft
Accommodation: Fly camp on the Uaso Nyiro River
After the ride to the Uaso River river we jump into out inflatable
rafts and paddle our way down river. With the Western World left
far behind the raw feeling of a true wilderness area abounds,
as does the wildlife. Paddling our way down through stunning
rocky, river valleys you never know what we might see. We make
a fly camp tonight on the river bank, a small fire to keep the
chill off and lean back and watch the stars as you have never
seen them before.
Day 9: Fly Camp to Pull out point
Time: 6 hours
The final day involves a paddle through grade 2 rapids to our
pullout point where we have a short walk out and meet up with
your vehicles. Then one last chance to admire the raw beauty
of the Laikipia Plateau and the Northern Frontier District
with Mt. Kenya as a back drop.
Price
From 10900/= per student fully catered
Includes: see above.
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