Naro Moru route of Mount Kenya : Mount Kenya is the tallest mountain in kenya with an height of 5199 metres above sea level ,it is the second tallest mountain in Africa after Mount kilimanjaro. The mountain is roughly round which is roughly 60 kilometres across with the main peak rising sharply from 4500m to the main summit of Batian 5199 M ,Nelion 5188M and Lenana 4,985m. Other summits of Mount Kenya are: Point Piggott 4,957m, Point Dutton 4,885 and Point John 4,883m.The amateur trekkers can go to point Lenana with the other two highest summits can only be accessed by experts, point Nelion and Batian.
Naro Moru route ,climbing mount Kenya
The total route distance to be covered by this Naro Moru route is 40 kilometres, The route is rated has difficult, challenging and demanding. The starting and finishing point is the Kenya’s capital of Nairobi.
This route approaches the mountain from the west side ,is the most popular route but not so scenic, it is also the fastest route to ascent the tallest mountain in kenya to its summit at point Lenana. Take this classic route up Mount Kenya through the notoriously treacherous vertical bog and into the wide Teleki Valley beneath the Tryndall, The Lewis Glacier.
The summit of Mount Kenya can be ascended in just for days but it is not recommended, starting the day by camping at the base of the Mount helps in proper acclimatisation. The Camping is usually offered by Naro Moru river Lodge, this is usually be arranged with a extra fee. This is one of the most popular hiking trails of Mount Kenya ,which is located near the town of Naro Moru on the slopes of the Mountain. The route offers plenty of perfect comfort for wildlife viewing and it is rated as moderately difficult route of Mount Kenya. Climbing on this trail primarily offers opportunity for hiking past vertical bog which is the muddy bog and backpacking.
In this route there is a newly constructed way all the way up to the Met Station Camp. From the camp you can now hike up to the summit of Lenana which is 4,985 M. Point Lenana is the mountain’s highest peak one can climb without mountain climbing experience. On the early morning ,you start climbing to the peak of Africa to have a view of the sunrise on top of Africa’s highest points.
This route approaches Mount Kenya from the west and ascends it through the same route. The route has two stop overs which are essential for acclimatisation at Met Station Camp at 3300 M and at Mackinder camp at 4200M. The views from the Naro Moru route open spaces are magnificent, the view of the vertical blog are amazing and also the views of the Alphine region are superb. Unique plants and rocky outcrops on the mountain are epic. Witness spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks, scenic valleys and savannah. Starting in Naro Moru town, the first part of the route takes you along a gravel road through farmlands for some 13km to the start of the forest. Another 5km brings you to the park entry gate (2400m), from where it’s 8km to the road-head, and the Met Station Hut(3000m), where you stay for the night and acclimatize. The route is not particularly scenic but has some of the best tourist accommodations. Most climbers begin at the park gate, although it is possible to drive a vehicle as far as the Met station. Among the challenges in this route include the vertical bog and the extremely steep trail on looses gravel while going up.
Day 1 Nairobi Meteorological Station 3-4 hours 10km 400 metre
An early morning departure from Nairobi at 8am. Transfer to Mount Kenya National Park at Naro Moru Gate for registration and where the hike starts, 2600m. From the gate, we trek up through the magnificent montane forest, bamboo, and giant heather zone before reaching the high altitude moorland and our first cabins which is the Met Station for dinner and overnight. Then follow the park track, which follows the crest of a board ridge between the Northern and Southern Naro Moru valleys. The going is easy and it’s a pleasant walking through the forest. About two thirds of the way up after the bridge there are good views to the left north down into the Northern Naro Moru valley. The trek ends at Met station 3,000m for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 2: Met Station/Mackinders Camp 5-6 hrs, 10km, 1200m ascent
In the second day of your summit, take an early morning breakfast before proceeding uphill on the track to pass the radio must on your right after about half an hour. The trek joins a path and after approximately like 30 minutes, you will come the end of the forest belt and enter the moorland. From here you take a short walk to the end of the forest line from where you hike across the Marshy vertical bog of the lower moorlands. There is a place to have Picnic lunch at the Picnic Rocks before continuing further to Mackinders camp, gaining 1300m in Altitude in about 5hours. You arrive at Mackinders camp 4300m this is where you’ll have Dinner and spend the night. This is the vertical bog conditions range from damp to glutinous depending on when it last rained. Continue through until the going improves and you reach a fork overlooking Teleki Valley to reach Mackinders Camp, 4,200m for Dinner and overnight at Mackinders Camp.
Day 3: Mackinders Camp/Point Lenana/Met Station, 8-10 hrs, 11km, 785m ascent
This final journey to the summit at point Lenana usually starts at 0300 hrs trekking for 3-4 hours across bare rock and scree slopes ,which are the characteristics that show you that you are in the alpine region of the Mountain to Point Lenana (4985m), the hiker’s summit, arriving in time to catch the Sunrise in one of the Africa’s highest points. Other hikers may chose to approach to start the summit journey as early as 2 am in order to reach point Lenana taking about 4 hr walk by sunrise at 6:30am. After sunrise, descend down to Mackinders Camp for breakfast, 2hrs and walk further 4hrs, way back to Met Station for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Met Station/Naro Moru/Nairobi 3hrs, 9km, 400m
After taking breakfast at Met station it is time to descend through the rainforest which is 9km to Mount Kenya National Park’s Naro Moru Gate at 2,6600m.From here you connect with your transport back to Nairobi arriving at arriving late in the evening .
