Mount Kenya Circuit Trek

Information

Distance

60.0 km

Duration

5–7 days

Max elevation

4,985 m

Country

Kenya (KE)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous — acclimatization is mandatory; high AMS risk due to rapid altitude gain on the equator

Best Season

January–February and August–October (dry season); avoid April–May and November

Permits & Fees

KWS park entry fee ~USD 70/day for non-residents + camping fees; booking required via eCitizen Kenya or directly at the Sirimon/Chogoria gates

Description

The Mount Kenya Circuit Trek traverses a UNESCO World Heritage volcano through East Africa's most diverse mountain ecosystem. The classic Sirimon–Chogoria route combines a steady acclimatization ascent from the northwest with a descent through Gorges Valley's bamboo forests, alpine lakes, and dramatic basalt cliffs. The trekking summit, Point Lenana (4,985 m), requires no technical climbing but demands proper acclimatization due to the rapid altitude gain near the equator — Mount Kenya accounts for a high proportion of high-altitude pulmonary oedema cases in Africa. A 5–7 day itinerary allows time for giant groundsel forests, crystal-clear tarns, and spectacular views of the technical peaks Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m).

Trail Highlights

Point Lenana (4,985 m) — the highest trekking peak in East Africa outside Tanzania; endemic giant flora such as giant groundsel and giant lobelia; the dramatic Gorges Valley; Lake Alice and Lake Teleki; the Sirimon–Chogoria route through montane bamboo forest, alpine moorland, and panoramas of the Batian glacier (5,199 m)