Climbing Mount Kenya 5 Days Via Sirimon - Chogoria Route

Among the best Mount Kenya climbing routes, the Sirimon and Chogoria routes stand out the most. The ascent via Sirimon route provides a gradual climb with few steep sections. Since the route is on the Northern side of the mountain; the dry side, you can expect good weather while climbing Mount Kenya. Sirimon route is also one of the most scenic routes with diverse forest vegetation and wildlife.

The descent via the Chogoria route gives you access to a less crowded, more scenic route with tons of beautiful landscapes. Mount Kenya Chogoria route offers picturesque sights like the Temple and waterfalls. Although this route is a bit harder than Sirimon on the ascent, it makes up for it by providing a thrilling descent.

A 5-day Sirimon–Chogoria expedition is one of the best ways to experience the highlights of Mount Kenya while allowing enough time for acclimatization before reaching Point Lenana.

Mount Kenya 5-day Sirimon-Chogoria Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Sirimon Gate- Old Moses Camp. (3,300m) 

Your Mount Kenya adventure begins with a pickup either from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) or from your hotel in Nairobi, depending on your arrival arrangements.

We drive from Nairobi to Nanyuki, where we will have lunch before continuing to the Sirimon Gate at the foot of Mount Kenya. After completing the park formalities, we begin our hike through the forest.

The first section of the trek takes approximately 3–4 hours as we gradually ascend through the forest and into the moorland zone. We continue to Old Moses Camp, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Hiking time: 3–4 hours
Distance: approximately 9 km
Elevation gain: approximately 680 m
Overnight: Old Moses Camp

Day 2: Old Moses – Shipton Camp (4200m) 

After breakfast, we begin our trek towards Shipton Camp. We hike through the moorland, passing the Ontulili River before continuing towards Mackinder's Valley.

The views become increasingly spectacular as we approach the higher elevations, with the main peaks of Mount Kenya coming into view. We continue to Shipton Camp, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Hiking time: approximately 7 hours
Distance: approximately 14 km
Elevation gain: approximately 900 m
Overnight: Shipton Campends at Shipton Camp where we have dinner and an overnight stay. 7 hrs, 14Km, 900m Ascent

Day 3: Shipton Camp - Acclimatizing Day 

Today is dedicated to acclimatization and relaxation before the summit attempt.

We will spend part of the day exploring the area around Shipton Camp, with an optional acclimatization hike towards Hausberg Tarn and Oblong, depending on the group's energy levels and conditions.

We return to camp for lunch and spend the afternoon resting and preparing for the summit night. An early dinner and early rest will help us prepare for the following day's summit attempt.

Overnight: Shipton Camp
Activity: Acclimatization and short exploration hike

Day 4: Shipton – Point Lenana (4,985m) – Bandas Mount Kenya (2,900m) 

We wake up around 3:00 AM and begin our summit attempt towards Point Lenana, the highest trekking peak on Mount Kenya.

The climb starts in the early morning darkness, using headlamps as we make our way up the rocky trail. After approximately 3 hours of hiking, we reach Point Lenana in time to enjoy the sunrise and spectacular views across Kenya.

After celebrating our summit achievement, we begin our descent via the scenic Chogoria Route. We stop at Minto's Camp for breakfast before continuing towards the Mount Kenya Bandas.

The descent takes us through some of Mount Kenya's most spectacular scenery, including Gorges Valley, the Temple, Lake Michaelson, Mushroom Rocks, and the Giant's Billiard Table.

We arrive at the Mount Kenya Bandas, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Hiking time: approximately 11–12 hours
Elevation gain: approximately 785 m
Elevation loss: approximately 2,085 m
Overnight: Mount Kenya Bandas

Day 5: Mount Kenya Bandas – Nairobi 

After breakfast, you have two options for completing the final section of the trek, depending on your preference and the conditions on the day.

Option 1 – Vehicle from Mount Kenya Bandas

You can take a 4x4 vehicle from Mount Kenya Bandas down the mountain to Chogoria town. From Chogoria, we connect with our vehicle for the journey back to Nairobi.

This option is recommended for guests who would prefer to finish the mountain trek without an additional long walking section.

Option 2 – Hike to Chogoria Town

Alternatively, you can continue hiking for approximately 6–7 km from the Mount Kenya Bandas towards the lower slopes of the mountain. From the end of the hiking section, we meet our vehicle and continue by road to Chogoria town, where we connect with our transport back to Nairobi.

We then drive from Chogoria towards Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Hiking distance: approximately 6–7 km (Option 2)
Transport: Chogoria to Nairobi
End of the expedition: Nairobi