Mount Kenya Climbing – Naro Moru Route

This is the most popular trekking route, with easy access to the start of the route and good facilities on the way up. There are two bunkhouses, one hut and several places to camp. This route also allows a very quick ascent to Point Lenana, which is fine if you’re well acclimatized.

Day 01: Naro Moru gate to Met Station 10kms, 3-4hrs, 1000m ascent

From the gate we keep to the park track, which follows the crest of a broad ridge between the Northern and Southern Naro Moru valleys. The going is easy, and it’s pleasant walking through the forest. About two thirds of the way up, after the bridge, there are good views to your left (north), down into the Northern Naro Moru Valley. The track ends at Met Station (3050m). Meals and Overnight will be served at Met Statin.

Day 02: Met Station to Mackinder’s Camp 10ims, 5-6hrs, 1150m ascent

From Met Station, we head uphill on the track and pass the radio mast on your right after about half an hour. The track turns into a path and after another 30 minutes you’ll reach the end of the”forest belt and enter moorland. This area is called the Vertical Bog; conditions range from them damp to the glutinous depending on when it last rained. Wade through (or hop across tussocks) until the going gets easier and you reach a fork, overlooking then Teleki valley, about 31/2 hours from Met Station. After about 45 minutes you’ll eventually be at Mackinder’s Camp area (4200m). Meals and Overnight will be served at Mackinder’s Camp.

Day 03: Mackinder’s Camp to Point Lenana 4985m, plus descent to Met Station

4km, 31/2-51/2hrs, 785m ascent» plus 14km, 5-6hrs, 1935m descent Today start hiking around 3a.m to get to the summit of Point Lenana by sunrise, or just after, then a walk all the way back down to Met Station on same day. This is long aod hard, and the speed of ascent is one of the major reasons why so many people get sick and don’t enjoy their trek. We therefor recommend by far that you go up in the day light as far as Austrian Hut (4790m) and spend the night of stage 3 there before going up to Lenana next morning. Alternatively, you can spend a second night at Mackinder’s after lenana, and go down to Met the next day. Even better, spend two nights at Mackinder’s Camp before going up to Lenana, to give your self more time to acclimatize and a much better chance of enjoying the walk to the top. From Austrian hut you get excellent views: north- east up to the summit of Point Lenana, with the area on the left (west) of the main south- west ridge usually a snow field covering the Lewis Glacier; west, across the Lewis Glacier itself, to the steep south east face of Newlion; and south east, down into the Hobley Valley, with Gallery Tarn over to the left (north) side of the valley. Meals and Overnight will be served at Met Station.

Day 04: Met Station to Park Gate 2600m, descent 13km, 21/2hrs

On this last day we retrace our footstep and down on the path to park gate. Meals and Overnight will be served at our town Hotel or our next destination.