7-Day Mount Kenya Adventure Climbing - Kamweti to Timau Route

Day by day

7 days in East Africa.

1. Day 1

   Nairobi- Old Forest Station

   Depart Nairobi early and drive to the Kamweti side of Mount Kenya, arriving at a forest lodge on the lower slopes where the crew packs the gear and a short lunch is taken. The trek begins with about three hours' walking through natural forest to the old forest station at 2,400 metres, where the first night is spent in tents. This is elephant and buffalo country, and both are sometimes met on the trail, so the guide leads and sets the pace. Dinner and overnight at camp.

   Overnight

   Old Forest Station camp (2,400 m)

   Meals

   Lunch and dinner

   

2. Day 2

   Old Forest Station – Sagana River Camp

   After breakfast, hike to the Sagana River camp at about 2,980 metres, a walk of around six hours through dense bamboo forest. Bamboo grows thick here and the track is enclosed for much of the day, with occasional glimpses of game; buffalo, bushbuck and colobus monkeys are possible. Crossing the Sagana River brings you to the campsite for dinner and overnight.

   Overnight

   Sagana River camp (2,980 m)

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

3. Day 3

   Sagana River Camp – Thego River Camp

   After a good night's rest the walk continues out of the bamboo into heath and then moorland, the vegetation thinning and the views opening as the altitude increases. The Thego River camp at about 3,750 metres is the day's destination, roughly five hours away, with lunch en route. Animal sightings are still possible on this section, and the change from forest to open mountain marks real progress towards the peaks. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

   Overnight

   Thego River camp (3,750 m)

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

4. Day 4

   Thego River Camp – Mackinder’S Camp

   The climb continues through stands of giant groundsel and lobelia to Lake Hohnel, about three hours' walk, where lunch is taken beside the clear water of the tarn. Another two hours brings you to Mackinder's Camp at 4,300 metres in the Teleki Valley, directly below the main peaks. Overnight here in the hut or tents, with an early night to prepare for tomorrow's ascent of Point Lenana.

   Overnight

   Mackinder’s Camp, Teleki Valley (4,300 m)

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

5. Day 5

   Mackinder’S Camp – Summit Pt. Lenana – 4210 Major’S Camp

   Breakfast is at 4am before the trek climbs a steep scree slope to the Austrian Hut at 4,790 metres for a short break. The final ascent of Point Lenana (4,895 metres) follows alongside the Lewis Glacier, with sunrise from the summit if the timing works. The descent is on the northern side of the mountain via Simba Col to Major's Camp at 4,210 metres, with a lunch break in the Hinde Valley. Allow about ten hours for the whole crossing. Dinner and overnight at Major's Camp.

   Overnight

   Major’s Camp (4,210 m)

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

6. Day 6

   Major’S Camp – Nanyuki

   Descend through the West Marania valley on the Timau trail, the least-used side of the mountain, dropping from 4,210 metres to the road head at about 1,950 metres. The moorland gives way to forest again on the way down, and lunch is taken at the road head before the transfer to Nanyuki, the town on the equator below the mountain. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Nanyuki, with a hot shower after five nights on the mountain.

   Overnight

   Nanyuki hotel

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

   

7. Day 7

   Mau Mau Caves Visit And Nairobi

   After breakfast, drive about 15 kilometres along the Nairobi road to the junction for the Mau Mau caves and walk three to four hours there and back, with lunch at the cave site. The cave lies in the Gathiuru rainforest section of the Mount Kenya forest beside a river and waterfall, which made it a favoured hideout and meeting place for Mau Mau generals and fighters; it was later bombed by British aircraft but still stands. Transfer to Nairobi afterwards. Note that climbers should be ready to walk up to eight hours a day, and up to ten on the Lenana crossing; porters carry 16 kilograms of personal gear.

   Meals

   Breakfast and lunch

Your questions, answered.