There are facts about Mt. Kenya you should know to make your trekking or technical climbing a breeze. This post looks into them.
Trekking
Climbing to 5,199 meters, Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa. The scenery surrounding this designated
World Heritage Site is breath-taking. It is pristine wilderness with lakes, tarns, glaciers, dense forest, mineral springs and a selection of rare and endangered species of animals, high altitude adapted plains game and unique montane and alpine vegetation.
Visitors can enjoy mountain climbing, camping and caving with the mountain’s rugged glacier-clad peaks providing the perfect
backdrop. The mountain offers easy or challenging ascents with superb scenic beauty. Its highest peaks are Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m) and Point Lenana (4,985 m).
The climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude. Attractions include pristine wilderness, glaciers, lakes, tarns, and
peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, falls, rare and endangered species of wild animals, high altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.
More than 130 species of birds have been recorded, including sunbirds, alpine chats, starlings, olive pigeons, giant kingfishers,
and red-fronted parrots, Lammergeyers, Augur Buzzards and Evreux’s Eagles.
Wildlife that can be seen include elephant, Black, and White Colobus monkey, Sykes monkey, Olive Baboon, buffalo, bushbuck,
waterbuck, eland, black rhino, black-fronted duiker, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig, mole rats, tree hyrax, porcupine, white-tailed mongoose, and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope.
Technical Climbing
Mount Kenya Technical Climbing – Rock Climbing in Kenya Mount Kenya, Batian summit 5199m
Difficulty: D, Grade IV, 5.9
Africa second highest peak. Mt Kenya one of the East Africa Mountains that passes along the equator. Mt Kenya climbing Technical climb on Rock Climbing and ice climbing on Mount Kenya climbing from base of Normal Route direct to top of Nelion and then crossing the gate of mist to Batian and back to Nelion and descend the same way. To the summit is a challenging technical climb.
For the experienced mountain climber, this peak is one of the world great challenges Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National park has unique position on the equator offers climbing seasons and route conditions varying with the sun’s Position.
A climber doing one of the best ice routes are on the southern side of the mountain and should climb when the sun is in the
North between the months of July and September.
However during the same period the east and north sides are the best condition in rock climbing. Conversely when the sun is in
the south, south side offers the best rock routes and the North the better ice climbing condition.
Recommended Routes for Technical climbing at Mount Kenya
December-March
Normal Routes, Standard IV: South West Ridge, Standard v (Rock routes)
July-September/October
North Face Standard route, Standard IV (Rock Route) North Face Sirimon route Approach
August-December
South-East Face Route. , Standard IV, Ice Window, Standard V
(ice routes)
Mid July to end of September
Ice climbing through the ‘Diamond Couloir’- This attempt to the main summit of Point Lenana (4,985 m) is included for people not wishing to attempt the much more difficult twin summits of Mt. Kenya Nelion and possibly Batian. Is technically a much difficult scramble.
The Guide
Our local guide has the knowledge and experience of the climbing routes on Nelion & Batian peaks also with verbal
information and local knowledge.
