10 Days Rock Climbing on Mt Kenya North Face Via Kamweti Route

Transfer from Nairobi to Castle Forest Lodge (2,081m.), on the northern slopes of Mt Kenya. After sorting mountain gears and enjoying lunch at Castle Lodge, we commence a 3 hours hike through the natural forest to the Kamweti’s old forest station (2,650m) and spend the night in pitched tents. Elephant, buffalo and waterbuck are common here.

Tip. Clients arriving at castle Lodge after lunch or in need of rest for additional acclimatization can spend the pre-trek night at the castle lodge. A short nature hike in the forest whilst at the lodge is encouraged for acclimatization and siting of forest birds, colobus monkeys and possibly elephants.

Early breakfast at camp then hike about 15kms in 5-6hrs through dense stands of towering bamboo to Sagana River camp at an altitude of 3,150m. Today we’ll slip deeper into the dense virgin bamboo forest which marks the true beginning of the actual mountain trek. Picnic lunch en-route and dinner and overnight at Sagana campsite.

The luxuriant bamboo thicket yields to the hagenia rosewood zone which, in turn, yields to heather zone as our climb get steeper approaching the moorland. The edge of the moorlands marks our lunch spot before heading up through unique endemic mountain vegetation of giant lobelia and groundsels. Today’s hike is about 7kms and takes us about 6hrs to arrive at Thegu River camp (3,750m). Our overnight spot offers exhilarating peak views. Dinner and overnight again in tents at Thegu River camp.

We continues steeply up for about 3 hours to lake Hornell trekking through beautiful tropical alpine vegetation dotted with Senecio and Lobelia plants. At this scenic lake we stop for lunch before a farther two hours hike through undulating terrain to reach Mackinder’s Camp (4,300m) within the Teleki Valley. Overnight will be at the campsite in close proximity to the mountain hut. (If you wish you may alter your accommodation tonight and utilize the hut at a small fee). Early dinner and good rest in readiness for an early start the next day.

Pre-dawn start (3am) to attempt conquer the hikers summit. After an early light breakfast, we go up steep scree and a bare rocky track for about 3 hours to reach Austrian Hut. Then, an exhilarating 30 minutes to reach the hikers summit, Lenana peak at 4,985m in time for sunrise – Kilimanjaro is usually visible 340kms to the south. Though tired after this demanding conquest we’ll be absolutely ecstatic that we’ve made it to the top. After celebrations at the top, you will descend to Shipton’s Camp for breakfast and a brief rest. In teh afternoon you will meet your climbing guide who will prepare you and check all your climbing gears. He will also do a deep briefing of what to expect and how the climbing route is. Dinner and overnight at Shipton Camp.

After breakfast ascends to KAMI HUT 4,600m which normally 2hrs. Dinner and overnight at the hut. Kami hut is the base for climbers who are doing the North Face route.

Wake up early at 0500hrs have some snacks then depart at around 0530hrs to the base of the North face, it normally takes 45 min- 1 hr. This section is rocky and Frozen scree. Continue climbing until you reach the starting point for Rock climbing. You will start your climbing at approximately 0700hrs. You will spend the night at Firmin Tower (10 ropes of 50m). Dinner and overnight at the camp.

After breakfast from Firmin tower continue climbing until you reach Batian at 5,199m at approximately noon. Later Abseil down to the bottom and walk to Shipton Camp for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, ascend to Simba col then down to Chogoria Bandas, following the Gorges valley you will walk for approximately 7 hrs to get to chogoria bandas. Dinner and overnight at the bandas.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your car for transfer back to Nairobi reaching Nairobi at approximately 2 pm.