Burgeret Route

The Burgeret Route approaches Mount Kenya on the Western side via Nanyuki Town. It is a much quieter route compared to the busy Northern slopes. The route starts of in the forest zone above the Gathiuru forest station, a station still used by the forestry department.

This route takes you through a few afro-alpine zone. The first two days are in dense forest made up of Giant bamboo, Ceders, Podocarpus(Yellow wood) and East African Rose wood, which you will see as you start to leave the forest, as you enter the Heather and mooreland zone.

And then you head up to where the vegetation stops and expansive views of the moorland and the dazzling snow-caped peaks tower above you. The beauty of this route is that you naturally “climb high and sleep low’, which is the best way to prepare your body for the altitude.

Day 1:Nairobi – Giant Bamboo camp 2600m (10 kms , 4hrs)

Transfer from Nairobi to Nanyuki for lunch. After lunch drive to Gathiuru forest station and a 4 hour ascent through dense stands of towering bamboo to a Giant Bamboo Camp at 2600m. Elephant and buffalo are common here.

Day 2: Giant Bamboo – Highlands Castle 3700 m( 8kms 5 hrs)

The luxuriant bamboo yields to enormous podocarpus and pencil cedar forest before we climb to the hagenia rosewood zone at the edge of the moorlands. This marks our lunch spot before heading up through the extraordinary giant lobelia and groundsels. We spend the night close to the sheer lava cliffs of the “Highland Castle” at 3700m. Today’s hike takes 5-6 hrs with an ascent of 1100m.

Day 3: Highland Castle to Shiptons Camp at 4235m,

A hike of about 6 hours over 10 kilometres and passing over the 4600 metre Hausberg Col through moorland and high alpine desert with marvellous scenery of volcanic peaks, beautiful tarns and high glaciers around. Shiptons Camp can be busy with other trekkers, but it is in a very scenic spot.

Day 4: Ascent of Point Lenana at 4985m and down to lake Ellis Camp at 3300m,

Total hike of about 10 hours with an initial height gain of 750 metres to the summit and then a big drop of 1685 metres. From Shiptons Camp the ascent starts early at 4am and allows a dawn summit and then a drop to Hall Tarn in the Gorges Valley for a breakfast, followed by a further three hours to the track head through a landscape of chasms, waterfalls and lava flows.

Day 5: From Nithi Camp to Chogoria Gate

At 3000m is a short hike of a few hours back into moorland and giant heather. From here you will get a 4×4 straight to Chogoria town (21kms) and onward transport to Nairobi.

Return private transport from Nairobi and back.
4×4 transport from Chogoria to the park gate.
Park fees, camping fees and park rescue fees.
Accommodation in Camp
Park certified guides (ratio of 1:4 minimum)
Porters and cooks
All group equipment including mountain sleeping tents
Meals on the mountain
Guide and porter transport

International airfare
Kenyan visa
Vaccinations and malaria tablets required
Personal expenses and travel insurance
Airport transfers
Medical and travel insurance (recommended to have one)
Mountain staff tips paid in local currency to main guide for distribution in Chogoria after the climb.