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    Mount Kenya National Park
    Franco Pecchio / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Kenya

    Mount Kenya National Park

    Point of Interest

    The Mount Kenya National Park protects the high altitudes of Africa's second-highest mountain, just south of the Equator in central Kenya.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu
    9. Mount Kenya National Park
    The Mount Kenya National Park protects the high altitudes of Africa's second-highest mountain, just south of the Equator in central Kenya. Trekkers ascend via the Sirimon, Naro Moru, or Chogoria routes to the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana, while the main peaks Batian and Nelion are reserved for climbers.Since 1997, the park and mountain forest have been UNESCO World Heritage. Above the mountain forest, you reach glacier remnants and mountain lakes like Lake Michaelson.

    Sights in Mount Kenya National Park

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Point Lenana
    Natural Feature

    1Point Lenana

    At 4,985 meters, it is Mount Kenya's third highest peak and the highest that trekkers can reach without climbing equipment. Batian and Nelion, beyond it, are only accessible via technical climbing routes.
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    Lake Michaelson
    Natural Feature

    2Lake Michaelson

    Mountain lake in Gorges Valley, where the Chogoria Route runs on the east side of the mountain.
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    Lewis Glacier
    Natural Feature

    3Lewis Glacier

    The largest of Mount Kenya's eleven small glaciers. Like all glaciers on the mountain, it is rapidly retreating.
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    Mt Kenya National Park Sirimon Gate
    Park

    4Mt Kenya National Park Sirimon Gate

    Guarded park gate in the north of the mountain and starting point of the Sirimon Route, considered the gentlest ascent to Point Lenana.
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    Restaurants in Mount Kenya National Park

    History and Significance

    Kirinyaga, Seat of GodThe Kikuyu call the mountain Kirinyaga. According to their traditional beliefs, God resides on the mountain, and it is still considered a sacred place today.First Ascent and GlaciersThe 5,199-meter-high Batian was first climbed by Halford Mackinder, César Ollier, and Joseph Brocherel on September 13, 1899. Only small remnants of the mountain's glaciers remain; the largest is the Lewis Glacier, and they are rapidly retreating.Biosphere Reserve and World HeritageUNESCO declared the area a Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and added the park and natural forest to the World Heritage List in 1997. In 2013, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Ngare-Ndare Forest in the north were included, connected by a wildlife corridor that elephants use between the mountain and lowlands.

    Trekking & Practical Info

    The Three Main RoutesSirimon (North): steady ascent via Shipton’s Camp, considered the gentlest route.Naro Moru (West): the steepest and fastest route, with the marshy Vertical Bog below Mackinder’s Camp.Chogoria (East): leads through the Gorges Valley past Lake Michaelson and is considered scenically diverse.Many operators combine two routes as a traverse. For altitude acclimatization, they recommend five days or more. Check the health section of the UK FCDO travel advice and talk to your doctor about altitude before the trek.Entry and BookingThe park is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, and fees are paid in advance via the eCitizen portal. As of October 2025, KWS states that entry for adult non-residents costs 70 US dollars per day. Tours to Point Lenana are booked with licensed guides and porters.Best TimeAvoid the long rains from mid-March to June and the short rains from late October to December. Paths and visibility are best during the drier months.

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    Nearby

    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    Mount Kenya, Laikipia & Samburu

    North of Nairobi, the land rises towards Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain. Around the summit are national parks with mountain forest and moorland, private conservancies on the Laikipia Plateau, and further north the dry reserves of Samburu and Shaba, home to animals rarely seen in southern Kenya.The market town of Nanyuki, on the Equator, is a practical starting point for mountain treks and game drives.
    Nanyuki

    Nanyuki

    Nanyuki is a market town in Laikipia County at the western foot of Mount Kenya, whose southern part is crossed by the Equator. It is the base for tours up the mountain and for safaris in Ol Pejeta and the other conservancies of the Laikipia Plateau.British settlers settled here in 1907. Today, markets, lodges on the outskirts, and handicrafts characterize the town of over 70,000 inhabitants.
    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

    Lewa is a private Wildlife Conservancy at the northern foot of Mount Kenya, south of Isiolo in Meru County, which originated from a Craig family cattle ranch. It protects more than twelve percent of Kenya's black rhinos and the world's largest single population of Grevy's zebra.Since 2013, Lewa, along with the adjacent Ngare Ndare Forest, has been part of the Mount Kenya UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    Ol Pejeta Conservancy

    Ol Pejeta is a non-profit Wildlife Conservancy on the Laikipia Plateau directly west of Nanyuki, covering approximately 360 square kilometers and straddling the equator. It is considered East Africa's largest sanctuary for black rhinos and the last refuge for northern white rhinos.In addition to the Big Five, rescued chimpanzees live here in the Sweetwaters Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya where you can see these great apes.
    Aberdare National Park

    Aberdare National Park

    The Aberdare National Park protects the highlands of the Aberdare Range between 2,000 and 4,000 meters, about 150 kilometers north of Nairobi near Nyeri. Misty mountain forest, moorland, and waterfalls such as the Karuru Falls characterize the park, which was founded in 1950.It became known for the Treetops tree lodge, where Elizabeth II became queen in 1952.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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