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Mount Kenya Boasts One of the World's Improbable Sights - Equatorial SnowMount Kenya, the nation's mammoth namesake is also the highest and most recognizable of the 3 mountains in Kenya.
Mt Kenya is spectacularly beautiful. What, with its forested slopes, wide array of wildlife and birdlife, jagged peaks and a snow draped summit. Because of this, it promises an action-packed adventure to the professional and amateur mountaineer alike. Here are the distinctive sights and sounds of Mt Kenya... Peak to PeakThe highest peaks of Mount Kenya are named after Masai people laibons (leaders) and are Batian, Nelion and Point Lenana.
Point Lenana, at 4,985m (16,355ft), is the third highest peak and can be easily reached by a fit trekker. The subsidiary peaks are Point Pigott, Point Thomson and Thomson Flake, Point Dutton, Point Melhuish, Point John, Point Peter and Midget Peak. The altitude of these varies from 4957m (16,262ft) in the case Point Pigott to 4700m (15,420ft) for the appropriately named Midget Peak. While the rock of Mt Kenya is of variable quality, it's best at the higher altitude where it is granite-like - it is hard and occurs in different beautiful colors, shades and patterns. Glaciers and SnowReports by Johann Ludwig Krapf in 1849 that he had sighted the snowcapped Mount Kenya were greeted with skepticism...
But owing to its high altitude, there is a permanent snowcap on Mt Kenya. As a result, temperatures at the snowcapped Batian and Nelion peaks hover below freezing point and can drop to as low as -12°C. In addition, there are several ice glaciers on Mt. Kenya. These are Northey, Krapf, Gregory, Lewis, Diamond, Darwin, Forel, Heim, Tyndall, Cesar and Josef. The largest of these is Lewis Glacier at 5,000m (16,400ft). Owing to global warming, these glaciers are receding fast. It's nevertheless good to know that the soaring temperatures haven't made them disappear completely. The melting glaciers feed the mountain's crystal clear streams that are swarming with Trout. Any fishermen out there? Exotic Montane VegetationMount Kenya is home to some exotic vegetation the nature of which changes with altitude.
These are, from the base, the montane forest, bamboo, timberline forest, heath and chapparal, afro-alpine and nival belts. At the base are the montane forest then bamboo belts. Above the bamboo belt is the timberline forest whose tiny trees are often covered in lichens. Trees do not grow in the higher zones. Above the timberland forest belt is the heath and chapparal zone. The dominant vegetation here is giant heathers while tufts of tussock grass have virtually colonized the drier chaparral portion of this ecological zone. Next up is the Afro-alpine zone where there are many endemic species, such as the giant groundsel and giant lobelia which are well-adapted to zone's treacherous weather conditions... Because the air in this zone is extremely cold, thin and dry, the plants' tend to be large, hairy and shiny and their leaves furl tightly inward at night in order to insulate their tissue from the dipping nocturnal temperatures. The conditions in the nival zone are too harsh to allow for plant growth so glaciers reign supreme there. Montane WildlifeMount Kenya's slopes are rich in wildlife particularly on the lower reaches.
While zebras and elands can venture to an altitude of around 4,300m, the higher ground is essentially rock hyrax territory. This is because this rodent withstands punishing the pertaining weather conditions with amazing dexterity. Upwards of 150 bird species have been recorded around Mt Kenya. These include various hornbill, swallow, francolin, sunbird, parrot, owl, mountain buzzard and eagle species. An expedition around the mountain also gives you an opportunity to spot the rare green ibis and Abyssinian ground-thrush. Mountain Trekking and ClimbingMount Kenya is virtually everything an experienced mountaineer could wish for...
Mountaineering and winter gear is therefore indispensable to anyone planning to scale the peaks. While all climbers use the trekking routes, the climbing routes are for professional climbers and are used to scale the highest peaks. There are 8 trekking routes with the main 3 being are Naro Moru, Chogoria and Sirimon. The Naro Moru route is the fastest way up and also features the famous "Vertical Bog" which is steep moorland and a steep slope of the Teleki Valley. However, the route isn't particularly picturesque. Nor is it recommended for anyone who wants to acclimatize gradually or must ascend unhurriedly in order to prevent or assuage acute mountain sickness. The Chogoria route is the most scenic of the routes. The breathtaking views of Lake Michaelson and the Gorges valley come as welcome distractions from the exhausting trek up. Although the least used, the Sirimon route provides the best opportunity for gradual ascent. It weaves its way through lush forest and provides plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife and some incredible alpine scenery at the higher altitude. AccommodationsThe Mount Kenya lodges cater for all budgets. Note though that the higher you go, the more basic the accommodations get. Luxurious lodges located at the base and lower slopes provide en suite rooms and hot running water. These include Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Treetops and Outspans. These are often patronized by non-trekking guests who just crave a dose of fresh air, tranquility and the imposing views of the magnificent Mt Kenya.
Return from Mount Kenya to the Mountains in Kenya Return from Mount Kenya to the Kenya Travel Packages Homepage
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It is also the second highest mountain in Africa, after Tanzania's Kilimanjaro. It is an extinct volcano that is around 3 million years old.
Batian is the highest at 5,199m (17,057ft) tall. Nelion, at 5,188m (17,021ft) is only 11m shorter.
With their sharp serrated edges, both Batian and Nelion require plenty of technical climbing with ropes.
This was because the specter of snow and ice so close to the equator was scientifically implausible.
There 6 distinct ecological zones around the mountain.
The inhabitants of the forest zone include the mountain bongo, which is the largest and rarest antelope, the 
Abundant climbing possibilities on rock, ice and snow. The jagged peaks of Batian and Nelion which are also technically more challenging than its more famous cousin, the Kilimanjaro.
