The Mountains in Kenya are Every Adventurer's Dream

The 3 colossal mountains in Kenya bolster the country's reputation as an incredibly diverse and exceptionally beautiful country. Each of these offers a different menu of attractions to anyone with a knack for adventure.

These Kenya mountains are Mt. Kenya, Mt. Elgon and Mt. Longonot. In addition, you can savor the mighty Kilimanjaro from here.

Mt. Kenya

Mt. Kenya, the country's elegant namesake is the highest of all the mountains in Kenya and the second highest in Africa.

This 3 and a half million year old extinct volcano proudly stands 5,199m (17,057 ft) tall.

It has 3 jagged peaks - Batian, Nelion and Lenana. Batian is 5,199m (17057 ft) tall. Nelion is 5,188m (17,021 ft) tall but the harder one to climb. It is thus only recommended for experienced mountaineers. The 4,985 meter (16,355 ft) Point Lenana summit is however ideal for amateur climbers.

A permanent blanket of snow and glaciers covers the upper reaches of the mountain. Owing to its high altitude and its location astride the equator, Mt. Kenya boasts some pretty unique forms of flora and fauna that led a 715 sq km area around it to be gazetted as a national park.

Mt. Kenya's vegetation is a mix of bamboo and montane forest, moorland and tundra as well alpine and sub-alpine flora. These include tufts of tussock grassland, Spanish moss, giant groundsels and giant labelia that have adapted to the treacherous mountainous climate.

Wildlife that can inhabit the mountain area includes the leopards, African elephants, black rhino, buffalo, the giant forest hog. You can also spot several monkey and hyrax species and occasionally, the African lion.

Mt. Elgon

Mt. Elgon is yet another extinct volcano that is located in the west of the country.

This 4321m (14,177 ft) Kenya mountain straddles the Kenya-Uganda border. Although Wagagai, the highest peak is on Uganda territory, several lower peaks such as Koitobos, Sudek and Endebess bluff are located in Kenya.

The second highest of the mountains in Kenya supports some pretty dramatic vegetation. This includes the montane forest, bamboo and low canopy forest, high montane heath including the giant heather which grows up to 6m (20 ft) tall.

Mt. Elgon is also home to moorland and alpine vegetation such as giant groundsel, giant lobelia, carex bogs and tussock grassland.

The wildlife in Mt. Elgon area includes the leopard, buffalo and several monkey species...

The star attraction however has to be the mountain's salt-mining elephants. Be sure to visit the Kitum Cave at dawn in order to surreally witness a herd of elephants gouging salt off the cave walls with their enormous tusks.

Mt. Elgon also boasts one the world's largest intact calderas, the Suam River's warm springs, the Endebess bluff and waterfalls. Other attractions include a series of eerie caves, cliffs, breathtaking waterfalls and gorges.

Mt. Longonot

Experts disagree whether Mt. Longonot, located near Naivasha, an hour's driver from the Kenyan capital Nairobi is a dormant or extinct volcano.

What is certain though is that although the 2886 meter (9,469 ft) Longonot is the shortest of the 3 mountains in Kenya, it dominates the landscape for miles around it. It also provides scenic views of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley and is a hiker's haven.

Instead of a summit though, you have to make do with a huge crater that accommodates an impenetrable forest. Erosion has taken its toll on the soft volcanic soil that covers the cone, leading to narrow ridges that are something of a climber's nightmare.

The geothermal steam that drifts towards the sky and spectacular wildlife you meet along the way, such as the buffalo and other grazing game are nevertheless a very welcome distraction from the difficult climb.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

The majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro which is an inactive volcano is the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

It rises to a height of 4600m (15092 ft) and its major peaks are Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

As is the case with the other mountains reviewed above, it is home to some unique vegetation such as tussock grasslands and the water holding cabbage as well as other alpine plants.

Although it is located in neighboring Tanzania, you can get stunning views of it from Kenya, particularly from the Amboseli National Park which is located at the foot of the mountain.

The snowcapped Kilimanjaro dwarfs everything in sight and although it is not, strictly speaking, one of the mountains in Kenya, it provides an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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