5 DAYS MOUNT KENYA CLIMBING: SIRIMON ROUTE

As you step out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your personal Africa Safari Trips guide greets you with a big smile: 'Karibu Kenya – welcome to Kenya!' The guide takes you straight to your hotel, where you can relax and take in the images of vibrant Nairobi. The next day, your guide takes you on an exclusive, private safari that allows you to travel at your own pace. Enjoy the luxury of your private safari jeep and take the liberty to stop and watch the animals as long as you like!

Accommodations:

• Silver Boma Inn Nairobi

On this first day of your Mount Kenya climb, you drive 3 to 4 hours from Nairobi to the mountain's Sirimon gate (2,640m). After a short lunch, you start your hike passing extraordinary landscapes and breathtaking views. The first part of the route takes you through the tropical rainforest, then the trees get scarce and you continue walking on the heathland. After 3 to 4 hours of walking, you reach the Old Moses Camp at 3,300 meters. Here you have dinner and sleep in the huts of the camp.

After a hearty breakfast, you start your second day of climbing from Old Moses Camp (3,300m). In seven hours, you cross the Ontulili River, a stretch of moorland and the Liki North Camp, then you go uphill into MacKinders Valley for some panoramic views of the main peaks of Mount Kenya. In the afternoon you arrive at Shiptons Camp, in time for dinner and an overnight in one of the huts. This camp at 4,200 meters is the perfect place for your day of acclimatization on day 3.

Today you have time to get used to the altitude at 4,200 meter, which helps to prevent altitude sickness. This will increase your chances to reach the top. Use this day to familiarize your body with the climatic conditions by embarking on a short hike after breakfast. You are back at the camp in time for lunch, after which the afternoon is all yours. Have a good rest, because tomorrow you will go to the summit!

Today is the day you conquer the mountain! At 3 o'clock in the morning, you start your attempt to reach the summit. A steep rocky trail takes you up, and around 6:30 AM you are on Lenana Peak - just in time to watch the sunrise at 4,985 meters above sea level...! Enjoy the amazing views, which on clear days even include Mount Kilimanjaro more than 350 kilometres away. You then hike two hours back to Shipton's Camp for breakfast, and another four to Old Moses Camp (3,300 m) to spend the night.

After breakfast, you descend further down the mountain through the rainforest. In approximately three hours you reach the Sirimon Gate where you leave Mount Kenya National Park. Your driver takes you by car to Nanyuki for lunch and (depending on the planned route) back to Nairobi, where you arrive in the late afternoon. Bask in the feeling of being proud of yourself, while you relax in your hotel - ready for the next part of your adventure!