Africa’s Mount Kenya
Hike Africa’s Mount Kenya through the Naro Moru Route
Africa is known for its scenic landscapes and vast wilderness brimming with endemic plant and animal species. This continent also boasts several hiking destinations that are famous for their scenic landscapes and challenging routes that have attracted adventure-seekers from around the globe. One such hiking destination is Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa. Situated in Central Kenya, this mountain is just south of the equator with the surrounding areas and the actual mountain declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Experience Mount Kenya through the Naro Moru Route
There are actually 8 routes hiking up to Mount Kenya. One of the popular routes is the Naro Moru route. This particular trail leads to Point Lenana and boasts a variety of scenic views and spectacular landscapes. A hiking route that can be completed in three days, the Naro Moru route starts at Naro Moru town. The track then encompasses the park headquarters until it reaches the ridge cradled by Southern and Northern Naro Moru Rivers. The next stop is at the Meteorological Station. The hiking trail then descends to the Northern Naro Moru Valley leading to Mackinder’s Camp situated at the Peak Circuit Path. Since the Naro Moru route is a popular trail, it offers several bunkhouses at each camping site.
The Vertical Bog
The Naro Moru route to Mt. Kenya is where the popular “vertical bog” is located. Traversing this part of the trail can get tricky. However, the scenic views of the Kenyan plateau that can be seen from the vertical bog makes the entire hiking trip a worthwhile experience.
Unique Plant and Animal Species
As a World Heritage site, Mount Kenya and its surrounding areas are protected by the Mt. Kenya National Park. When trekking through this trail, expect to see fascinating animal species such as elephants, rock hyrax, alpine chats, wagtails, starlings, leopards, hyenas, lions, lammergeier, and groove-toothed rats.
As for endemic plants, these are some of the many species that thrive within the area – giant groundsel, tussock grasses, giant heather, bamboo, lobelias, and senecios. According to Kenya Wildlife Service, the entire area within and around Mt. Kenya is comprised of several ecological habitats – highland forests, bamboo forests, alpine moorlands, glacial morains, and tarns.
Cultural Tour of Kenya
A hiking trip to Mount Kenya is also a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand the best of Kenyan culture. Currently, there are numerous African tribes living along the slopes of Mount Kenya. Some of these indigenous tribes include the Gikuyu, Maasai, Embu, Ameru, and Wanderobo tribes. Many of these tribes view Mt. Kenya as a sacred site, with many of their houses actually facing the mountain.
Accommodations at Mount Kenya
This hiking destination offers plenty of cozy accommodations ranging from basic camping huts to relatively more luxurious lodges and hostels. Each route offers a variety of huts and lodges. Although not all huts and lodges offer the same facilities, these services are more common at many luxurious accommodation sites – equipment hire, conference areas, and kitchens. For more information, visit official hiking sites.
Accommodation example: Serena Mountain Lodge, Western Slopes of Mt. Kenya, Kenya, Africa
How to get to Mt. Kenya
The nearest commercial airfield is located at Nayuki. Mt. Kenya National Park is accessible from Nairobi through Nayuki-Isiolo road via the Sirimon Track. An alternate route is through the Embu- Meru road. Local travel services are available and hiking and travel companies offer a variety of hiking packages that may already include transport services. For more information, visit the official site of Kenya Wildlife Service.
Sources:
ABC of Mountaneering
Natural Track
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Kenya Wildlife Service
Mark Horrell Travels
Serena Mountain Lodge