The direct ascent through the Teleki Valley, a night at 4,790m, and a long descent down the quiet northern side. For hikers who like a mountain to feel like a mountain.
Naro Moru is the steepest approach on Mount Kenya and the fastest way into the high country. This itinerary offsets that by putting you at Austrian Hut on night three, so summit morning is a short climb rather than a long one, and then bringing you down Sirimon — a completely different landscape from the one you walked up.
A short drive to Naro Moru Gate at 2,400m, then into the forest on foot. Nine kilometres of dense equatorial rainforest — the wettest, greenest walking of the trip, with colobus and Sykes’ monkeys overhead and buffalo sign on the track.
The Met Station sits right at the top of the treeline. From here on, the mountain opens up.
Met Station · 3,050mThe day everyone remembers. The track climbs straight into the Vertical Bog — a stretch of waterlogged moorland that has defeated more boots than it has hikers. Gaiters help; a sense of humour helps more.
Above the bog the Teleki Valley opens out, and for the first time Batian and Nelion stand in full view at its head. Giant lobelia and groundsel line the last hour into Mackinder’s Camp.
Mackinder’s Camp · 4,200mA short day by design. The climb out of the Teleki Valley to Austrian Hut gains nearly 600 metres in a few hours, so the pace is deliberately slow and the afternoon is free.
At 4,790m this is the highest accommodation on the mountain, tucked beneath the Lewis Glacier. Spend the afternoon walking gently around camp and taking photographs rather than lying in your sleeping bag — light movement helps you acclimatise.
Austrian Hut · 4,790mA civilised start compared with most Mount Kenya itineraries. From Austrian Hut it is a short climb to Point Lenana at 4,985m, arriving for first light with Kilimanjaro on the southern horizon.
Then over the top and down the northern side to Shipton’s Camp for a full breakfast, and an easy afternoon in the Mackinder Valley.
Shipton’s Camp · 4,200mA long descent, but almost entirely downhill. Through the Mackinder Valley, past Old Moses, and finally the nine kilometres of bamboo and rainforest to Sirimon Gate at 2,650m.
Transport meets you at the gate for the transfer back to Nanyuki, arriving mid-afternoon.
What’s included
- Kenya Wildlife Service park fees for every day on the mountain
- KWS-certified guide, cook and porters
- All meals on the mountain, freshly cooked
- Accommodation along the route
- Tents, sleeping bags and walking sticks
- Road transport at both ends of the trek
- Drinking water throughout
What to bring
- Well-broken-in hiking boots — the most important item you own
- Warm jacket and insulated trousers for summit morning
- Waterproof jacket and over-trousers
- Warm hat, gloves and a buff or balaclava
- Sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Daypack for the summit push
Missing something? We rent down jackets, insulated trousers, gloves, fleeces and larger packs at USD 5 per item for the trip. Sleeping bags, walking sticks and tents are already included.
What it costs
Five days at our standard daily rate, everything above included.
Airport collection and Nairobi transport available at USD 150. See our full cost breakdown for what sits outside the daily rate.
Book the Naro Moru–Sirimon Traverse
Tell us your dates and group size and we will send a day-by-day plan built around them.
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