Park or nature areaOutline guide

Mount Kenya National Park

National park in Kenya

Photo: User:Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Mount Kenya National Park protects the summit and upper slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest mountain, in the central highlands of Kenya. The extinct volcano rises to 5,199 m at Batian and contains glacier-cut valleys, alpine moorland, high-altitude lakes, montane forest and some of East Africa's most distinctive mountain vegetation.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Via Sirimon Gate
The Sirimon Route is normally approached from Nanyuki. From Nanyuki, follow the Nanyuki–Meru road north-east and turn toward Sirimon Gate. KWS places the gate roughly 200 km by road from Nairobi.
Via Naro Moru Gate
The Naro Moru Route approaches from the west through the town of Naro Moru on the Nyeri–Nanyuki road. KWS places the gate about 188 km from Nairobi.
Via Chogoria Gate
The Chogoria Route approaches from the town of Chogoria on the eastern side of the mountain. KWS places the entrance roughly 210 km north of Nairobi.
By public transport
Public transport does not carry trekkers through the park to high trailheads. Arrange a transfer, safari vehicle or trekking operator from the gateway town.
By air
Nanyuki Airport (NYK) is the closest commercial airfield to the park. Scheduled flights link Nanyuki with Nairobi's Wilson Airport.

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Getting around

Travel inside the high mountain zone is primarily on foot.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Nanyuki Civil Airport

Gathiuru · Regional · NYK

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Read before you go to Mount Kenya National Park

Articles and travel topics about Mount Kenya National Park and Kenya.

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Kenyan national parks

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandMount Kenya rises dramatically from the central Kenyan highlands only a short distance south of the Equator.

Get inMount Kenya has three principal official approaches:

Fees and permitsMount Kenya National Park is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

Get aroundTravel inside the high mountain zone is primarily on foot.

See

BuyThere are almost no shopping facilities once a trek has begun. Purchase or rent equipment before entering the park.

EatThere are no restaurants on the upper mountain.

DrinkCarry a reusable water bottle or hydration system. Disposable plastic water bottles are prohibited in the park.

SleepAccommodation ranges from basic mountain huts to campsites and comfortable lodges around the park boundary.

ConnectMobile coverage becomes unreliable or disappears as elevation increases and valleys block signals.Do not assume that an ordinary mobile phone will provide emergency communications throughout a trek.

Stay safeAltitude sickness is the most important health risk for trekkers. Point Lenana reaches almost 5,000 m, well above the altitude at which acute mountain sickness can occur.Common early symptoms include:

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mount Kenya National Park" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mount Kenya National Park", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: User:Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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