Mount Kenya Group Treks: Guaranteed Weekly Departures

Wild Springs Adventures · Nairobi-based Mount Kenya climbing specialists since 2013.

🏆 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2024, 2025 and 2026 · ✅ TRA Licensed No. TRA1/47/C01/25895 · 🏛️ TOSK Member #0082

Africa's second-highest mountain · Point Lenana 4,985 m · 2 to 6 days · Maximum 8 trekkers · Guaranteed from one booking

In short: a Mount Kenya group trek with us is a fixed-date climb to Point Lenana (4,985 m) that runs from a single booking. Joining prices start at $450 per person for non-residents, KES 24,500 for Kenyan and EAC citizens and KES 27,000 for Kenya residents, on the 2-day climb with three or more of you booking together. Our recommended 5-day traverse costs $900 to $1,000 per person to join, or KES 54,500 to 64,500 for citizens. Private transport from Nairobi, all KWS fees, a KWS-certified guide, a cook, porters, mountain meals and tents are included.

Last updated 22 October 2026.

Mount Kenya trek prices, per person

Every price we charge for these treks is in this one table. Find your residency, then read across. Joining means a place on a fixed-date group departure from the calendar below. Private means your own guide, crew and vehicle, on any date you choose. Both depend on how many of you book together, not on how many other trekkers join the departure.

Valid to 31 December 2027. Prices are per person: US dollars for non-residents, Kenya shillings for Kenyan and East African Community (EAC) citizens and for Kenya residents.

🏕️ Solo joiners get their own tent. Two or more of you booking together share, and tent sharing is always same-sex.
👥 Private groups of 5 or more pay the 2-person joining price.
🧭 Route supplements: Burguret or Timau route, add $50 or KES 5,000 per person. Kamweti route, add $100 or KES 10,000 per person.
✅ Included in every price: private transport from Nairobi, all KWS fees, a KWS-certified guide, a cook, porters, mountain meals and tents.
📄 These prices apply to new bookings. A quotation we have already issued stands as issued.

Kenyan and EAC citizens and Kenya residents pay less because Kenya Wildlife Service charges them a fraction of the non-resident park fee, and we pass that saving straight through. Residents pay KES 2,500 more than citizens because the KWS resident fee is higher. Residency is verified by KWS at the park gate, so carry your ID or resident card. Our Mount Kenya climbing cost guide explains where the money goes.

How joining a group trek works

You book a place on a fixed date and climb alongside other trekkers from around the world, sharing the cost of the guide, the crew and the vehicle. You pay the joining price rather than a private price.

Every date we publish runs — even if you are the only person booked. We do not cancel departures for low numbers. That is a term of your booking, not a marketing line, and it is written into our booking terms.

⛺ Tents: two trekkers to a tent, always same-sex. A solo joiner has a tent of their own, included in the one-person price.
👥 Group size: 8 trekkers at most — a hard cap, not a target.
💳 Deposit: 50% of the trip price confirms your place. The balance is due 14 days before departure.
📅 Dates: the 3- to 6-day treks run on the fixed weekly rhythm in the calendar below. 2-day climbs are arranged on request — see the 2-day Sirimon climb.

Departure calendar

We run a fixed weekly rhythm, so you can plan around it: the 5-day traverse leaves every Monday, the 4-day every Wednesday, and the 3-day every Friday. The 6-day Burguret wilderness route runs on the first Saturday of each month. On the second and fourth Monday we also run the 5-day traverse in reverse, up Chogoria and down Sirimon.

💡 How to read this calendar. Each row is one departure, and every one of them runs. If your dates are not listed, tell us your travel window — we open new departures within 48 hours.

On availability: we show "Guaranteed — running" when a date is open, and "Full — join the waiting list" only when all eight places are genuinely taken. We do not run countdowns or publish numbers we cannot stand behind.

On price: the calendar shows dates only. What you pay depends on the trek, your residency and how many of you book together — see the price table above. The Burguret departures carry the Burguret route supplement.

October 2026

The short rains begin. Fewer people on the mountain.

November 2026

Short rains. The mountain is green, the forest zones are alive, and the summit is entirely achievable with proper waterproofs.

December 2026

The dry season returns. Cold, clear nights and stable trails. Our Christmas departure, Monday 21 December, summits Point Lenana on the morning of Thursday 24 December, under the full moon.

January 2027

Prime dry season — Mount Kenya's second-best window. Crystal-clear skies and cold nights.

February 2027

Dry season continues. Excellent summit visibility with far fewer climbers than the July–October peak.

March 2027

The last of the dry season before the long rains. Good conditions to mid-month.

Later dates

Dates from April 2027 are added as they are confirmed.

Full moon summit nights

Summiting Point Lenana on a full moon changes the experience completely. You climb the final 785 m from Shipton's Camp in near daylight, with no headlamp glare, the Lewis Glacier gleaming below and the Nanyuki plains visible to the west. On clear mornings, Kilimanjaro's profile can appear on the southern horizon.

On the 5-day traverse, your summit night falls on Day 4, so to align with a full moon, you depart roughly three nights before the full moon date. For each full moon below we list the Monday 5-day departure whose summit morning falls closest to it.

A summit up to three days after the full moon is moonlit all the way to sunrise. Two to four days before it, the moon sets one and a half to three and a half hours before dawn, so part of the climb is dark.

Full moons later in 2027 (East Africa Time): 21 April, 20 May, 19 June, 18 July, 17 August, 16 September, 15 October, 14 November and 13 December. Their departures are added with the calendar.

Tell us when you enquire, and we will confirm the departure that puts your summit night on the moon. WhatsApp +254 729 257 317.

Routes at a glance

Every route summits Point Lenana (4,985 m), and camping is standard on all of them. Five of these routings run on the calendar; the others run as private treks on any date, or as a joining departure when you ask for one. The 5-day traverses are the ones we recommend for anyone who has not been above 4,000 m before.

The routes in detail

🔹 2-day Sirimon — for experienced hikers only

For: experienced hikers with prior high-altitude trekking only.

The shortest way to Point Lenana: one night at Old Moses Camp, then a 03:00 summit push. It is a hard day, and it is arranged on request rather than on the calendar. The full itinerary is on the 2-day Sirimon climb page.

Day 1: Nairobi → Sirimon Gate (2,650 m) → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m)
Day 2: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana (4,985 m) at sunrise → descend → Sirimon Gate → Nairobi

🔵 3-day Sirimon — the fast option

For: experienced trekkers with prior high-altitude exposure above 3,500 m. Not for sea-level first-timers.

The Sirimon route enters Mount Kenya National Park from the north-west at Sirimon Gate (2,650 m). It is the driest and most gradual approach. Two nights on the mountain precede summit day, and the night at Shipton's Camp is your only acclimatisation before the pre-dawn push.

Day 1: Nairobi → Sirimon Gate (2,650 m) → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m) · 9 km · +650 m · 4 hours
Day 2: Old Moses → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m) via Mackinder's Valley · 14 km · +900 m · 6 hours
Day 3: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana (4,985 m) at sunrise → full descent → Sirimon Gate → Nairobi

🧭 Not recommended if you arrived from sea level within the past 10 days. If this is your first time above 3,500 m, take the 5-day. Read the best months to climb Mount Kenya before you choose your dates.

⚪ 3-day Sirimon up, Naro Moru down — two sides in three days

For: experienced trekkers with prior high-altitude exposure who want to see two sides of the mountain in three days.

The first two days follow the Sirimon route to Shipton's Camp. After the summit you descend the Naro Moru side, past Mackinder's Camp and the Met Station.

Day 1: Nairobi → Sirimon Gate (2,650 m) → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m)
Day 2: Old Moses → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m) via Mackinder's Valley
Day 3: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana (4,985 m) at sunrise → descend past Mackinder's Camp (4,200 m) and the Met Station (3,050 m) → Naro Moru Gate → Nairobi

🟤 3-day Naro Moru — the direct approach

For: trekkers who want the most direct route to Point Lenana and already have experience at altitude.

Up and down the western side of the mountain from Naro Moru, with nights at the Met Station and Mackinder's Camp. It is steep, and the section above the Met Station is known as the Vertical Bog.

Day 1: Nairobi → Naro Moru Gate (2,400 m) → Met Station (3,050 m)
Day 2: Met Station → Mackinder's Camp (4,200 m) via the Vertical Bog
Day 3: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana (4,985 m) → descend → Naro Moru Gate → Nairobi

🟢 4-day Sirimon up, Chogoria down — the most booked traverse

For: fit first-timers and experienced trekkers who want the best value for their time.

Our most popular group-joining route. The gradual Sirimon ascent, then the dramatic Chogoria descent past Lake Michaelson at 3,950 m in its glacier-carved cirque, with the Gorges Valley below. Four days covering the best of both sides of the mountain.

Day 1: Nairobi → Sirimon Gate → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m)
Day 2: Old Moses → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m), Mackinder's Valley, giant groundsel fields
Day 3: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana at sunrise → descend east to Minto's Hut (4,300 m)
Day 4: Minto's → Chogoria Gate via Lake Michaelson, Gorges Valley, Nithi Falls → Nairobi

🟡 4-day Chogoria up, Sirimon down — the most scenic traverse

For: trekkers who put scenery first. Photographers. Returning climbers.

You enter the most dramatic side of the mountain first — Nithi Falls, Lake Ellis at 3,455 m, Lake Michaelson at 3,950 m, the Gorges Valley — then summit from the east face and descend the gentler Sirimon side. Every major landmark arrives on the ascent, while you still have the energy to stop and look.

Day 1: Nairobi → Chogoria Gate → Lake Ellis Camp (3,455 m)
Day 2: Lake Ellis → Lake Michaelson (3,950 m) via the Gorges Valley
Day 3: 03:00 summit → Point Lenana → descend to Shipton's Camp
Day 4: Shipton's → Old Moses → Sirimon Gate → Nairobi

🟠 5-day Sirimon up, Chogoria down — ★ our recommendation for first-timers

For: all fitness levels, including first-time high-altitude trekkers.

This is the route we recommend for anyone arriving from sea level within the past fortnight, anyone attempting their first trek above 4,000 m, and anyone preparing for Kilimanjaro.

The extra night at Shipton's Camp is not passive rest. It is an active acclimatisation day: your guide leads a hike to around 4,500 m and back down to sleep, which measurably raises your oxygen saturation before the summit push. It is the single most effective preparation available on the mountain, and it is the reason we point most people here. Our hydration and nutrition guide covers how to support it.

Day 1: Nairobi → Sirimon Gate → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m)
Day 2: Old Moses → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m) via Mackinder's Valley
Day 3 — acclimatisation: guided hike to around 4,500 m, then back to Shipton's Camp to sleep
Day 4: 03:00 summit push → Point Lenana at sunrise → descend to Minto's Hut (4,300 m) on the Chogoria side
Day 5: Minto's → Chogoria Gate via Lake Michaelson, Gorges Valley, Nithi Falls → Nairobi

🔴 5-day Chogoria up, Sirimon down — ★ maximum scenery

For: experienced trekkers and photographers who want every scenic highlight plus the full acclimatisation profile.

You begin on Mount Kenya's most beautiful side. Nithi Falls, Lake Ellis, Lake Michaelson, the Gorges Valley and the Hall Tarns all arrive on the ascent, with three nights progressively above 3,400 m before summit day, the last of them at Minto's Hut.

Day 1: Nairobi → Chogoria Gate → Lake Ellis Camp (3,455 m)
Day 2: Lake Ellis → Lake Michaelson (3,950 m) via the Nithi Gorge viewpoints
Day 3 — acclimatisation: Lake Michaelson → Minto's Hut by the Hall Tarns (4,300 m), with an optional walk towards Tooth Col (4,700 m)
Day 4: 03:00 summit push from Minto's → Point Lenana → descend to Shipton's Camp
Day 5: Shipton's → Old Moses → Sirimon Gate → Nairobi

🟣 6-day Chogoria up, Sirimon down — the slow, high route

For: trekkers who want the most gradual ascent and the whole of the Chogoria side, with a night high on the mountain at the Austrian Hut.

Four nights on the way up: the Meru Bandas, Lake Ellis, Lake Michaelson and the Austrian Hut, 195 m below the summit. You pass the Hall Tarns and cross Tooth Col on the way, summit Point Lenana at sunrise, and descend the gentler Sirimon side.

Day 1: Nairobi → Chogoria → Meru Bandas (2,950 m)
Day 2: Meru Bandas → Lake Ellis (3,455 m)
Day 3: Lake Ellis → Lake Michaelson (3,950 m), or Minto's Hut (4,300 m)
Day 4: Hall Tarns (4,300 m) → Tooth Col (4,700 m) → Austrian Hut (4,790 m)
Day 5: Point Lenana (4,985 m) at sunrise → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m) → Old Moses Camp (3,300 m)
Day 6: Old Moses → Sirimon Gate (2,650 m) → Nairobi

⚫ 6-day Burguret up, Chogoria down — the wilderness route

For: experienced, fit trekkers seeking genuine solitude. Not for beginners.

The Burguret route climbs the western slopes through dense bamboo, montane cedar and giant heather — terrain used more by elephants than by people. There are no huts on this side and no mobile signal. We run it once a month as a joining departure, and the Burguret route supplement under the price table applies.

Day 1: Nairobi → Nanyuki → Gathiuru Forest Station → Giant Bamboo Camp (2,600 m). Buffalo and elephant tracks are common.
Day 2: Bamboo Camp → podocarpus and cedar forest → hagenia zone → Highland Castle Camp (3,400 m)
Day 3: Highland Castle → Shipton's Camp (4,200 m). First views of Batian and Nelion's rock towers.
Day 4 — acclimatisation: Harris Tarn and the Austrian Hut area, then early rest
Day 5: 03:00 → Point Lenana at sunrise → descend via Chogoria to Hall Tarns (4,300 m)
Day 6: Hall Tarns → Lake Michaelson → Nithi Falls → Chogoria Gate → Nairobi

⚠️ Burguret needs proper expedition camping gear. Our Nairobi gear store and the Mount Kenya gear checklist will get you equipped before departure.

Why the longer routes get more people to the summit

What gets people to Point Lenana is not fitness. It is time spent at altitude before summit night.

Our 5-day traverse up Sirimon gives you three sleeps above 3,300 m and includes a dedicated acclimatisation day at Shipton's Camp, where your guide leads you to around 4,500 m and back down to sleep. That is the climb-high-sleep-low principle, and it is the single most useful thing you can add to a Mount Kenya trek. The 4-day compresses that into two nights above 3,300 m. The 3-day into one.

If you have the days available, take them. Our acclimatisation guide explains what actually happens to your body above 3,500 m and why the extra night matters more than any amount of sea-level training.

We do not publish a summit success percentage. Kenya Wildlife Service is the custodian of Mount Kenya visitor and summit data, and we are not in a position to verify a figure we did not collect ourselves. We would rather explain the mechanism than quote a number we cannot stand behind.

Who this trek is for

🧍 Solo travellers — a guaranteed departure without paying private rates, and a tent of your own. The one-person joining prices are in the table above.

👩 Solo female travellers — all-female groups available on request. Ask when you book.

👫 Pairs and small groups — share the costs and meet other climbers.

🌍 International visitors — combining Mount Kenya with a Masai Mara safari or a Kilimanjaro climb.

🏃 Kilimanjaro preparation trekkers — Point Lenana at 4,985 m sits above Mont Blanc (4,808 m), which makes it the best altitude preparation available before Kilimanjaro. Read our Mount Kenya versus Kilimanjaro comparison.

🎯 Fit first-time high-altitude trekkers — ready for a serious but non-technical challenge.

What is included

✔ 🚐 Private return transport from Nairobi, with hotel pickup
✔ 🍳 All meals on the mountain — hot breakfast, packed trail lunch with a hot thermos, hot dinner
✔ 💧 Safe drinking water throughout — boiled and filtered, no single-use plastic
✔ ⛺ Camping tents, sleeping mats and mess tent — 2 trekkers per tent, same-sex pairing, and a tent of their own for a solo joiner
✔ 🧭 KWS-certified mountain guide, a cook and porters — minimum 1 guide per 4 trekkers
✔ 👷 Porters strictly load-limited per KWS regulations, properly sheltered and fed at every camp
✔ 🎫 All KWS park entry and camping permits for the full duration
✔ 🩺 Pulse oximeter monitoring at every camp, morning and evening
✔ 🚑 Mountain rescue coordination and a first-aid kit on every climb
✔ 🥾 Pre-departure gear briefing in Nairobi, with access to our outdoor gear store
✔ 🏆 Summit certificate on reaching Point Lenana

What is not included

✗ ✈️ International flights and visas
✗ 🏨 Nairobi accommodation and meals before or after the trek — we can arrange it, just ask
✗ 🛏️ Sleeping bag — hire available on request. We recommend a bag rated to −15 °C
✗ 🎒 Personal trekking clothing, boots and a warm summit jacket — see the gear checklist
✗ 💊 Personal medication, including Diamox — consult your doctor in advance
✗ 🍺 Drinks and personal expenses
✗ 💡 Crew tips — see below
✗ 🚁 Air evacuation cover — arranged on request at additional cost, see below
✗ 🛡️ Travel and medical insurance — mandatory. See the insurance section below

Air evacuation cover

Air evacuation cover is not included in your trek price. We can arrange AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover on request at additional cost — tell us when you book.

Every climb carries mountain rescue coordination, a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter monitoring at each camp as standard.

Insurance: two separate requirements

Two separate requirements apply, and you need both.

Kenya's entry rule. Non-Kenyan visitors staying under 12 months must hold travel health insurance with combined benefits of at least USD 50,000, covering medical treatment, emergency medical transport, prescribed medicines, mental health care and repatriation. The cover can be bought with the eTA application or through the government's eCitizen insurance portal. Whether a policy from your own country is accepted instead is still being settled, so check the current rule on Kenya's official eTA portal before you travel.

Our requirement on top of that. Your policy must cover trekking to 5,000 m and emergency evacuation. Many standard travel policies exclude altitude above 3,000 or 4,000 m, and that is the exclusion that matters on Point Lenana. Check it before you buy, not after.

Buy your insurance when you book, not when you travel — cancellation cover only pays out if the policy was already in force when the reason to cancel arose.

Tipping your crew

Tips are not included and are entirely at your discretion. As a guide, per day:

Hand them to the lead guide at the end of the climb, in shillings or dollars, and they are shared across the team. Our tipping guide explains the local context.

What every climber should know before booking

Mount Kenya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, and Africa's second-highest mountain at 5,199 m (Batian). Point Lenana at 4,985 m is the highest trekking summit — higher than Mont Blanc, and reached without ropes or technical climbing.

📍 Location: 150 km north of Nairobi, about 3.5 hours via Nanyuki — see how to get to Mount Kenya
🌐 Coordinates: 0°09′S, 37°18′E — almost exactly on the equator
🌡️ Summit temperature: −5 °C to −15 °C on summit night, even in dry season
📏 Elevation gain from Nairobi: 3,285 m over 2 to 6 days
☀️ Best months: January to March and June to October — full seasonal guide
🌧️ Wet seasons: April to May and November — climbable with proper gear
📡 Mobile signal: Safaricom is intermittent at high points. No reliable data above 3,500 m.
🎒 Altitude sickness: a real risk above 3,500 m — our acclimatisation guide explains how we manage it
🌋 Geology: a dormant stratovolcano roughly 3.1 million years old — the volcanic history
🏛️ Cultural significance: sacred to the Kikuyu, Meru and Embu peoples — Kirinyaga mythology
🧊 Glaciers: over 95% have retreated since 1900 — glacier history

The ecosystems you walk through

Every Mount Kenya experience we run

Our Mountains category covers the full range, from a day hike to technical summit climbs. Each trip has its own page with its own prices.

Our mountain crew, and what fair tourism looks like

The guides leading you are not freelancers hired for your trip. They are a permanent team with career paths and fair wages, which is not standard in Kenya's mountain guiding industry.

⚖️ Fair, agreed day rates for every guide, porter and cook — paid on time, every trek
🎒 KWS-compliant load limits, enforced — no porter carries more than the regulated maximum
⛺ Proper crew shelter at every camp — quality tents, not plastic sheeting
🍲 Hot meals for the crew at every camp. An exhausted crew cannot keep climbers safe.
🎓 Youth guide development — we train the next generation from the Nanyuki and Chogoria communities
♻️ Leave No Trace — all waste carried off the mountain, no single-use plastics
🌿 Aligned with KWS conservation goals — park fees paid promptly, regulations followed without exception

Not ready yet? Train with us first

We run the Mount Kenya Fitness Training Programme, a guided pre-summit training programme. It uses the Aberdares, the Ngong Hills and Rurimeria Peak to build aerobic capacity, leg strength and altitude tolerance progressively.

Participants who could not hike for more than two hours have gone on to summit Point Lenana, and then Kilimanjaro. See the full programme, and read our mental preparation guide.

Gear - what to bring and what to hire

The items most trekkers underestimate:

Sleeping bag rated to −15 °C. Below that, summit night is genuinely miserable. Not included in your price - we hire them out; just ask.
Down or synthetic insulated jacket. A fleece alone is not enough above 4,500 m in the dark.
Waterproof boots with ankle support. Not trail runners.
Waterproof jacket and trousers. Both.
Trekking poles. Strongly recommended, especially for the descent.

Our outdoor gear store in Parklands, Nairobi stocks all of it — new, gently used and for hire. If your luggage is delayed, we have kitted trekkers out from scratch on departure morning. Do not cancel over missing luggage; call us first. The full Mount Kenya gear checklist is on our blog.

Add another leg to your trip

How to book

1. Choose your departure date and route from the calendar above.
2. Contact us to confirm availability — 📧 [email protected] · 📱 WhatsApp or call +254 729 257 317 or +254 734 417 496. We reply within 2 hours on WhatsApp.
3. Pay the deposit — 50% of the trip price, fully applied to your balance.
4. Receive your pre-trek briefing, packing list, and exact pickup details within 24 hours.
5. Show up. We handle everything from there.

Booking terms

Deposit: 50% of the trip price confirms your place, and it is fully applied to your balance.
Balance: due 14 days before departure.
Cancellation: a full refund when you cancel with at least 14 days' notice.
Rescheduling: move your trek to another date within 12 months.
Group size: 8 trekkers at most on every departure.
Quotations: a quotation we have already issued stands as issued.

Your booking is covered by our terms and conditions and cancellation policy. The details you give us when booking — including any medical information you share with your guide — are handled as set out in our privacy policy.

How to pay

These are the payment methods we accept. We do not publish account numbers, paybill numbers or payment links anywhere on this website. Once we confirm your place we send you a written invoice from our office, and that invoice carries the only account details you should ever use. Payment details are sent with your written invoice.

Bank charges on international transfers are paid by the sender. Card and PayPal payments may carry a processing fee, which we tell you before you pay, never after. Deposits and balances can be paid by different methods — there is no requirement to use the same one twice.

We never request payment through social media, personal phone numbers, or any account or link not confirmed in writing by our office. If in doubt, call us before paying anyone.

📬 Enquire and book →

Why book with Wild Springs Adventures

Every claim below carries a number you can check for yourself.

📋 TRA Licensed — licence number TRA1/47/C01/25895, searchable on the Tourism Regulatory Authority register
🤝 TOSK Member #0082 — Tour Operators Society of Kenya directory
✅ KWS-certified mountain guides — certificate numbers available on request
🏆 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2024, 2025 and 2026 — read the reviews
🏪 Our own outdoor gear store in Parklands, Nairobi
📚 Our own fitness training programme — guided preparation before your climb
📅 Operating since 2013 — over a decade on this mountain, across every route, in every season

Registered office: Valley View Office Park, Tower A, First Floor, City Park Drive, Sixth Avenue Parklands, Nairobi.

Reviews from trekkers

⭐ Read what trekkers say about us, in their own words, on Google and on TripAdvisor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mount Kenya group trek cost?

Joining a group departure costs $450 to $1,150 per person for non-residents, KES 24,500 to 74,500 for Kenyan and EAC citizens and KES 27,000 to 77,000 for Kenya residents, depending on the length of the trek and how many of you book together. The recommended 5-day traverse is $900 to $1,000 per person to join. Private treks on your own dates cost more. Every price is in the table at the top of this page, and each one includes private transport from Nairobi, all KWS fees, a KWS-certified guide, a cook, porters, mountain meals and tents.

Will my departure run if I am the only person who books?

Yes. Your confirmed deposit guarantees your departure regardless of how many others join. You will not be bumped, rescheduled or refunded. The crew will be there and the trek will run. It is a term of your booking, not a promise we make loosely. As a solo joiner you pay the one-person joining price, and you have a tent of your own.

Do Kenyan citizens and residents pay less?

Yes. Kenyan and EAC citizens pay in shillings, from KES 24,500 per person, because Kenya Wildlife Service charges them a fraction of the non-resident park fee. Kenya residents pay the citizen price plus KES 2,500, because the KWS resident fee is higher. Residency is verified by KWS at the park gate, so carry your ID or resident card.

Is Mount Kenya safe for beginners?

Yes, with the right route, the right gear and realistic fitness preparation. Point Lenana requires no technical climbing — no ropes, no mountaineering experience. What you need is cardiovascular fitness, proper equipment, and enough days on the mountain to acclimatise. Aim for three months of consistent cardio before your attempt. If that feels out of reach, our fitness training programme takes people from beginner to summit-ready.

How likely am I to reach Point Lenana?

We do not publish a summit percentage, because Kenya Wildlife Service is the custodian of Mount Kenya summit data and we cannot verify a figure we did not collect. What we can tell you is the mechanism: the single biggest factor is time at altitude, not fitness. The 5-day traverse includes a dedicated acclimatisation day at Shipton's Camp with a climb to around 4,500 m and a return to sleep lower. That is why we point most first-timers at it. Our acclimatisation guide explains what happens to your body above 3,500 m.

Is air evacuation cover included?

No. Air evacuation cover is not included in your trek price. We can arrange AMREF Flying Doctors cover on request at additional cost — tell us when you book. Every climb carries mountain rescue coordination, a first-aid kit, and pulse oximeter monitoring at each camp as standard. Separately, travel and medical insurance covering trekking to 5,000 m and emergency evacuation is mandatory on every trek we run.

How does the deposit work?

A deposit of 50% of the trip price confirms your place and guarantees your departure. It is fully applied to your balance — it is not an additional fee. The balance is due 14 days before departure. Cancel with at least 14 days' notice and you receive a full refund, or move your trek to another date within 12 months. Our full cancellation, date-transfer and refund terms are at wildsprings.co.ke/cancellation-policy.

Will I get the same crew quality on a group trek as on a private one?

Yes. The same KWS-certified guides, the same porters, and the same mountain chef lead both. The only difference is that you share the logistics cost with other climbers. Guide-to-trekker ratio, equipment standard, and crew quality are identical. We do not run a budget crew for groups and a premium crew for private trips.

Can I climb Mount Kenya on a full moon?

Yes, and it changes the summit entirely — you climb the final 785 m from Shipton's Camp in near daylight, with the Lewis Glacier visible below and the Nanyuki plains stretching west. On clear mornings, Kilimanjaro can appear on the southern horizon at dawn. Tell us your travel window, and we will align your summit night with the lunar calendar. The full-moon departures are in the full-moon table on this page.

What is altitude sickness, and how do you manage it?

Acute Mountain Sickness is caused by reduced oxygen pressure at altitude. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, and disrupted sleep. Our guides carry pulse oximeters and check oxygen saturation at every camp, morning and evening. The acclimatisation day on the 5-day routes is the most effective prevention we have. Any trekker showing serious symptoms descends immediately — no exceptions and no debate, and a guide or porter comes down with them at no extra cost to you.

When is the best time to climb?

The two dry seasons — January to March and June to October — give the clearest skies, the most stable trails and the best summit visibility. Those are our busiest months. November and April to May are entirely climbable with proper waterproofs, and they bring fewer people and a greener mountain. The mountain never closes. Read the full seasonal guide.

How do I get to the trailheads?

Your trek price includes private return transport from Nairobi. We collect you from your hotel or a central Nairobi meeting point. Sirimon Gate is about 3.5 hours away; Chogoria Gate is about 4.5. If you are making your own way, see our guide to getting to Mount Kenya.

Can I upgrade to a private trek?

Yes. Any date in the calendar can run as a private departure, and any route can run privately on dates you choose, for solo travellers, couples, families or groups who want a dedicated crew and a flexible pace. Private prices are in the price table — solo, two people, or three or more — and private groups of five or more pay the two-person joining price. Contact us to book.

What equipment do you provide?

We provide camping tents (two per tent, same-sex sharing, and a tent of their own for a solo joiner), sleeping mats, a mess tent, all cooking equipment and all crew equipment. You bring your own sleeping bag rated to −15 °C, your clothing and a daypack — or hire the sleeping bag from us. Everything else is available to rent or buy at our Nairobi store. Delayed luggage is not a reason to cancel; call us first.

Are all-female group treks available?

Yes, on request — ask when you book. Tent sharing is always same-sex, and a solo joiner has a tent of their own.

Can I combine Mount Kenya with Kilimanjaro?

Yes, and it is the best preparation available — the same altitude range, shorter and cheaper. Our recommended sequence is the 5-day Mount Kenya group trek, two rest days in Nairobi, then the 7-day Kilimanjaro Lemosho route. We plan both in one booking. See how the two mountains compare.

Is travel insurance required?

Yes, and twice over. Kenya requires non-Kenyan visitors staying under 12 months to hold travel health insurance with combined benefits of at least USD 50,000, which can be bought with the eTA application or through the government's eCitizen insurance portal; check the current rule on Kenya's official eTA portal before you travel. On top of that, we require your policy to cover trekking to 5,000 m and emergency evacuation — many standard policies exclude altitude above 3,000 or 4,000 m, and that is the exclusion that matters here. Buy it when you book, not when you travel.

Is Mount Kenya a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. Mount Kenya National Park and Natural Forest was inscribed in 1997 for its exceptional natural beauty and ecological significance. The park is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service and covers the mountain's Afro-alpine ecosystem — giant lobelia, giant groundsel, glacial tarns and the retreating Lewis Glacier. The park fees in your package fund KWS conservation directly.

Plan your climb: costs and route guides

• Mount Kenya climbing cost guide — where the money goes, in US dollars and Kenya shillings
• The main climbing routes on Mount Kenya — how the routes compare
• Climbing Mount Kenya via the Sirimon route — the north-west approach
• The Chogoria route: a 5-day itinerary — lakes, tarns and the Gorges Valley
• The Timau route to Point Lenana — the quiet northern approach
• The best months to climb Mount Kenya — seasons and weather
• Acclimatisation on Mount Kenya — how to give your body time
• Mount Kenya gear checklist — what to pack and what to hire