Tackle an epic hike through alpine forests, meadows, glaciers, lakes and lunar landscapes to summit Point Lenana (4985m): Mount Kenya's trekking peak
Look out over Africa from the continent's second highest point, with vastly fewer climbers than its famous next door neighbour, Kilimanjaro
Head deep into the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to spot elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes and endangered black rhinos
Day 1
Descend over the plains of East Africa and touch down at Nairobi Airport where your host will be waiting to transfer you to their base on the banks of the Sagana River. Tuck in to a welcome dinner this evening with your host and fellow adventurers for a chat through the adventure to come.
Day 2
Grab an early breakfast before leaving Nairobi for a 4-hour drive through the plains, with the Mount Kenya massif gradually coming into view. You'll be trekking the Chogoria Route to the 4985m-high Point Lenana, the 'trekker's peak' of Mount Kenya and its third highest (Batian, at 5199m and Nelion, at 5188m can only be reached with specialist mountaineering equipment). Reach the Mount Kenya forest at 2200m, from where you'll set off for an acclimatisation hike to reach the first camp at Chogoria Gate (2950m). Take in your first taste of this incredible wilderness area while dinner is cooked for you and camp is set up. Relax around a campfire before retiring to the sounds of the Mount Kenya rainforest.
Day 3
Unzip the tent, grab an early breakfast while watching the mountain wake up, then set off for the first full day of trekking. You'll hike through moorland and tussock grass in this more lush part of the ecosystem with many flowers in bloom creating a colourful backdrop. You'll then pass Urumandi Falls to reach a higher moorland with low tree cover for amazing views back over the plains. Lake Ellis, at an altitude of 3390m, is your next camp spot – a tranquil location with full panoramas of the main peaks of Mount Kenya, and set a good way off the main trail for an amazing camp out beneath the stars.
Day 4
Today's route is well off the beaten track. Set off skirting Lake Ellis, cross over the valley and follow a ridge deeper into the mountain. Enjoy breathtaking views over the Gorges Valley and back towards Itinguni and the northern moorlands. At the head of the Gorges Valley is Lake Michaelson, a crystal-clear glacial lake with still blue water. Lake Michaelson is surrounded by 'The Temple', a huge amphitheatre of 200m-high rocky cliff faces, and it is in this spectacular location that you will camp for the night.
Day 5
Today will be a much gentler day, allowing you to acclimatise and get ready for the long push to the summit tomorrow. Leaving camp, you will continue along the Chogoria Route to reach Mintos Camp at 4200m. Mintos is set on a ridge with incredible views, and you have chance to soak up this camp spot during the late afternoon, preserving energy for your summit day tomorrow. Dinner and a very early night is the name of the game, as you are going to be up very early tomorrow morning.
Day 6
Very early means 02:15 am! Grab a coffee then set off on the trail in the darkness, with head torches lighting the way. The feeling of setting off to summit in the middle of the night with your fellow trekkers is an amazing experience. Eat into the final sections of the trail as you ascend to Point Lenana (the trekker's peak of Mount Kenya) via the Simba Col, reaching the summit by sunrise. If conditions and cloud coverage are favourable, you'll be rewarded with an amazing sunrise panorama while you stand on the roof of Kenya – on a clear day, you can even see across to Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 200 miles away. Descend back to Simba Col, before turning on to an alternative trail and down a steep, scree slope to Shipton's Camp. You should arrive by 10:00, so a well-earned late breakfast and rest await you here, before you tackle the walk down the mountain to Judmier Camp. Say goodbye to your porters and trekking guide here after an epic few days together, load up the Land Cruisers and settle in for the drive towards Ol Pejeta Conservancy. You'll be staying in a beautiful lodge this evening, enjoying some creature comforts and hot showers following your time on the mountain. Fall into bed exhausted and elated from a huge day of mountain trekking.
Day 7
It's safari time! Wake up feeling refreshed and head out into Ol Pejeta Conservancy in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a specialist wildlife guide, searching for the quintessential animals of Kenya. Ol Pejeta is one of the best places for a safari in Kenya, with incredibly high chances of seeing the 'Big Five'. Of the many highlights today, spotting herds of elephants, endangered black rhinos and chimpanzees are right up there. You'll spend a full day exploring, before spending a memorable night in a wilderness bush camp set in the middle of the reserve. Watch a quintessential African sunset and experience the bush at night time as you bed down in tents, listening to the sounds of Africa right outside.
Day 8
Waking up in the middle of the African wilderness is an incredible experience. Roll out of the tent and take in the wild surroundings with a coffee at camp before heading out early doors for more safari time in this incredible conservancy. Hop back in the van to head to your final night for the trip back on the banks of the Sagana River. Owned by your host, this is a beautiful and hidden spot in Kenya and makes for a cracking final afternoon of your adventure. After such a busy week, there is no organised activity this afternoon, allowing you to settle into your cottage accommodation and soak up the tranquil vibe here before dinner. However, if you are still seeking some more action, the camp is well known as an adventure paradise, offering a wide range of activities including zip lining, bungee jumping, rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking which are easily organised with your guide.
Day 9
Your adventure comes to an end as you bid farewell and hit the road back to Nairobi. Your host will drop you off at the airport in time for your onward flight.
All your meals are provided for the duration of the trip. This includes:
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. There is no expectation or obligation to tip your host and main guide for the trip as a whole; however, any tips are gratefully received, should you wish to offer them at the end of the trip. You can do this in $/£/€.
However, tips for the team of porters on Mount Kenya are expected as a cultural norm. Even if it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during on the mountain. The minimum expected contribution is $100/£80/€90 per person for the full five days on Mount Kenya. Please do budget for this, and make sure you have cash readily available at the end of your trek on Day 6.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures, and you'll need to provide your policy details before departure. Your insurance should offer adequate cover for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities involved in your adventure. We also recommend ensuring your policy includes cancellation and curtailment cover, in case you're unable to join your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness.
Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it's essential to check the details carefully. There are adventure-specific providers that many travellers have used in the past, such as True Traveller (opens in new tab) (for those based in the UK or Europe), or Rise + Shield (opens in new tab), both of which offer cover for a wide range of adventurous activities.
Please make sure your chosen policy meets your individual needs and covers all aspects of your trip.
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Throughout your trek, a team of experienced chefs will cook and serve you nutritious meals. Breakfast will usually be a combination of fruit, cereal, porridge, eggs, bread, French toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Lunch…
Made for those who seek to push themselves and embrace the outdoors
You'll be trekking to reach the summit at Lenana Point. This is commonly known as the 'trekker's s...
Your next adventure is out there
Victoria W. February 2026
Milda S. February 2025
Alexandra N. January 2026
“The whole trip was absolutely amazing. The hiking was challenging but manageable if you like to push yourself, and John our guide was so knowledgeable and supportive. The safari experience was good fun too. Highly recommend the trip to anyone considering it.”
Valentine S. January 2026
“Amazing trip, starting with a very satisfying climb up mount Kenya, experiencing the effects of altitude for the first time ! John was a friendly and very informative guide. We then had two days of safari which exceeded our expectations, seeing the animals up close and the variety of wildlife present in Kenya. We would definitely recommend this trip to someone looking for an active holiday.”
Imogen C. August 2025
“John was the best tour guide and food was delicious. Definitely chose the right company to get up mount Kenya”
Nuha a. February 2025
“I recently went on a climbing trip to Mount Kenya, and I wanted to share my experience, starting from the pickup. Unfortunately, the process was quite frustrating. It took hours to collect the team because the host did not confirm the pickup addresses ahead of time. We spent our first day jumping from site to site in a disorganized manner. The itinerary that was shared with us was different from what was advertised on the website, which caused considerable confusion and frustration. (we lost the first day between road and discussion! ) I want to take a moment to commend our guide, John. He truly stepped up and did his best to address the issues caused by the unorganized host. my disappointment regarding the single occupancy charge I paid during my the trip While I understand the need for different pricing structures, it was frustrating to see that the rest of the group was able to get single occupancy without incurring additional costs. The food was just "so-so," lacking the variety and quality that I was expecting based on the promotional materials. This was disappointing, especially after long days of climbing when we were looking forward to hearty and nutritious meals. one more unprofessionalism of the host during the final day of our climbing After an exhausting summit attempt, we expected a smooth transition back, but instead, we encountered significant delays. The host did not provide the team vehicles as agreed, forcing us to wait under the sun while they organized all the camping equipment into the cars. This was particularly frustrating after two long days , as we were tired and simply wanted to rest. Additionally, the logistics of taking porters with us and parking at the gate added to the chaos. While we eventually had picnic sandwiches, processed meat, and fruit, the quality of the food felt underwhelming after our strenuous effort. I would like to take a moment to highlight the exceptional performance of our guide, John, during the climbing trip to Mount Kenya . Throughout the journey, John demonstrated professionalism, support, and outstanding leadership.”
Samuel T. October 2024
“Just got back from this trip. Mount Kenya itself was stunning especially the high altitude parts of the trek. The tents were excellent, the food plentiful and the camps well set up. Our guide John was incredibly knowledgable and led us expertly. After 4 nights in the mountain the change of pace to safari was very welcome and camping in the conservation was a very special experience indeed. Would highly recommend this trip.”
Mark e. October 2024
“Had a great time on the mountain and then the safari.Head guide John and porters all very good never had too wait for tents,meals.Only a small group of 3 with a good friendly atmosphere.Camping amongst wildlife in the conservancy was a highlight for us all.I would rate Mt Kenya better than Kilimanjaro with better scenery and much less crowds.”
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Saturday 15th August 2026
to Sunday 23rd August 2026
Summer Sale - Next 4 spots available at 15% off
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For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
The guides have been extensively trained on the routes, terrain and conditions you'll be crossing. With over 10 years of experience, they have also been to the summit more than 100 times. Additionally, all of the guides are certified First Aid Responders and CPR trained.
When applying for your Kenyan visa, you may be asked for the address of your accommodation. If required, please use the following address:
Savage Wilderness Camp, Riandira, Sagana, Kenya
If you require a letter of recommendation or participation as part of this application, please contact our customer experience team.
The mountain has three main summits: Batian (5199m), Nelion (5188m), and Point Lenana (4985m). Point Lenana is known as the 'trekkers summit' as is the only peak that is accessible without previous mountaineering experience. Both Bastian and Nelion summits involve multi-pitch trad rock climbing and are highly technical.
Our trip follows the Chogoria Route which approaches the mountain from the east. This is considered to be the quietest, yet most beautiful route to the top. It passes by Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson, two picturesque glacial lakes which sit at over 3000m.
Yes, your host has long been campaigning for more responsible policies towards the employment of local people, including porters, and sharing the benefits of tourism more fairly with local communities. Your host ensures porters receive fair pay and ethical treatment.
You can securely leave any excess luggage at your host's base before setting off on the trek.
No plastic bottles are allowed on Mount Kenya. Your guides will supply you with purified drinking water, either by boiling, filtration, or use of purification tablets.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
It's possible to climb Mount Kenya all year round; however, the months outside of the rainy seasons are more desirable. The best climbing months are from December to March and July to October. The best weather is usually at the beginning of the year from January to March, which are also typically the warmest and driest months.
Thanks to Kenya’s proximity to the equator, the region doesn’t typically experience the extremes of winter and summer weather you might expect and instead has dry and wet seasons. The local weather conditions on Mount Kenya can be somewhat unpredictable (to say the least) and rainfall varies from 2100mm per year in the rainforest belt, to less than 120mm per year in the summit zone. Temperatures vary considerably with height and with time of day. On the plains surrounding Mount Kenya, the average daytime temperature is about 25°C. At 3000m frosts can be encountered at night, while temperatures in the day range from 5 to 15°C. Nighttime temperatures on the summit are well below freezing. The south-facing side of Mount Kenya receives more sunshine in the December to March period.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 217kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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