Mt Kenya with Hell’s Gate NP & Mt Longonot 

8 Days Mt Kenya with Hell’s Gate NP & Mt Longonot

4.8/5

Description

The programme is our lengthiest Mt. Kenya climb. It packs in Hell’s Gate National Park and Mt Longonot, overlooking the Rift Valley Lakes, but still leaves time for acclimatisation and a chance to scramble to the remote outposts of Terere and Sendeo, before trekking to Point Lenana on the magnificent Mt. Kenya.

You will be met on arrival in Nairobi and transferred to your hotel.
For day-time arrivals, we recommend transferring to Mountain Rock Lodge, located at the foot of Mt Kenya and within easy reach of the Sirimon Gate climb start. For late arrivals, a more centrally-located Nairobi hotel will be the best choice. There are a range of options available.

Meet with your driver & guide after breakfast and begin your journey into the Great Rift Valley, stopping en route at various vantage points. With its steep escarpments, volcanic mountains and lakes, the Rift Valley is a scenically beautiful region.

Journey through the Great Rift Valley and to Hell’s Gate National Park, where we set up camp on top of a cliff with a wonderful view of the valley below. This afternoon, embark on a game walk in the gorges, where you can hope to see zebra, giraffe, and a spectrum of other animals and birds. The walk is also an opportunity to explore the fascinating volcanic formations, geysers and hot springs that define this region, and give the park its name.

Return to camp in time for an early supper. The camp we set up will be a simple light mobile camp using mountain-style tents.

 

We pack up camp after breakfast and drive to Mt. Longonot.

he hike to the crater rim on Mt Longonot’s summit will take around 4 hours (up and down), and serves a great taster for the bigger challenge to come – Mt Kenya! You’ll be accompanied by a park ranger and an experienced walking guide.

After a picnic lunch, drive on to Mountain Rock Lodge, in the foothills of Mt Kenya. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

 

Depart Mountain Rock Lodge after an early breakfast and drive to the Sirimon Park Gate (2,600m), crossing the equator en route.
From the park gate, hike for 3 hours through the forested foothills of Mt Kenya and into the alpine heath to reach Old Moses Camp (3,300m), where we pitch camp for the night. During this initial trek through Mt Kenya’s forested lowlands you can hope to see a mix of wildlife, such as forest elephant and zebra.

 

Continue up the spectacular Liki and Mackinder Valleys. This is an area of sprawling moorlands and beautiful high altitude plants, such as giant groundsel and lobelias.

Arrive at Shipton's Camp (4,200m) after a 7-8 hour hike and a gradual ascent of 900m. Shipton’s enjoys a wonderfully scenic setting below the towering peaks and glaciers of Mt Kenya.

 

In order to aid our acclimatisation, we have an extra night at Shipton's, from where it is possible to complete a series of short walks on the summit circuit.

Today’s trek will see us ascend to Hausberg col (4700m), then descend steeply to Hausberg Valley and Oblong tarns before returning to Shipton’s in time for lunch.

Hiking high and returning to sleep low offers a good boost to acclimatisation.

 

We rise early (approx. 3am) for the summit attempt. The trek to Point Lenana is up steep scree and a bare rocky track.

At 4,985m, Lenana is the third highest of Mt. Kenya's summits, and the only one accessible to trekkers without mountaineering skills.

We should reach Lenana in time for sunrise, when the views are wonderful, with Kilimanjaro often visible 340km to the south. We then descend 2-3 hours to Hall Tarns/Mintos (4,300m) for a plentiful breakfast.

After breakfast, it’s a gentle hike down a broad ridge, enjoying magnificent views back up the valley to the snowy peaks.

 

Descend on a broad track through Chogoria Forest to meet the vehicle for the drive to Nairobi, usually arriving in the afternoon.

Your return is scheduled to be in good time to check-in for your international flight home.

Alternatively, spend an extra night in Nairobi and continue with a safari or beach extension which can be booked through our office.



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Chris
Chris
2021-10-15
A magnificent 19-day tour for a perfect prize! Favorite part was to get to know the guide and the driver, they are so friendly and experienced! They took us to so many beautiful places and adventures!!
Rickard O
Rickard O
2021-07-31
My experience with Roger as a tourist guide in Uganda Awsome experience! We traveled around Uganda and saw animals, climbed Mt.Elgon and visited a tribe. Our guide was very genuine and funny. The only thing I would have liked more is a breifing of the day. Other than that I totally recommend Roger as a Tourist Guide!!
Evgenia Nikulina
Evgenia Nikulina
2019-11-17
Murchison falls - a 3 day customized safari tour The Game Ranger Tours team took us to a three day safari to the Murchison falls - the national park in the north-western Uganda. The owner of the travel agency - Roger - prepared a customized programme for us. We left Kampala at about 1 pm and drove for about six hours to the park to catch the last ferry to the other side of Nile at 7pm. After crossing the river, we were accommodated in a beautiful lodge called Paraa Safari. Next morning we started early to safari game drive across the savannah grassland. Our tour guide and driver - Juuko knew every road in the park. He took us to places where we saw giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, antelopes, kobs, elephants and many more wild animals and birds. The drive was a fantastic experience we'll never forget. In the afternoon we got back to the lodge to have lunch and then at about 3 pm took a boat to the falls - so beautiful nature sight! On the third day, before heading back to Kampala Roger and Juuko took us to the top of the falls where we could actually see how powerfull and strong the waterfall is! On our way to Kampala we visited the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary too and were lucky to see a baby rhino and its parents. After the three full days of adventure, we safely returned to the capital. Thank you so much, Roger and Juuko, for taking care of us and for showing us how beautiful Uganda is. Hope to see you again!
caniguideyou
caniguideyou
2019-11-17
Safari to Murchison Falls 3 days full of Adventure Big thanks to Game Ranger tours a travel agency in entebbe , we traveled late from kampala direct to the park we were staying at Paraa safari lodge .so we had to catch the 7 pm last ferry crossing which we did.finally to the hotel tired from a bumpy drive these are the adventures of a jeep drive.A welcome drink from the hotel staff ,a nice tour guide juuko well organised tour from the emails with clients from Bulgaria,sofia all ended well.big thanks roger
Adam Marek B
Adam Marek B
2019-03-20
My woderful stay in Entebbe and Uganda During my stay in Entebbe, I eas able to fufil my childhood dreams, namely to touch the waters of Victoria Lake and, then, to travel to the soirces of the Nile. My best tour guide was, of course, Ras. His name has got a powerful meaning in Ethiopian, i.e. Prince. He is a genuine prince by heart, character and manner. To me, Entebbe is the city of God. Uganda and Tanzania are the countries to which I would always come back. If Africa has its heart, then the heart's two chambers are Tanzania and Uganda. To all white people like me, I wpuld like to say that the cradle of the mankind is to be found in Africa. My skin is white, but my heart is black. And I ma proud of it.
caniguideyou
caniguideyou
2019-03-14
Cycling around Entebbe Game Ranger Provided us with his rented Bicycles And guided us for 3 hours to the best spots in entebbe.,roger is a nice guide i highly recommend his services to anyone who wants a guided tour of entebbe .roger too told us his local guiding services go beyond entebbe as he has set up his private tour company .