Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park lies North East of Nairobi city (175Km away) in Central province. The park also touches some part of Eastern province. The park which was established in 1949 protects the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa, Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is one of the prestigious tourist destinations in Kenya and was named by UNESCO in 1997 as a World Heritage Site.
Mount Kenya National Park is a combination of a national park, a forest reserve and a mountain.

About Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya was formed as a result of volcanic eruption. The mountain is said to have been formed about 3 million years ago after the formation of the Great Rift Valley. It is the highest mountain in Kenya and comes second in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kenya has 3 peaks namely Batian, Nelion and Lenana. Batian is the highest peak and is 5199 Metres above sea level followed by Nelion 5188 Metres and the shortest peak being Lenana at 4985 Metres above sea level. The mountain is entirely located in Central Province.  The mount was initially at 7000 metres above sea level but this has changed over the years as a result of glaciations.

The peak of the mountain is covered by ice which is said to be melting with time and might be completely melted in the next about 30 years.

The slopes of the mountain act as river sources and contribute to a high percentage of water supply in Kenya. Some of these rivers are Tana (the largest river in Kenya), Naromoru, Nanyuki and EwasoNg’iroamong others.

Wildlife in Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National park has a lot of vegetation and forests and is home to many animals and birds. Most animals cannot withhold the low temperatures in the higher altitude and so most of them are found on the mountain slopes. Those found at the higher altitude include hyrax, groove-toothed rat and the common duiker. Other animals found on the slopes and in the forest include antelopes, monkeys, elephants, buffalosand bushbucks among others. Animals like rhinos and leopards are believed to live here too but are rarely seen.

There are also about 130 bird species recorded in the park with most of them being pollinators. Some of these bird species are eagles, sunbirds, Augur Buzzard and starlings among others.

Activities at Mount Kenya National Park

Game Viewing

Game viewing is one of the major activities at the park. With the high number of unique animals found here, the park is definitely a perfect place for game viewing.

Mountain Climbing

This is the major activity and the major reason why tourists visit the park. Mount Kenya offers a good mountain climbing ground.

The best time to visit Mount Kenya is during the dry season, especially just after the rains have finished. The dry season run from June to late September and from December to February although as climatic conditions become more unpredictable many trekkers also visit Mount Kenya during March, October and November.

Daytime temperatures on the lower parts of the mountain are often pleasantly warm although brief rain in the afternoon is always possible. As soon as the sun drops the air becomes very cold. At night and on the higher parts of the mountain, temperatures often drop well below freezing point so warm clothes and sleeping bags are essential.

Camping

Camping is allowed in the park.

Cave Exploration

There are a number of caves in the park and if you love going into caves, this will be an exciting activity for you.

* Note that all the activities will be guided. If you would love to visit the park, please contact us for further advice.