At 5 199 metres, Mount
Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya, and the second highest in Africa
after Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania. It’s 175km north
of Nairobi and 10km south of the equator, and chances are you’ll
see its gleaming snow-covered peaks from the air when flying into
Nairobi from Europe. It’s a huge mountain, in circumference
as well as height, with a diameter of around 120km.
In Kikuyu, the mountain is known as Kere Nyaga,‘Mountain
of Brightness’, and is the seat of the fabled Kikuyu god Ghai.
The Kikuyu who live on the slopes always build their homes facing
this sacred peak. The Englishman Sir Halford Mackinder was the first
to climb to the top of Mount Kenya in 1899. Kisoi Munyao was the first
known African to reach the top in 1959 and again in 1963 when he carried
and raised the newly independent Kenya’s flag on the summit.
Part of the mountain's magic is the variation in flora and fauna
as the altitude changes.
The lower slopes are covered with dry forest, but above 2 000
metres is true afro-montane forest of cedar and podo trees. At 2
500 metres a dense belt of bamboo grows up to 12 metres high. Higher still, forests of giant heather grow and glades are covered
with high altitude moss. From 4 500 metres up to the snow line, there is
open moorland where bizarre looking giant lobelia grow. At the
very top: permanent ice in some 11 glacier lakes. Due to global warming,
however, these are shrinking fast and seven glaciers have already
disappeared in the last 100 years.
There is a fair spattering of game on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya
including hyena, jackal, porcupine, buffalo, black and white colour
monkey, various antelope, and even some black rhino and elephant.
Leopards are present but you are unlikely to see them - though some
lucky climbers once spotted one 4 500 metres up the mountain! The
bird life is prolific and there are some very large birds of prey -
vultures, buzzards and eagles - on the high mountain crags.
Fewer people go trekking on Mount Kenya than Kilimanjaro, but those
who do rate the experience far higher than the Kili climb. The easiest
route, and one that's open to all trekkers is to Point Lenana at 4 985 meters,
commonly dubbed the “Tourist Peak”.
The trek is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery
on the mountain and the snow on the equator. Only experienced climbers
can climb the highest peaks of Nelion or Batian – 5 199 metres -
and the summit of Mount Kenya, as this involves the use of ropes,
ice-axes, crampons and other specialized climbing gear.
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