Mount Kenya National Park
Majestically standing, Mount Kenya an ancient extinct volcano that straddles across Meru and Nyeri counties and part of Kirinyaga, is the second highest peak in Africa standing high up in the clouds at 5,199m. There are 12 remnant glaciers on the mountain all receding rapidly and 4 secondary peaks that sit at the head of the U-shaped glacial valleys. Mount Kenya National Park was initially a forest reserve that covered Mt Kenya. Later in 1978, the whole area was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and just a year after, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1977 and it covers a total area of 2,800sqkm.
With its rugged glacier-clad summits and forested middle slopes, Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa and it hosts approximately 20 lakes and tarns. The scenery and ecological formations surrounding this World Heritage Site are breathtakingly beautiful. Wildlife includes buffalo, elephants, black and white colobus and Sykes monkeys, rock and tree hyrax, suni antelope, white tailed mongoose, black fronted duiker, bushbucks, mole rat, waterbuck and Elands. Animals rarely seen include leopard, bongo, giant forest hog, Suni antelope, Mt. Kenya mole rat, skinks(lizards)montane viper and a variety of owls. Also over 130 bird species have been recorded here.
Activities in Mount Kenya National Park
There are quite a number of Activities that can be enjoyed and they include the following
Hiking
Hiking is the most common activity done. The mountain has 7 different routes and the easiest and the most popular route among all is Naro Moru. Other routes include Sirimon, Batian, Chogoria, Nelion, Timau and Burguret routes.
Game viewing
Mount Kenya National Park is famous for the Mountain but it is also a home to various wildlife especially Mammals like Forest Elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks among others. The guests enjoy game viewing on the Kenya safari vans. On a lucky day, they can see the leopards and forest Hogs.
Birding
The Park is also home to over 130 species of birds, most of them being forest bird species and few open savannah bird species. Birding Safaris can be done throughout the year though best done during the rainy season when the birds are nesting and breeding. Among the species include Abbot’s starling, Jackson’s Widowbird, Lesser Kestrel, Sharpe’s Long claw, Lammergeyer, Olive Ibis, Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, African Crowned Eagle, African Grass Owl, Cape Eagle-Owl, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Long-tailed Widowbird, Abyssinian Owl, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird and others.
When to Visit
Mount Kenya can best be visited in the months of June to October and also December to March because it is a dry season with less rainfall and a lot of sunshine which makes the trails easy to access and also clear views of the peaks.
How to Get to Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya National Park visited by both Road and Air Transport.
By Road, about 4 hours’ drive from Nairobi. The road leading to the park is tarmacked except the route approaching the park gates which are rough and hard to pass especially when it’s a rainy season.
By Air, Domestic flights to Mount Kenya National Park are offered from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to an airstrip in Naro-Moru town which is the closest to the park.
Mount Kenya Entry Gates
This Park has 6 Entrance Gates and they include;
Narumoru gate
Kihari gate
Mawingu gate
Sirimon gate
Kamweti gate
Chogoria gate
Accommodations in Mount Kenya National Park
Accommodations in Mount Kenya National Park range from Luxury and Mid-range to Budget and they include;
Luxury Accommodations
Hotel Fairmont mount Kenya Safari Club
Whispers Luxury Guest rooms
Serena Mountain Lodge
Castle Forest Lodge
Mid-Range Accommodations
Castle Forest Lodge
Naro Moru River Lodge
Soames Hotel & Jack bar
Penguin House
Le Restique
Sirimon cottage