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Mt. Kenya Climbing with Safari and Beach

Mt. Kenya mit
Kenya Kenya

Trekking Map

Experience an unforgettable Kenya adventure that perfectly combines exciting trekking, fascinating safaris and relaxing beach days. Embark on a journey to the second highest mountain in Africa, the majestic Mount Kenya.

The Chogoria Route is a 5-day trekking tour that allows you to explore the impressive massif of Mount Kenya from different perspectives. The climb to Point Lenana at 4,895 meters offers not only spectacular views of the mountain panorama, but also of the sparkling mountain lakes that shine in the morning light. Here you can experience the fascinating flora and fauna that characterize this unique mountain range.

After the exciting trekking, we continue on an exciting safari through some of Kenya’s most famous national parks. In Tsavo West National Park you can expect fantastic landscapes, including the picturesque Mzima Springs – a geological highlight of the region. In Tsavo East National Park you have the opportunity to see the famous “red elephants” who cover themselves in red sand to protect themselves from the sun. Amboseli National Park, known for its impressive elephant herds and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro, will captivate you.

At the end of your trip, enjoy relaxing days on the beautiful Bamburi Beach, where you can relax and unwind in a paradisiacal setting.

This trekking tour is aimed at experienced mountain hikers with good fitness and sure-footedness who are looking forward to an adventure at altitude

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi and drive to the feet of Mt. Kenya – 175km and 3 hours drive
You will be met in the arrivals area at Nairobi airport and driven to the hotel at the foot of Mount Kenya. You will also meet your mountain guide for the next few days at dinner at the latest. Overnight stay at Silva Montana Hotel Chogoria or similar, (B|L|D).

Day 2: Drive to Chogoria and trek to Bandas Camp (2,700m) – approx. 2 hours drive and approx. 4 hours trekking
A relaxing morning begins with breakfast and sorting out our equipment. We leave all items and bags that we do not need on the mountain at the hotel. At 9:00 a.m. we start with a short one-hour drive through the rainforest, where we will be dropped off along the way. There we lace up our hiking boots and hand our luggage to the porters. We hike through the dense bamboo forest up to the camp at the Meru Bandas Huts at an altitude of 2700 m, where we pitch our tents. In the late afternoon we take an exciting trip to a nearby waterhole where antelope, buffalo, zebra and the occasional elephant can be spotted. Overnight stay at Mount Kenya Bandas Tent Camp, (B|L|D).

Day 3: Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite (3,600m), 3hrs/12km hike
The hike begins with spectacular views of the rolling hills ahead and possibly even the snow-capped peaks of Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m) high above. This is a comparatively short hike and we will arrive at camp a little earlier than the day before, giving us the opportunity to relax and unwind. After lunch we take a walk around the lake and complete our acclimatization hike to nearby Mugi Hill. Overnight at Lake Ellis Tent Camp, (B|L|D).

Day 4: Lake Ellis – Minto’s Camp (4,200 m), 4 hours/10 km hike
We start early and again follow a ridge up the mountain off the beaten path for about three hours. Finally, at an altitude of about 4,100 m, we reach the tourist route of the normal Chogoria route. From here we enjoy breathtaking views over the Gorges Valley, back to Ithanguni and the northern moorlands. Lunch is served at a small stream crossing before we continue for another hour to Minto’s Camp at 4,200 m altitude and enjoy a night’s sleep there. The afternoon can be spent relaxing in the camp, but a 10-minute walk to the “temple” is definitely worth it. The “Temple” is a 150-meter-high vertical cliff whose name derives from the position visitors often assume when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying. Overnight stay at Lake Minto’s tent camp, (B|L|D).

Day 5: Minto`s Camp – Simba Col (4,600m), 3 hours/7 km hike
Today we start our hike after 10:00 am and climb at the base of huge rock faces. From the top we enjoy an excellent view of Mt. Kenya. After a few hours of climbing we reach Simba Col. We spend the night in the tent camp at Simba Col, near Simba Tarn. Overnight stay in tent camp, (B|L|D).

Day 6: Simba Col – Point Lenana (4,985m) – Mackinders Met Station (3,100m) – Nairobi – approx. 8 hours/18km hike
At around 5:00 a.m., after a small breakfast snack, we set off for the third highest peak of the Mount Kenya massif. We climb for an hour over bare rock and scree slopes, which are characteristic of the Alpine region, until we reach Point Lenana at 4,985 m altitude. At the summit we enjoy a breathtaking view of the rugged Mount Kenya massif, where several mountain lakes shimmer in the golden morning light. On particularly clear days, even Kilimanjaro is visible on the horizon. We then descend to Mackinder to have breakfast there. Particular caution is required when descending. After further descent we will be picked up from the Met Station. We are back in Nairobi around 7:00 p.m. and spend the night in the hotel in Nairobi. Overnight stay at the Hotel Boulevard Nairobi, (B|L).

Day 7: Adventure drive to Amboseli National Park – approximately 4 hours drive
After a restful night in Nairobi, we will be picked up the next morning by our personal driver who will take us directly to the breathtaking Amboseli National Park. Amboseli National Park lies in the shadow of Africa’s most famous attraction, the majestic Kilimanjaro, our next peak. After a leisurely check-in and a fortifying lunch, another exciting game drive in Amboseli National Park is on the agenda in the afternoon. It is very likely that we will see giraffes and elephants, gazelles, hyenas, buffaloes, lions and maybe even a leopard. Pure Africa, in its full splendor! Overnight stay at the Hotel Amboseli Sopa Lodge or similar category, (B|M|D).

Day 8: Drive from Amboseli National Park to Tsavo West National Park
After a cup of coffee or tea, we set off today at around 6:30 a.m. for a recommended early game hunt. At this time you not only have the best chance of seeing the summit of the snow-capped Kilimanjaro and its neighbor, the Mawenzi, clear of clouds, but you can also look forward to fantastic wildlife viewing.  After breakfast at camp, drive to Tsavo West National Park. Tsavo West National Park occupies around 30 percent of Kenya’s total parks and is home to a variety of habitats, wildlife and impressive mountain scenery. The park extends as a wide savannah landscape from Mtito Andei along the Mombasa-Nairobi road to the southern border with Tanzania. In the north-east it borders the Tsavo East National Park along the highway. The park’s diverse habitats include open plains, savannas, bush and semi-desert, bushland and acacia forests. There are numerous rocky outcrops and knolls in the park. The area of ​​the park opposite the Chyulu Hills is volcanic in origin and features lava fields and cinder cones, including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a young volcano. In the extensive southwestern part of the park on the border with Tanzania lies Lake Jipe, which is fed by meltwater from Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains. In the north of the park, the water is filtered underground by the Chyulu Hills and flows from a lava ridge into a series of clear ponds. Dinner and overnight stay at the Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge or similar category (B|L|D).

Day 9: Tsavo West – Tsavo East National Park
Today the journey takes you to Tsavo East National Park, one of the oldest and largest national parks in Kenya. Tsavo East offers wonderful scenery, particularly the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the largest lava flow in the world. At over 13,000 square kilometers, Tsavo East National Park is huge and, founded in 1948, is one of the oldest national parks in Kenya. Explore the vast savannah of the Yatta Plateau, where you can see its red elephants and an amazing array of animals. Four of the Big Five (elephants, leopards, lions and buffalo) as well as animals such as dik diks, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, steppe baboons, hyenas, jackals, African wild dogs, eland, gazelles, gerenuks and over 500 species of birds are waiting for you here. Overnight stay in the Ashnil Aruba Lodge or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 10: Train journey from Tsavo East to Mombasa – Bamburi Beach
After breakfast at the lodge we check out and head to Mtito Andei train station from where our train to Mombasa departs at 10:54am and arrives at 2:00pm. There we will be met by our driver and transferred to the beach hotel on the north coast. Overnight stay at Severin Sea Lodge or similar category, (B|D).

Day 11 to 13: At Bamburi Beach – relaxation by the sea
Relaxation by the sea is on the agenda for the next few days. Bamburi Beach is a breathtakingly beautiful stretch of coastline on the southern coast of Kenya, known for its dazzling white sands and the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The beach stretches for several kilometers and is lined with lush tropical vegetation, providing a picturesque backdrop for visitors. The beaches are ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving as the water is warm and inviting and offers rich marine life to explore. Water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing are also popular. Away from the beach, there are also a number of things to see and do around Bamburi Beach, including trips to nearby nature reserves such as Shimba Hills National Park or historical sites such as Fort Jesus in Mombasa. Overnight stay at Severin Sea Lodge or similar category, (B|D).

Day 14: Drive to Moi airport – flight back home
Time for the journey home. Think of the breathtaking landscapes, the fascinating wildlife and the diverse culture you experienced in Kenya. May the memories of your time here last long and bring a smile to your heart. May your farewell be just a “goodbye” and may you return one day to discover more of this fascinating country, (B).

We reserve the right to make changes to the program due to special events, force majeure or weather reasons.

Legends: B = breakfast | L = lunch | D = dinner

This trekking tour can also be booked for individual travelers at an additional cost or for your group at dates other than shown here.

German guided tour
English guided tour

Duration: 14 days
Costs: € 3.890 per person
Group size: min. 2 Persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of only two persons)
€ 390 for single room supplement (only for hotel accommodation, for hut and camping overnight stays during the trek single accommodation is not available).

What’s included:

  • Transfer to and from the airport
  • All described transfers in Kenya with private vehicle
  • Accommodation and breakfast before and after the trekking tour
  • Accommodation, three meals and drinking water on the trekking and safari tour
  • Accommodation and two meals in Mombasa Bamburi Beach
  • Professional, English-speaking local mountain guide and safari guide
  • Mountain crew (cook & porter)
  • Camping equipment (two-man tent, mats, kitchen utensils)
  • All national park fees
  • Welcome dinner
  • Oximeter

Not included

  • Sleeping bag
  • All flights
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks other than water
  • Visa fees
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal travel insurance

Visa
Since 2024, travel to Kenya has required an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to replace the traditional visa. The eTA costs around $30 including service fees. The application is made online using the German-language form at https://www.etakenya.go.ke/de and should be made at least 72 hours before departure. Once approved, the eTA is valid for 90 days, after which a new application must be made. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the planned entry date and have at least two blank pages to apply for the eTA. When entering Kenya, you must present the printed eTA along with your passport and return ticket.
These visa and passport regulations apply to EU countries and Switzerland. Other citizens would like to inquire at the respective country consulate.

Insurance
A travel health insurance (with rescue costs) is essential for your own safety and a prerequisite for booking our trips. In the event of an accident in the mountains or on safari that requires a helicopter, the helicopter will not take off until full coverage of the costs has been clarified.
We strongly recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. Flights at bargain prices in particular cannot usually be rebooked or cancelled free of charge. In Kenya there could also be complications with the weather, your health, etc., which would force you to abandon your trip.
We asked ERGO Reiseversicherung to put together different service packages for you. You can book the right travel health insurance for you at https://www.reiseversicherung.de.

It should be noted that geoDiscovery Tours only recommends that its guests book travel insurance through ERGO and assumes no responsibility for the contractual content between the travel guest and the insurance provider. It is up to each guest to book their travel insurance through ERGO or another provider.

Vaccinations
There are currently no mandatory vaccination requirements for travelers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria traveling to Kenya (as of November 2023). However, it is advisable to check and, if necessary, refresh your vaccination status for diphtheria, polio and tetanus. Vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B is also recommended. Although it is recommended to be immunized against yellow fever, this is not mandatory for tourists from Germany traveling directly to Kenya (for example on a direct flight from Germany). However, travelers from yellow fever endemic areas must present proof of vaccination that is at least 10 days old. For further information, please see the medical information from the Federal Foreign Office.

Best time to travel
For trekking: Due to Mt. Kenya proximity to the equator, this region is not exposed to the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather the dry and rainy seasons. The best time to climb Mt. Kenya is therefore the warmest and driest months. There are two different trekking seasons that are optimal for climbing Mt Kenya; from December-March and from June-October. January-March is generally colder than June-October and there is a higher chance of snow on the summit. March, April, May and November are the wettest months and are not ideal for trekking. During the trekking tours the temperatures will be +25°C during the day and between 10°C to -5°C at night. On the summit day, temperatures of down to -20°C and sometimes strong winds can be expected.

For safari trips: In general, Kenya can be visited for safari tours 12 months of the year. April-May and October-November represent the rainy season in both countries. The rainiest time is April-May (here a raincoat is a must). We advise against traveling here. The second rainy season October-November has lower rainfall. The rainy season can be a beautiful time to visit as the vegetation is at its most lush and green. Precipitation typically falls in short showers interspersed with rays of sunshine, making for excellent photography. To experience the annual peak of the great migration in the Masai Mara, Kenya should be visited between July and September. This epic natural event sees millions of wildebeest, zebras and antelopes migrate north to the Masai Mara in Kenya. However, if you want to avoid the large tourist crowds that migration brings, it is beneficial to visit the Serengeti in Tanzania during the first dry season from January to March, when the wildebeest calving season is at its peak.

Tour program
The travel program is optimally coordinated for all of the trips we recommend. However, it can happen that roads are closed or impassable without prior notice, that waiting times of several hours arise due to traffic jams or fuel shortages, that access to sites can be closed for various reasons, or other restrictions such as flight delays or even cancellations due to bad weather, strikes, Health of the participants, a pandemic or unfavourable conditions during trekking make the implementation of the travel program difficult or, in the worst case, impossible. However, our local guides are prepared for such situations and will endeavour to carry out all program points to your satisfaction. The inconvenience is usually limited. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out at this point that, for the reasons mentioned, program changes are possible at any time and are not the responsibility of the organizer. Any resulting costs are borne by the traveller. We ask for your understanding.

Flying
Domestic flights in Kenya may be postponed for days due to limited airspace or weather conditions, or for technical or other reasons. Under these exceptional circumstances, our team will try – in cooperation with you – to relocate the tour to other regions or to organize road transport. The risk of delay and cancellation of these flights is borne by all participants.
In the event of a delay of several days, all participants are personally responsible for changing their flight home at least 48 hours in advance. We are of course happy to help you.

The domestic flights booked by us are:
Kenya Airways
Fly540

Please note that our trips are not suitable for people with limited mobility.


Trip Details

  • Duration: 14 days
  • Holiday Type: Camping/Hotel
  • Best trekking period: Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Dec/Jan/Feb
  • Difficulty: Demanding
  • Max Altitude: 4.985 m
  • Group size: Min. 2 persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of onl two persons)
  • Tour guide: English speaking, trained Kenian mountain and safari guide
  • Difficulty:
  • Fitness:
  • Price: 3.690,00 
  • Single room supplement: 390,00 €
    (only for hotel accommodation, for lodge overnight stays during the trek single accommodation is not available)