Mount Kenya National Park protects roughly 715 square kilometres around the mountain itself, an extinct volcano whose highest point, Batian, reaches 5,199 metres — the second-highest summit in Africa after Kilimanjaro. The park was established in 1949, made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
The mountain rises through a sequence of distinct zones: farmland gives way to montane forest, then bamboo, then heath, then the strange Afro-alpine moorland of giant lobelia and groundsel, and finally rock, glacier and snow on the equator itself. Each band holds different wildlife — elephant and buffalo low down, hyrax and eagles higher, and very little above 4,000 metres.
Most visitors come to trek. Point Lenana at 4,985 metres is the trekking summit and can be reached without technical climbing over three to five days on the Sirimon, Chogoria or Naro Moru routes; Batian and Nelion require real mountaineering. The mountain is also Kenya’s most important water tower, feeding rivers that supply a large share of the country.
The trekking summit at 4,985 metres, reached over three to five days without ropes or technical skill, and traditionally approached for sunrise over the Nelion rock face.
Widely considered the most scenic way up the mountain, passing Lake Michaelson and the Gorges Valley, with a long forest approach on the eastern side.
The high zone of giant lobelia and groundsel, plants found almost nowhere else on earth, growing between tarns and glacial valleys above the treeline.
Hell's Gate is the only Kenyan national park where you walk and cycle alongside the wildlife. This full-day adventure combines a guided bike ride through soaring lava cliffs with a boat safari on the peaceful shores of Lake Naivasha — a wonderfully active alternative to a traditional game drive.
July to September and January to February are the driest trekking windows, with clearer summit views and more stable conditions on the upper mountain.
Kenya
national park
Approximately US$60 per non-resident adult and US$25 per child, valid 24 hours. Multi-day trekking permits are priced separately. Fees are set by Kenya Wildlife Service and confirmed in your quotation.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia is home to the Big Five, the world's last two northern white rhinos, and a unique chimpanzee sanctuary. This full-day trip from Nairobi combines morning and afternoon game drives with a visit to the northern white rhino enclosure — a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter.
A same-day Kenya excursion designed to show a clear entry price, optional private upgrades, and enough context for clients to compare city experiences quickly.