Mount Kenya Trekking Chogoria – Point Lenana

Day 2. Mt Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis Campsite ( 3,600m) 3hrs, 9km, 700m ascent.
After breakfast and sorting of porter loads, we set off up the mountain at a nice and easy pace A slightly longer walk via Lake Ellis gives scenic views of Mugi, Ithanguni, and the Giants Billiards Table, whilst if we follow the river near the road head, upstream for about 3 km, the foreground scenery and flora is particularly beautiful.
Lunch on the banks of a stream, then it’s time to cut up the left-hand hillside to our camp at about 3,600m, well away from any of the more “touristy” areas.

Day 3: Lake Ellis- Minto`s Camp. ( 4,200m) 4 hrs, 12km, 600m ascent.
Similar early start.  Again well off the beaten track to follow a ridge up the mountain for about 3 hours to eventually join the tourist track on the normal Chogoria route at an altitude of about 4,100m.  Breathtaking views over the Gorges Valley and back over towards Ithanguni and the Northern Moorlands.
Lunch is served at a small stream crossing, before continuing for a further hour to the Mintos Hut area at 4200m and our night’s rest.
The afternoon is spent relaxing at camp, though a 10-minute walk to the “Temple” is well worth the effort.  This is a 150 meters vertical cliff that gets its name from the position visitors often adopt when peering over the edge – they look as if they are praying.

Day 4: Minto`s – Austrian hut (top hut) 4 hrs, 7km, 500m ascent.
Today we begin our trek ascending up along the foot of huge rock walls. From the top, we`ll have an excellent view of Mt. Kenya. After ascending for a couple of hours you reach Tooth Col. From here you traverse until you reach the Austrian Hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Austrian camp – Pt Lenana(4,985m) – Mackinders camp. 5 hrs, 285m ascent, 685 descent.
Leave at 5.00 am for a predawn attempt, climbing for 1 hour across bare rock and scree slopes characteristic of the alpine region up to Pt Lenana – the hiker`s summit, arriving in time to catch the African sunrise. Descend to Austrian hut( Top hut) for breakfast. After breakfast descends to Mackinder’s camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Mackinders camp -Shipton`s Camp. 4 hrs, Ascent 300m, descent 400m
After breakfast, we go clockwise climbing up to Two Tarns and Nanyuki Tarns, and then pass between Oblong and Hausberg Tarns before descending to Shipton’s camp on the Northern side of the peak, at about 4200 meters for dinner and overnight

Day 7: Shipton camp – Nairobi. 5 hrs, 14km, 900m descent
After breakfast, we begin a 5-hour descent via Mackinder`s valley to the Old Moses camp (3,300m). The descent is gentle and it offers ample time to enjoy fascinating scenery which includes the moorlands before reaching the camp for lunch. After lunch transfer back to Nairobi arriving late afternoon.