Mount Kenya National Park
Location & Size: On the Central park of Kenya; Covers 2800 km/sq
When to visit the park: All year round.
Climate: Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude
Rainfall: Wet seasons are April- June and November- December.
Altitude: The highest peak Batian stands at 5,199m above sea level.
Distance: 180Km from Kenya's Capital - Nairobi
At 5,199 m. high, Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain. It offers easy or challenging ascents with superb scenic beauty.
Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift Valley. Mt. Kenya lies about 180 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. The ecosystem lies in Central and Eastern provinces of Kenya. Part of the mountain's fascination is the variation in flora and fauna as the altitude changes. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true montane forest begins at 2,000 m. is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500 m. begins a dense belt of of bamboo forest which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees, interspesed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude moss.
These forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. Game to view includes: Black and White Colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant and lower down Olive Baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, black fronted duiker, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope.
The high altitude heath at the top (3,000 - 3,500 m.) is generally open, dotted with shrubs: African Sage, protea and helicrysum. The peak (above 3,500 m.) is moorland, with little game other than high altitude zebra and eland common in the norhtern moorland.
ATTRACTIONS
Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.
Accommodation Facilities:?Mountain Huts:
Minto's Hut; Austrian Hut; Mackinders and Met Station Hut (managed by Naro Moru Lodge); Old Moses (Judmare) and Shiptons Hut (managed by Mountain Rock Hotel).
Self – Catering Accommodation:
- Batian Guesthouse
- Sirimon Bandas
Camping Facilities
Kinondoni, Road Head, Mintos Hut & Campsite, Narumoru Gate, Met Station, Mackinders Campsite, Mackinders, Austrian Hut, Sirimon, Judmaier, Shipton, Liki North Hut 7, Solo and Major public campsites.
ACTIVITIES
- Game viewing
- Camping
- Mountain Climbing
- Cave Exploration
- Fantastic Scenery: Lakes, Tarns, Glaciers & Peaks
- Rare Birds & Animal species
- Natural Mineral Springs
- Mountain Forest with High Altitude Plains.
