Kenya from its highest summit to its most extreme desert — 10 days spanning the full altitude spectrum. Begin with a four-day Mount Kenya climb through cloud forest and alpine moorland to Point Lenana (4,985m). Drop to the arid savannah of Samburu National Reserve for the Special Five. Then venture north to the vast, shimmering Chalbi Desert — Kenya's remote salt-pan wilderness, home to the nomadic Gabra and Rendille peoples, camel caravans, and extraordinary desert landscapes. The road less travelled.
Arrive at Nairobi. Transfer to your hotel. Equipment check and Mount Kenya climb briefing. Overnight Nairobi.
Drive to Nanyuki and Sirimon Gate (2,650m). Four-day ascent: Day 2, hike through montane forest and bamboo to Old Moses Camp (3,300m). Day 3, trek Mackinder's Valley to Shipton's Camp (4,200m). Day 4, pre-dawn summit push to Point Lenana (4,985m) — sunrise over Kenya from Africa's second-highest peak. Descend to Shipton's. Day 5, descend to gate and transfer to Nanyuki. Guide, porters, cook, all mountain meals and huts.
Drive from Nanyuki to Samburu National Reserve. Two full days of game drives in the semi-arid landscape along the Ewaso Ng'iro River. Samburu Special Five: reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich. Also lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, crocodile, and 450+ bird species. Guided river walks and optional Samburu cultural visit.
Drive north through the dramatic Northern Frontier to the Chalbi Desert — a vast salt pan and black lava field stretching to the Ethiopian border. Witness the mesmerising desert landscapes, mirages, and sparse volcanic terrain. Camel trekking with Gabra nomads. Stargazing under the clearest skies in Kenya. Sunrise and sunset in the desert are extraordinary. Cultural visits with Gabra and Rendille communities.
Drive south through the Northern Frontier towards Nairobi. Stop for a tree-planting initiative as part of our conservation commitment. Arrive Nairobi late afternoon. End of the Chalbi Desert Expedition.
We did the full Big 5 Experience — Mara, Samburu, and climbing Mount Kenya. Twelve days felt like a different world on every leg. Samburu's reticulated giraffes and gerenuk were species we'd never even heard of. Then standing on Point Lenana at sunrise with Kilimanjaro in the distance? Unforgettable. CKS handled every detail without a single hiccup.
I was nervous about high altitude — I'd never been above 10,000 feet before. David walked beside me the entire climb, reading my pace, adjusting rest stops, keeping me calm. When I touched the Point Lenana summit sign I actually cried. Mount Kenya is not talked about nearly enough. It is spectacular and I will be back for the technical summit one day.
The Chogoria route is simply stunning — lakes, waterfalls, giant lobelia, and barely another soul on the trail. Our guide was patient, encouraging, and clearly passionate about the mountain. The food at altitude was far better than we expected. The summit morning was completely magical. The most beautiful trekking experience we have done anywhere in the world.
Yes. It is mandatory by Kenya Wildlife Service regulations to climb Mount Kenya with a licensed guide. Independent trekking is not permitted. All our guides are KWS-certified and wilderness first-aid trained.
Point Lenana (4,985m) is Mount Kenya's trekking peak — reachable on foot without technical climbing. Nelion (5,188m) and Batian (5,199m) are the true summits and require technical rock climbing (Grade IV+). About 95% of climbers aim for Point Lenana.
Mount Kenya climbing costs from $480 for a day hike to around $850 for a 4-day Sirimon trek to Point Lenana, and from $2,450 for a 7-day technical Batian summit. Prices are per person and include park fees, crew, food and camping gear.
Kilimanjaro (5,895m) is higher and more famous, with a higher summit success rate on longer routes but more crowds. Mount Kenya (4,985m trekking peak) is more scenic, much quieter, cheaper, and offers a true wilderness experience. Many climbers do Mount Kenya first to acclimatize, then Kilimanjaro.
The best months to climb Mount Kenya are January–February and July–October, when the weather is driest and the trails are clearest. March–May and November are the long and short rains. Technical Batian climbs are best in the July–September dry window.
For Point Lenana and Kilimanjaro trekking routes you need good general fitness — able to hike 6–8 hours with a daypack for several consecutive days. No technical climbing skills are needed. For Batian you need rock-climbing experience at Grade IV+.
All our mountain packages include park fees, guide/cook/porter team, all meals on the mountain, tents and sleeping mats, and transfers from Nairobi (or Moshi for Kilimanjaro). Not included: crew tips, travel insurance, personal gear, visas and flights.
Yes. Above 3,500m, altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of fitness. We minimise the risk with gradual ascent profiles, acclimatization days, hydration and daily health checks. Our guides are trained to spot symptoms and respond, including emergency descent.
The Sirimon route is the most popular and best-acclimatizing ascent on Mount Kenya, approaching from the north through dense montane forest …
The Chogoria route is widely considered the most beautiful path up Mount Kenya — a 6-day traverse that climbs through montane forest, past L…
The Naro Moru route is the fastest and most direct path to Point Lenana — great for trekkers short on time. It ascends the notorious Vertica…
