Mount Kenya Safari

Tall and imposing, Mount Kenya looms above the Great Rift Valley in Central Kenya, and holds the title of highest mountain in Kenya – and second only to Mount Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania in the whole of Africa. This stratovolcano is a tough climb. Eroded slopes and steep valleys characterize Mount Kenya, and even a few glaciers make up part of the terrain. 

While the upper echelons of the mountain may be restricted to those more experienced high-mountain climbers, the lower slopes and mountain forest at the base has been proclaimed a National Park and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The varied landscape provides excellent forest trekking opportunities where you can spot several species of monkeys, antelopes, the tree hyrax, porcupines and bigger game such as elephant and buffalo. Hyena and leopard are also found in the National Park. 

One of the great attractions of Mount Kenya is both trekking and climbing. Visitors can opt to enjoy a multi–day trek up to the summit area, or to include the full climb sequence which includes summitting one of the main peaks.  

There are also a number of small ethnic communities living around Mount Kenya, including the Kikuyu, Ameru and the Embu – and all hold the mountain in great esteem and spiritual significance. Many of the camps and lodges in the area both employee and support the local people, and your visit contributes to this. 

We recommend adding Mount Kenya to a larger Kenyan itinerary, which can include visits to the nearby Laikipia region, to Aberdares National Park towards the south, or with popular reserves like Amboseli and the Masai Mara. 

Best Time to Visit Mount Kenya

The summer season between December and March offers the warmest, sunniest weather and is considered the best time to visit Mount Kenya. You can expect some rain between March and May and again from October onwards, which may draw up cloudier conditions so that your mountain views are restricted. However, the National Park is worth visiting all year round.