Insight Guides: Kenya by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: WTH
Publisher: APA
Published: 2013-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

Birdwatchers on Safari, Mount Kenya National Park.

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Exploring Mount Kenya

Little more than a century ago, Mount Kenya was barely known to the outside world. Indeed, when the German missionary Johann Krapf first reported the snow-capped mountain’s existence to European geographers in 1849, he was generally disbelieved. In 1887, Count Samuel Teleki von Szek and his Austrian companion, Ludwig von Höhnel, climbed to within 900 metres (3,000ft) of the summit of Mount Kenya. Twelve years later, an Englishman, Sir Halford Mackinder, finally made it to the top. Another 30 years elapsed before the distinguished mountaineer Eric Shipton made the second recorded ascent. Thereafter, the climb became popular, and there are now many well-established main routes to the summit and scores of minor ascents for the experienced alpine mountaineer.

Several vehicle tracks on both sides of the mountain wind their way up the forested ridges to the edge of the national park. Once at the park boundary, all visitors must sign in at the relevant park entrance gate. You are not permitted through the gates unaccompanied – except on a day trip, which must end at 4pm. For longer stays on the mountain, there must be at least two people, plus guides and porters. Full scale hikes to Point Lenana require at least four days, ideally longer, and should only be undertaken with an experienced operator – otherwise there is a very real risk of getting lost, especially if a blizzard rises, or succumbing to altitude sickness without experienced assistance to hand.

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