Africa Tour- Trekking Mt. Kenya
Mt. Kenya is a broad, largely symmetrical volcanic cone with a diameter of about 295 ft , and was formed between 2.6 and 3.1 million years ago. It was possible that the original volcano was over 21,000 ft . in height, more than 6,500 ft higher than today. There are three main peaks to the mountain; Batian 17,057 ft and Nelion 17,021 ft are only accessible to technical mountaineers, whilst Lenana, 16,354 ft , is accessible to trekkers.
The itinerary described below is that which we use for our guests, however weather conditions, guests fitness, and other factors, may require that we alter timings and route. At 17,000 ft . high, Mount Kenya is Africa 's second highest mountain. It offers easy or challenging ascents with superb scenic beauty 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 mountain forest begins at 6,500 ft . is mainly cedar. At 8,200 ft . begins a dense belt of bamboo forest which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees, interspersed 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. A number of other rare or endangered species can be found here: Sunni Buck, Mt Kenya Mole Shrew, skinks (lizard), and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings have been recorded of albino zebra. The high altitude heath at the top ( 9,850 ft - 11,500 ft .) is generally open, dotted with shrubs: African Sage, protea and helicrysum. The peak (above 11,500 ft .) is Mooreland, with little game other than high altitude zebra and eland common in the northern Mooreland.
