Rock Climbing – Nelion Peak – 9 Days
Able to hike 10 km / 6.2 miles at a time
Level 3 of 6 - hard
Trek ends: Sirimon Park Gate
5.199 m / 17.057 ft
max. 12 people
Nairobi Airport or Hotel
- Physical condition required:
- Power required:
- Experience given:
- Charisma of the environment:
Tour description
We have qualified professional guides who are trained to lead on rock-climbing expeditions to Batian and Nelion on Mount Kenya. The guides have undergone training with NOLS Africa.
Anyone planning to summit Mt. Kenya (Batian and Nelion) needs to be 5.9 American Standard Climber or hard server by European standards. You need at least two days plus normal hiking time for Batian or Nelion.
Climbing Mount Kenya is serious and it is important to acclimate well before tackling the
main summit.
9-day Mt. Kenya rock-climbing via the North Face Standard Route:
The North Face itinerary is suitable for the summer to fall climbing season (June – Sept),
when the North Face of the peak is relatively snow-free and climbing conditions are best.
DAY 1
Pickup at Kenyatta Airport – Nairobi Hotel
- Elevation: 1.700 m / 5.577 ft
- Distance: 16.1 km / 10 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Habitat: Town / Municipality / County
You will be picked up at the airport, then driven to Nairobi to check-in at one of the best hotels in Nairobi Town.
After lunch, be ready to sort out and organize your hiking gear for optimal efficiency. Dinner and breakfast the following morning at the hotel.
You will be picked up at the airport, then driven to Nairobi to check-in at one of the best hotels in Nairobi Town.
DAY 2
Nairobi – Chogoria Forest – Chogoria Mount Kenya Camp Site
- Elevation: 1.700 m / 5.577 ft – 2.500 m / 8.202 ft – 2.950 m / 9.678 ft
- Distance: 200 km / 124 miles by car from Nairobi, 10 km / 6.2 miles hiking
- Trekking Time: 2 – 3 hours
- Habitat: Tropical Rainforest
Depart Nairobi at around 8.00 am driving towards the central part of Kenya arriving in Chogoria town at around 12 pm. Have lunch, meet the rest of your climbing crew [porters] and continue driving through Mount Kenya Rainforest with high chances of spotting wildlife and park your vehicle at the clearance point. Start hiking along the road through African bamboo forest reaching your camp in 2 – 3 hours. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
DAY 3
Mt Kenya Camp site – Lake Ellis Camp
- Elevation: 2.950 m / 9.678 ft – 3.400 m / 11.155 ft
- Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles
- Trekking Time: 5 – 6 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Vegetation
Have an early breakfast at around 7 am, then leave the campsite, hiking along the trail
through rush alpine vegetation passing Urumandi Hut and Nithi Falls, reaching the next camp in 5 – 6 hours. Lunch would have been packed for you. In the afternoon, explore around the local lake. Dinner and sleep overnight at the campsite.
DAY 4
Lake Ellis – Mintos Hut
- Elevation: 3.400 m / 11.155 ft – 4.300 m / 14.108 ft
- Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
- Trekking Time: 6 – 7 hours
- Habitat: Moorland Vegetation
After breakfast and packing, leave the camp hiking along a single trail with a relatively
inclined ridge through alpine moorland and heather vegetation reaching Mintos hut in 5 – 6 hours. Make sure you have enough water: 2½ – 3 litres per person. Lunch will have been packed for you. Later in the day explore around your campsite. Dinner and
sleep overnight at the camp.
DAY 5
Mintos Hut – Austrian Hut
- Elevation: 4.300 m / 14.108 ft – 4.790 m / 15.715 ft
- Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
- Trekking Time: 4 hours
- Habitat: Rocky
Have breakfast at around 7.30 am, commence with the trekking along the marshy fields to bare rocks and scree looping over Tooth Col reaching the Austrian Hut in 3 – 4 hours. Dinner and overnight at Austrian Hut.
DAY 6
Austrian Hut – Nelion – Batian – Howel Hut
- Elevation: 4.790 m / 15.715 ft – 5.188 m / 17.021 ft – 5.199 m / 17.057 ft – 4.900 m / 16.076 ft
- Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
- Trekking Time: 8 – 9 hours
- Habitat: Rocky
Early breakfast at about 04:30 am, pack your gear and set off in the dark, across the Lewis Glacier to the base of Nelion, which usually takes 2 hours to walk. Start your ascent at 7:00 am and reach at Nelion summit (5.188 m / 17.021 ft) around 1:00 pm. Cross the Misty Gate [note that you will need an ice axe and crampons here] to reach Batian Summit (5.199 m / 17.057 ft). Here you are now on the highest peak in Kenya and the second highest in Africa. After taking photos, return to Nelion summit and spend the night at Howel bivouac in 3 – 4 hours. Another pitch, then mixed rock 4th and easy 5th class leads to the airy summit of Batian.
The descent is via the same route and hopefully you will reach Shipton’s Camp before nightfall for dinner and overnighting.
DAY 7
Howel Hut – Austrian Hut – Old Moses Camp
- Elevation: 4.900 m / 16.076 ft – 4.790 m / 15.715 ft – 3.300 m / 10.826 ft
- Distance: 18 km / 11.2 miles
- Trekking Time: 6 – 7 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Vegetation
Rappel down to the bottom about 9 ropes and then walk to Austrian Hut for breakfast.
Leave Austrian hut passing Lenana peak (4,985 m / 16,354 ft). After taking photos, start your descent towards Sirimon route passing Shipton’s Camp for lunch and a short rest.
Commence with your trek along Mackinder’s Valley and cross Likii and Ontulili Valleys
reaching Old Moses Camp in 6 hours. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 8
Old Moses Camp – Sirimon Gate – Nairobi
- Elevation: 3.300 m / 10.826 ft – 2.600 m / 8.530 ft – 1.700 m / 5.577 ft
- Distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles hiking, 210 km / 130 miles driving to Nairobi
- Trekking Time: 2 hours
- Habitat: Tropical Forest
After breakfast, start your descent on a paved road passing bamboo and Rainforests with high chances of spotting wildlife reaching to Sirimon gate in 2 hours. Check out of the park, make a little cerebration with your team and board your vehicle back to Nairobi or another destination.
DAY 9
Exiting Nairobi hotel to Kenyatta Airport or for further safari
- Elevation: 1.700 m / 5.577 ft
- Drive Distance: 16.1 km / 10 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Habitat: Town / Municipality / County
After breakfast check and make sure as you leave the hotel that everything is in good
condition and intact. Get ready to be driven back to the airport or embark on another safari, in Kenya with an unforgettable safari experience with us.
Important Details
Gear list
Check list below to reduce chances of inconveniences.
Bags
- 65-75 litre rucksack (for a porter to carry your main gear) with cover
- 35-45 litre day sack (for you to carry each day)
- Dry bags of different sizes for clothes, sleeping bag, etc.
Shell
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Waterproof gaiters
- Umbrella (optional)
Warmth
- Warm jacket – could be fleece or down jacket, potentially ski jacket. Make sure you can put the waterproof shell jacket over the top.
- 2 or 3 fleece tops or hiking shirts/sweatshirts
- 2 or 3 base layers or T-shirts
- Pair of trekking trousers and shorts
- Leggings, thermal bottoms or running tights
- Several sets of underwear – avoid cotton. Sports bras and cycling shorts are good.
Extremities
- Warm hat and a buff or scarf
- Sun hat
- Warm gloves or mittens, and thin liner gloves are also useful
Feet
- Several pairs of good quality trekking socks
- Waterproof trekking boots
- Trainers or flip flops/sandals
Sleeping
- 3-4 season sleeping bag (comfort -5°C or lower)
- Sleeping bag liner cotton/fleece/silk (optional)
- Stuff sack for sleeping bag
- Thick foam mat or self-inflating mat (like a Therm-A-Rest)
Personal
- Sunglasses
- Trekking poles
- Some favourite snack bars
- Headlamp
- Power bank for charging phones, etc.
- Wash kit – no showers on the mountain but you can have a bucket wash
- Papers – passport, money, insurance
- 2 water bottles
- Flask for hot drinks – useful on summit night
- Earplugs
- Wet wipes, tissues
- Anti-bacterial hand gel
First AID suggestions
- Paracetamol – temperature, colds
- Painkiller – headaches, very good for altitude related symptoms
- Antiseptic wipes and a few bandages and tape, antiseptic cream
- Blister bandages
- Oral rehydration sachets
- Sunblock and lipbalm
- Knee/Ankle support
- Personal Medications eg anti-malaria tablets, inhalers, antihistamine
- January through mid-March
- Mid-June through October
- December
- look at our Tour Calender
Request Form
Send us your desired travel dates and we will contact you as soon as possible. We will then send you more information and exact arrival and departure times for this route.
Nelion Peak – 9 Days
Included
Full organization of Mohakin Travel from/to Nairobi Airport
Airport pick-up and drop-off
All transfers, excursions and sightseeing according to the program
Full board during the trekking tour / climbing tour / safari
Boiled water, black tea, coffee and powdered milk for the ascents
Transportation to and from the hotel and trailhead
Accommodation in mountain tents (2-man tent, 4-season tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, chairs and tables)
Sleeping mat
Support team (certified guides, porters, and cooks)
All park and camp fees for the tour
Guides, cook and porters and their payment
experienced english speaking kenyan guide
Preparatory talk on the phone (WhatsApp)
Not included
Airfare to and from Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda
Visa
Tips for the support team
Sleeping bags and other personal gear
Rental gear
Lunch and dinner at the hotel
Single-occupancy fee in hotel
Drinks and snacks
You must have your own personal insurance - also in the case of emergency, we can organize an airlift
Climbing Guide (only for Batian & Nelion Peak) which is $500 for the whole climbing excursion
Climbing equipment (only for Batian & Nelion Peak), which is $50 per person
from 1 to max. 12 Persons
Rock Climbing Nelion Peak – 9 Days
Hotel overnight stay
- Book one or more days befor or after the trekking tour
Terms and Conditions
Reservations: A deposit of 35% is required at the time of booking and the balance at least before the tour begins or full payment/part payment before treks or safaris arranged on short notice. Special payment arrangements can be made directly with the office.
Cancellation: Any monies paid will be refunded less 35% of the cost and any cost levied by hotels or any additional food expenses. Rates: Includes all expenses in respect of vehicles or drives as per itinerary/general information. Also includes meals on safari and entrance fees to National parks/game reserves.
Transportation: Cars, minibuses, 4WD’s, coaches or trucks will be provided according to the route and number of clients. The right is reserved to employ the services of sub-contractors as appropriate. English-speaking drivers/guides are provided.
Accommodation: When possible, rooms with a private shower are provided. Single rooms are available at an additional cost but cannot be guaranteed. Hotels/lodges are named as an indication of category and rooms may be reserved at similar hotels and lodges. Accommodation is specific to client’s request of budget class, middle class or luxury class, depending on availability.
Alteration to Tours/Treks: We reserve the right to alter arrangement or cancel the operation of scheduled trek/safari should the circumstance necessitate. We also reserve the right to decline or accept or retain any person as a member of any tour at any time, in which case an equitable amount will be refunded. Prices are based on tariffs and other costs prevailing at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice, but a full explanation will be given.
Liability: We do not accepts responsibility for personal injury, accident, loss while clients are on treks/safari. We advise all clients to take out additional insurance cover. Mohakin Travel acts only as agents when employing the use of sub contractors and acts as only agents of the passenger/client in all matters relating to Hotel/Lodge Accommodation, tours, transport, etc. and shall not be liable for injury, delay, loss or damage in any manner. The company’s liability to passengers carried in its own vehicle is governed by the laws of the country in which the tour takes place and no other country. All claims are subject to jurisdiction of the courts of the country in which the action a rise. The company reserves the rights to employ sub-contractors for all parts and services.
NOTE: All expeditions involve an element of personal risk and times can be hazardous nature, Expedition members must accept this risk. We are not liable for any loss, damage, Injury, expense, delay or inconvenience caused to your baggage as a result, whether directly or indirectly, or any matter or whatever nature which is outside our control. All participants are advised to take out an insurance policy to cover personal accidents and medical expenses. We can arrange this at low cost. The guide reserves the right to withdraw participants from treks, safari due to inclement weather, irresponsible behaviors, poor health or any other sound reason the guide gives.
Quality Guarantee
Mohakin Travel clients can expect the following guarantees to ensure proper service:
- Your guide will introduce himself and your driver, and cover the laid out tour/safari itinerary in advance.
- We will double-check that all gear and supplies are prepared for your custom tour/safari.
- During the tour/safari, we will ensure that your needs are met and you are well cared for.
- We will address any issues that arise out of our control, to give our clients the smoothest and most enjoyable adventure possible.
- We will ensure the drivers/sub-contractors are on time and presentable.
- We will give information about surrounding areas and points of interest.
- Each day, we will set time aside to let our clients know what is happening for that day.
- At the end of your tour/safari, we will ask for your feedback to ensure the quality of our service.
Health and Safety
Mountains in the world can sometimes be dangerous and hazardous – especially in high altitude.
It is therefore important to:
1. Be well equipped.
2. Let your expedition leader know your health history.
3. Have a good communication system.
4. Have a good basic first aid kit and know how to use it.
5. Be able to identify mountain illnesses.
HOW TO RECOGNISE ALTITUDE RELATED ILLNESS
At high altitudes the amount of oxygen decreases dramatically. This can result in medical urgency that must be a concern to every hiker.
AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)
Signs include: Headache, nausea, fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite and difficulty in sleeping.
Treatment
Slow down, stay in camps, drink water and rest while the body adjusts to the altitude. If symptoms persist after 48 hours, descend.
HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Aedema)
Symptoms include: Shortened breath during exercise progressing to shortened breath while resting, a dry cough deteriorating to a frothy sputum, audible gurgling (rales) from the chest area, increased heart and breathing rate.
Treatment
Descend immediately and seek medical attention. Descending is the treatment. It can progress quickly to a point where the patient cannot walk. It doesn’t improve with rest at the same altitude.
HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Aedema)
Symptoms include:- AMS that progress to severe headaches, loss of coordination, slurred speech, irrational behaviour, coma and death.
Treatment
Descend immediately, Hace can quickly progress to lethal stage.
Prevention of AMS, HAPE and HACE
Allow 2 nights at 10.000ft or at higher altitude at around 14,000ft. Before proceeding higher, increase fluid intake to 4-6 liters per day. Avoid extreme physical exertion and eat a light diet rich in carbohydrates. Take symptoms seriously. Rest and acclimatize if AMS is suspected. Report to ranger’s rescue station and descend immediately if HAPE or HACE is suspected.
However, it is important to drink plenty of water slowly to allow your body to get used to the altitude.