Day One – NAIROBI TO MUTUBIO WEST GATE
Depart Nairobi by 8.30 am for a drive of 3 hours to Aberdares using the western face via Jabini, Engineer and Ndunyu Njeru, arrive at Mutubio gate where you register with Warden. You can start your walk here or drive for half an hour to reedback campsite where you will be spending the night. The afternoon will be spent visiting Karuru Water Falls and Gura river Falls. Dinner and overnight at the campsite. The day walk can be 2 to 5 hours depending on your wish.
Day Two – REEDBUCK AREA TO CHANIA FALL
The day walk will be between 15 to 20 kilometers depending on your wish, this will take 4 to 8 hours. With your guide and Ranger start the hike by following the park track westward for about 5 km, to meet the road coming in from Mutubio west gate at a T.junction. From here you turn right and walk through the rolling moorland to reach a track on the right leading to Queen’s Cave after another 5 kilometers, or you can turn left at the T.junction, then right onto a disused track, and take this slightly longer way to Queen’s Cave. From the Queen’s cave follow the track for about 5 km to reach a bridge across the Chania River, where a path leads down throught the forest to the Chania Falls . Picnic lunch will be on the, dinner and overnight at the campsite Chania area.
Day Three – CHANIA FALLS TO WANDERIS TRACK
The day walk is 16km, 4 to 5 hours and you will gain accent of 500m. The distance and time given here are if you keep to the track, but there are also some routes through the Bush which will add a bit of distance and a lot of time. The most pleasant section is through the area to the north of the falls, bounded to the east and north by the track. This is good going for part of the way, through grass and open forest glade, although there are also some dense patches of bush, and a few bogs which slow progress. After meeting the park track again, continue following it north, over the Honi and Kihoni rivers ( the last water point before the Wanderis camping place) to meet the Wanderis Track, which links the Wanderis gate and the Wanderis Roadhead. There are several places for camping in the area. If you turn right and go downhill for about 500meters, there’s a grassy area on the left , called ‘Cinema’ by the Rangers because the film crew making Gorillas in the Mist camped here. Or you can turn left and go uphill for about one Km until a faint fork branches off right to the Old Quarry, another suitable place for camping. Near the fork , on the left side of the main track, is Wanderis hut, in bad condition but Ok for shelter in a emergency . Non of these campsites have water nearby.
Day Four – WANDERIS ROADHEAD TO SATIMA SUMMIT AND OUT OF THE PARK TO MOUNT KENYA
After an early morning before breakfast, start the hike up to Satima which is the highest point of Aberdares 4000meters, the distance is 7 kilometers, 400meters ascent, 4 to 5 hours depending on the pace, picnic breakfast and then descend for 3 to 4 hours for lunch at the road head. From here with your team drive through the Saleint with game drive on the way to Mount Kenya area and camp at Bantu lodge for the night or drive further northwards to Sirimon park gate for the night at the Bandas. Please note that you can add a day in Aberdares by walking from Wanderis Road head to Wanderis park gate.
Day Five – MOUNT KENYA SIRIMON GATE TO OLDMOSES
You will have a lazy morning with a short walk within Sirimon gate area to try and see some wildlife with a ranger, thereafter start the hike to Oldmoses Camp through the rain forest, the walk takes 3 hours to be on good time for lunch and relaxation. Spend the afternoon acclimatizing up to Likii north area and return to Oldmoses 3300m for dinner and overnight.
Day Six – OLDMOSES TO SHIPTON’S
Early morning breakfast and thereafter start ascent to Shipton’s through the heather zone and moorland and into the Mackinder’s valley. On a clear day you will be able to see and take good pictures of the snow capped Peaks. The walk takes 5 to6 hours with picnic lunch on the way, dinner and overnight at shipton’s camp 4200meters.
Day Seven – SHIPTON’S TO LENANA AND OVER TO MACKINDERS CAMP AND DOWN TO MET STATION
Early morning at 3.00am have a quick cup of chocolate and start the hike to the summit ” Lenana” 4985meters, the walk takes 3 hours and will be there by day break for sunrise view and to take good picture on a clear day. Later descend for 2 hours to Mackinders area for breakfast and a short rest, therafter descend through the Naro Moru route to Met Station with picnic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at Met station.
