Mount Kenya
Background
Mt. Kenya is located 200 km north of Nairobi and straddles the equator about 193 km north-east of Nairobi and about 480 km from the Kenyan coast. At 5,199 m, Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and is an ancient extinct volcano. Its coordinates are as follows: 0.1508° S, 37.3075° E
Highlights
Mount Kenya is the main water catchment area for two large rivers in Kenya i.e. the Tana, the largest river in Kenya, and the Ewaso Ng’iso North.
Vegetation
Mount Kenya has a rich montane flora, including many endemic species. The giant heather and Afro-alpine vegetation zones that extend from around 3,500m to the snowline represent the rarest vegetation types on the African continent. Prominent constituents of this extraordinary vegetation are several endemic (or near-endemic) giant groundsels (Senecio) and Lobelias. The forested lower slopes support a number of rare shrubs and the climber, Rubus keniensis.
Kenya National Park and Forest reserve
The mountain is home to Kenya National Park and Forest reserve which is a home to many different animals and plants including 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. Several endangered and rare species, such as sunni buck and albino zebra, also live in the rserve.
Organized climbs/treks on Mount Kenya
The following companies offer organized treks on Mount Kenya
- Summits Africa
- Mountain club of Kenya
- Adventure Alternative Kenya
- Trekmountkenya.com
- Mount Kenya Guides and Porters Club
Belief and stories about Mount Kenya
- The Gĩkũyũ people believe that God, Ngai or Mwene Nyaga, lived on Mount Kenya when he came down from the sky and thus believe that the mountain is Ngai’s throne on earth. It is the place where Gĩkũyũ, the father of the tribe, used to meet with God. Thus according to the Kikuyu records, Gĩkũyũ is the first person on Earth to ascend the mountain.
- The Embu people believe that the mountain is God’s home (Meru word for God is Ngai or Mwene Njeru). The mountain is sacred, and they build their houses with the doors facing towards it.
- The Maasai believe that their ancestors came down from the mountain at the beginning of time. At least one Maasai prayer refers to Mount Kenya:
Mau-Mau Cave
- This cave is located at the foothills of Mt. Kenya, in Naru-Moru forest block of Mt.Kenya Forest Reserve. It is located approximately 18 km south of the equator inside the thick Mount Kenya National Park, about 199.2 km North East of Nairobi in Kenya’s Central Province
Animal Orphanage ( Mt Kenya Safari Club)
The centre was started in 1969 and continues to be home to orphaned, injured animals or those who need special care.
Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary
The centre was established to provide lifelong refuge to orphaned and abused chimpanzees which although not indigenous to Kenya, they are found in neighbouring counties and West and Central Africa. It is the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees.
Agriculture
The Gĩkũyũ who live on the southern and western sides of the mountain are agriculturalists, and make use of the highly fertile volcanic soil on the lower slopes to grow crops.Crops that are frequently grown are tea, coffee, beans, maize, bananas, potatoes, rice, citrus fruits, mangoes and vegetables. The crops grown on different aspects of the mountain vary due to the significant differences in the amount of rainfall between the northern and southern slopes. The southern slopes are much wetter, so are ideal for growing tea and coffee, whereas the northern slopes are too dry for these crops. A few large scale farms grow wheat and barley. Livestock are often kept in the drier areas, particularly cows for their milk. A system of irrigation has been developed which has increased productivity in the drier regions.
Accommodation around the mountain
| Hotel/ Lodge | Contact |
| Castle Forest Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Kimunye Kirinyaga District, Kerugoya |
| Serena Mountain Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Tel: (+254) 202842000 or 0771109637 E-mail: mtlodge@serena.co.ke Website:http://www.serenahotels.com/serenamountainlodge/default-en.html |
| Timau River Lodge, Mount Kenya | Nanyuki – Meru A2 HighwayTel: +254(0)705750479 Email:info@timauriverlodge.comWebsite: http://timauriverlodge.com/ |
| Izaak Walton Inn, Mount Kenya |
P.O. Box 1, Tel: +254 712 781 810 Email: reservations@izaakwaltoninn.co.keWebsite: http://www.izaakwaltoninn.co.ke/index.html |
| Mt Kenya Leisure Lodge, Mt Kenya |
P.O.Box 382 – 10105, Tel: +254715 724 381, +254713 799 684, +254737 021 270 Website: http://www.mountkenyaleisurelodge.com/ |
| Rhino Watch Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Nyeri, Mweiga Kenya Email: info@rhinowatchlodge.com Website: www.rhinowatchlodge.com |
| Colobus Cottages, Mount Kenya |
Burgeret River, Naro Moru Mt Kenya Tel: +254 722 840195 Email: endalea@gmail.com Website: http://www.colobuscottages.com/ |
| Lewa Safari Camp, Mount Kenya |
Lengai House, Wilson Airport, Nairobi P.O. Box 743, 00517 – Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi Tel: +254 20 6003090/1 Email:info@chelipeacock.co.ke Website: http://lewasafaricamp.com/ |
| Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Mount Kenya |
P.O Box 35 Email: kenya.reservations@fairmont.com Website: http://www.fairmont.com/mount-kenya-safari/ |
| Solio Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Giraffe Manor, Langata, Nairobi Tel: +254 (020) 502 0888 Email:info@thesafaricollection.comWebsite: http://www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/47-solio |
| Sirikoi Game Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Sirikoi, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Laikipia, Kenya |
| Alliance Naro Moru River Lodge, Mount Kenya |
Tel: +254 62 20310 47/8 Website: http://naromoruriverlodge.com/ |
For more reading
http://www.mck.or.ke/about-mck/
http://www.mydestination.com/kenya/things-to-do/169537/animal-orphanage-(mt-kenya-safari-club)
http://www.mydestination.com/kenya/things-to-do/180860/sweetwaters-chimpanzee-sanctuary