Naro Moru route, Mt Kenya: the direct way to Point Lenana

Section by section

Three days is the minimum; many groups add a rest day at Mackinder's Camp. The route goes like this:

• Naro Moru Gate to the Met Station: a track runs from Naro Moru town past the park headquarters and up the ridge between the northern and southern Naro Moru rivers, through forest and bamboo. It ends at the Meteorological Station at about 3,050 m, which has bunkhouses and a campsite. In the dry season you can drive this far.
• Met Station to Mackinder's Camp: the path climbs through the Vertical Bog, a steep, wet stretch of moorland, then drops into the Teleki Valley to Mackinder's Camp at about 4,200 m. Cross the bog in the morning, when rain is less likely.
• Rest day at Mackinder's: a walk up to a high tarn and back helps your body adjust before summit morning.
• Summit morning: climb in the dark to Austrian Hut at 4,790 m, the highest hut on the trekking routes, then follow the ridge to Point Lenana for sunrise.
• The way down: return to Mackinder's Camp for a rest, then down through the Teleki Valley and the Vertical Bog to the Met Station, or cross to Sirimon.

Terrain and how hard it is

Naro Moru is the steepest of the three main routes. The height comes quickly, which makes acclimatisation harder, so a rest day at Mackinder's is worth taking. The Vertical Bog is tiring and can be very wet after rain.

The ridge from Austrian Hut to Point Lenana is the most exposed part of any of the main routes. Fixed steel cables run along it, but if you have a strong fear of heights, consider going up another way.

On our map the Naro Moru line covers about 22.7 km with roughly 2,846 m of climbing.

Best time of year

Mt Kenya has two dry seasons and two wet seasons. The driest time runs from about December to mid-March. A second, slightly wetter dry season follows the long rains and lasts until September.

The long rains fall from mid-March to June and bring about half of the year's rain. The short rains fall from October to December. In the dry season, mornings are usually clear and the mountain is often in cloud by midday, which is another reason to start early.

What to bring

• Warm layers, a warm hat and gloves: summit morning is below freezing, with frozen scree underfoot.
• A waterproof jacket and trousers for rain and wet moorland.
• Hiking boots with good grip.
• Gaiters for the mud of the Vertical Bog.
• A head torch with spare batteries for the early summit start.
• A warm sleeping bag: most huts on the mountain have no heating.
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Drinking water, snacks and a small first aid kit.
• No single-use plastic: Kenya's national parks are plastic-free.

Getting there, entry and fees

Naro Moru Gate is about 188 km from Nairobi along the Nyeri–Nanyuki road, near Naro Moru town. The nearest commercial airstrip is at Nanyuki. KWS says park gates open at 6:00 am and close at 6:00 pm, unless you are staying overnight.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) lists these entry rates for Mt Kenya National Park: East African citizens KES 800 per adult and KES 400 per child; Kenya residents KES 1,100 per adult and KES 550 per child; African citizens USD 30 per adult and USD 15 per child; non-residents USD 70 per adult and USD 35 per child. The Met Station and Mackinder's Camp are privately run, so beds there are booked separately from park entry.

The KWS park page does not say a guide is compulsory, but we strongly recommend a park-certified guide. Sirimon, Naro Moru and Chogoria are the routes with staffed gates; other routes need special permission from KWS. Official page: kws.go.ke/park/mt-kenya-national-park

Checked on 8 November 2026 against the official park website; confirm current fees before you go.

Keep the climb

We print the route on the real terrain, so the mountain rises off the wall in 3D with your line raised in colour. Add your names and summit date and it becomes the record of the climb.