Sirimon route, Mt Kenya: day by day to Point Lenana

Day by day

Most groups take four or five days and add a rest day at Shipton's Camp to get used to the height. A common plan looks like this:

• Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Camp: from the gate at about 2,650 m, a vehicle track climbs about 9 km through forest to Old Moses Camp at about 3,400 m. There is no bamboo belt on this northern side, so the forest turns straight into moorland covered in giant heather.
• Old Moses to Shipton's Camp: the longest walking day, about 13.5 km and seven to eight hours over moorland, streams and ridges. The busier path follows the Mackinder Valley; a quieter one passes Liki North Hut at 3,993 m. They meet at Shipton's Cave, in the rock wall just below Shipton's Camp at 4,236 m.
• Rest day at Shipton's: a short walk up to Hausberg Col, at about 4,590 m, and back helps your body adjust and shows you most of the next morning's route.
• Summit morning: leave around 2 am, climb frozen scree past Harris Tarn and cross bare rock with a short scramble to reach Point Lenana around sunrise, at about 6 am.
• The way down: return past Shipton's to Old Moses, or cross the mountain and descend by Naro Moru or Chogoria.

Terrain and how hard it is

Sirimon is a walk, not a climb, and the gradient is gradual, which is why it suits a first attempt. The challenge is the height: Shipton's Camp is above 4,200 m and summit morning starts in the cold and dark.

Above the moorland, giant lobelias and groundsels thin out into scree and bare rock. The final section to Point Lenana has a short scramble, and the ridge on the far side towards Austrian Hut is narrow in places, with steel cables fixed along its upper part.

On our map the Sirimon line to Point Lenana covers about 24.1 km with roughly 3,060 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.
• 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

Sirimon Gate is off the Nanyuki–Meru road, about 200 km from Nairobi. From Nanyuki the turn-off is about 15 km east around the Mount Kenya ring road, and the gate is about 10 km further up the track. 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. Old Moses and Shipton'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. If you went up Sirimon and down another route, upload your GPX and we print your exact line.