Mount Kenya - SummitClimb - Overview
🏔 Highest Mountain in Kenya, Second-Highest in Africa – A true alpine challenge.
🧗 Iconic Twin Peaks – Batian (5,199m) & Nelion (5,188m) offer thrilling climbing routes.
🥾 Unforgettable Trek to Point Lenana (4,985m) – The highest trekking peak, an itinerary with breathtaking views.
🌍 Expert Leadership Since 2002 – Experienced guides, top-notch logistics, and a passionate team.
🛡️ SummitClimb - 100% committed to your safety and success.
Experience Mount Kenia
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. Its highest peaks, Batian (5,199 m / 17,058 ft) and Nelion (5,188 m / 17,021 ft), form iconic twin summits with exciting climbing routes. For trekkers, Point Lenana (4,985 m / 16,355 ft) offers a rewarding high-altitude hike with breathtaking views, spectacular trekking routes lead through the volcanic mountain range. In addition to an overview of our tours, you will find information about our expertise on climbing Mount Kenya and general information about the mountain
SummitClimb - Team Kenya
Our Kenya-expert (and CEO) Felix Berg has personally climbed the 27-times to the main summits (12x Batian, 15x Nelion, Status: 1.1.2025) and done 9 first ascents on the different peaks of Mount Kenya massif. He knows the highest mountain of the country like hardly any other expert and has trained our team of local guides in Kenya. His extensive experience in the mountains of the world and his specific knowledge of Mount Kenya will benefit you as a participant of our Kenya tours.
With experience from our group trips, private guided tours, family trekking adventures for all ages, and birthday events for up to 40 people, we have crafted many unique and exclusive Kenya experiences. Whether it’s a special trip for two, a Mount Kenya ascent with a school group, or a milestone celebration, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life with professionalism and care.
We have a Swiss organizer based in Nairobi, while our head mountain guide resides in Naro Moru, where we are actively engaged in community projects. Our strong local presence allows us to build meaningful connections and contribute to the region. The camaraderie among porters, kitchen staff, guides, and team members creates a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, ensuring an unforgettable experience. From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel the warmth and dedication of our team, making your journey even more special.
Mount Kenya - Mountain Guides
SummitClimb expedition leaders, such as IVBV mountain guide Jürgen Oblinger, Julian Beermann, and Arne Bergau, have reached the summit and know the routes well. Since 2004, Felix Berg has trained the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) rescue team, including Simon Gitau, the long-time head of the national park and deputy director of KWS. This collaboration continues today, and most of our local guides are part of the national park’s mountain rescue team.
The most skilled and experienced guides will lead your ascent of Mount Kenya. For groups of eight or more, a SummitClimb expedition leader manages the group and oversees the climb. Our Kenyan head mountain guide, Duncan Nderitu, has summited Nelion over 100 times and Batian 40 times. David, Simon, and other strong local climbers support our guided ascents.
Our Mount Kenya trips offer a seamless blend of trekking and climbing, tailored to your experience level and goals. Specialized trekking and climbing guides ensure expert leadership every step of the way. To keep you energized throughout the expedition, our top-notch kitchen team prepares well-balanced, nourishing meals, enhancing both performance and enjoyment on the mountain.
Our team in Kenya looks forward to warmly welcoming you on one of our tours:
Karibu kwa Kenia – Welcome to Kenya!
General information
The Mount Kenya massif, with Batian (5,199 m / 17,058 ft), is the second-highest mountain massif in East Africa. Mount Kenya is located approximately 140 km northeast of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, about 15 km south of the equator, in the Mount Kenya National Park, which is dedicated to protecting the region's flora and fauna (the high national park fees are successfully reinvested for this purpose). The name "Kirinyaga," meaning "Where God rests" in Kikuyu, was mispronounced by British colonists, ultimately giving the country its name: Kenya.
People Around Mount Kenya: The Kikuyu people live in the southern and western regions of Mount Kenya. They make up our team: porters, guides, cooks – your team for the Mount Kenya tour. The Kikuyu speak their Bantu language, Kikuyu, as well as the national language, Kiswahili, and English, depending on their level of education (English is taught from the first grade onward). The Kikuyu are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. On the eastern side of Mount Kenya, the Embu and Meru communities live. The Maasai, originally a nomadic people, also had traditional grazing grounds around Mount Kenya. The Kikuyu, Embu, and Meru are closely related ethnic groups.
Routes to Mount Kenya: The trekking routes on Mount Kenya are named after their starting points: Naro Moru, Gathiuru (Burguret), Sirimon, Timau, Meru, Chogoria, and Kamweti. Some of these routes do not lead all the way to the mountain (Meru) or are rarely used, making them less accessible (Burguret). The standard routes are Naro Moru, Sirimon, and Chogoria. We select a route adapted to the season and specific variations that allow you to explore the most beautiful parts of Mount Kenya – see details in the "Itinerary" of each trip.
Climbing Mount Kenya: From the first ascent in 1899 by MacKinder and his companions, to the pioneering routes by Eric Shipton in the 1930s, to modern lines by Ian Howell and free climbing by Pat Littlejohn and Felix Berg, over a hundred routes have been established. The standard guidebook MCK (Mountain Club of Kenya) Guide to Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro has not been comprehensively revised or updated since the 1980s. In our Mount Kenya Climb (under Climbing), you'll find descriptions of the standard routes in the "Itinerary" section and a route selection with brief descriptions in the "Information" section. Climbing Mount Kenya is optional, and trekkers can (and must) be content with the 4,985-meter-high Point Lenana.
Season - Climate / Weather: As is typical in equatorial regions, Kenya has two dry and two rainy seasons. The climate on Mount Kenya is subtropical to alpine, characterized by very high humidity and substantial rainfall.
During the dry season, the mountain often experiences cloud formation (condensation, cumulation) during the day, which can lead to rainfall in the afternoon or evening. The wet belt, with the most rainfall, lies around 3,500 meters, and the snow line is between 4,200 meters and 4,800 meters. The main peaks often remain dry (above or in the clouds), but it’s important to monitor the weather throughout the day. Isolated thunderstorms may occur during the dry season. The best times for climbing and trekking are:
- Our summer (Kenya's "winter," approximately 5°C colder): July to late September
- Our winter (Kenya's "summer"): December to March
In Kenya (and thus on Mount Kenya), there are two rainy seasons in between:
- The long rainy season from April to the end of May / early June
- The short rainy season from early November to mid-December
The timing, duration, and intensity of these seasons are subject to fluctuations and cannot be predicted. During the rainy seasons, heavy rainfall is expected on Mount Kenya, and even during the dry season, disturbances can occur as the mountain, standing alone and exposed, attracts cloud formation and weather fronts from the Indian Ocean
