Mount Kenya national park
Mount Kenya national park is a fascinating national park to visit for mountain climbers and nature lovers stretching around Mount Kenya covering an area of 700 square kilometers, Mount Kenya national park is a UNESCO world heritage site situated 175 kilometers from Nairobi. Mount Kenya park was established in 1949 purposely to protect and conserve the area surrounding Mount Kenya and its ecological system, though conserving the ecological system was the major reason there were other reasons to why the government of Kenya chose to gazette the area as national park. These reasons include preserving the great scenic beauty, preserve the water catchment for the surrounding area, conserve biodiversity and promote tourists with its importance to the local people and the economy of Kenya.
Attractions in Mount Kenya national park
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya national park stretches over mountain Kenya which is an attraction in the park and from which the park derives its name, Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro standing at the elevation of 5,199 meters. Mount Kenya consists of many peaks which are situated on different altitude, these peaks include
- Batian peak standing at the altitude of 17,057 ft.
- Nelion peak at the altitude of 17,021 ft.
- Pt Lenana peak at the altitude of 16,355 ft.
- Coryndon Peak at the altitude 16,273 ft.
- Pt Piggot peak at the altitude of 16,263 ft.
- Pt Dutton peak at the altitude of 16,027 ft.
- Pt John peak at the altitude of 16,020 ft.
- Pt John Minor peak at the altitude of 15,994 ft.
- Krapf Rognon peak at the altitude of 15,748 ft.
- Pt Peter peak at the altitude of 15,607 ft.
- Pt Slade at the altitude of 15,584 ft.
- Midget Peak at the altitude of 15,420 ft.
These peaks are great attraction in Mount Kenya Park as they covered by glaciers which create a scenic view in the park, Mount Kenya also facilitate hiking and mountain climbing expeditions in the park.
Vegetation cover and species of flora
Mount Kenya and Mount Kenya park are covered with bands of vegetation cover which are a fascinating attraction, vegetation cover ranges from the base to the summit of the mountain. From the base/lower slopes of Mount Kenya to its summit the slopes are typically covered by a series of forest that is alpine forests, bamboo forest, timberline forest, heathland, chaparral and afro-alpine zone. These series of vegetation cover are enjoyed well while on hiking adventure on the mountain.
Wildlife
Though Mount Kenya national park is famous for Mount Kenya and mount climbing safari, the park is a habitant to many wildlife species which include animals and birds.
Animals
Mount Kenya national park is a habitant which thrive in the regions of the park and these include elephants, tree hyrax, white tailed mongoose, black fronted duikers, mole rats, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, leopards, black rhinos, buffaloes, mongoose, black rhino, genet cat, bush pig, suni, warthog, wild dog, lion, jackal, impala, spotted hyena, giraffe, bat-eared fox, baboon and many more.
Birds
Mount Kenya national park is a habitant for many bird species which live in various regions of the park, these beautiful and colorful birds are easy to be spotted and they include afro tropical highlands biome species and threatened species. Birds found in mount Kenya national park include Jackson’s widowbird, Sharpe’s Long claw, Olive Ibis, Lammergeier, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, African Crowned Eagle, African Grass Owl, Cape Eagle-Owl, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Long-tailed Widowbird, Abyssinian Owl (very rare and poorly researched), Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Kenrick’s Starling, Abbott’s Starling, Lesser Kestrel, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, Gray Tit-Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Equatorial, Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin, African Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted, Pale-breasted, Gray Tit, Green-headed Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, African Black-headed Oriole, Gray-backed Fiscal, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, White-crowned Shrike, Marsh Tchagra, Black-crowned, Brown-crowned, Fork-tailed, House Crow and many more.
Culture
Mount Kenya park is surrounded by many tribal groups living on its boundaries, these tribal poses the authentic African culture, traditions and norms which witnessed upon your visit and they include
- Embu
The Embu people occupy the south-east region of Mount Kenya, these people believe Mount Kenya is a home to their God Ngai and it is a sacred place to them. Because of their belief the Embu people build their houses facing the mountain.
- Ameru
Ameru people live on the east, north and north-western of Mount Kenya, Ameru people are partly agriculturalists and livestock keeping people. Because of farming these people occupy the most fertile soil areas of the mountain, they also have a great attachment to Mount Kenya. Ameru people believe the mountain as used by their god Murungu as he ascended from the skies, Ameru people also gave named the mountain Kirimara which means mountain with white features from the snow white glaciers on top of the mountain.
- Masai
The Masai are semi- nomadic group of local people living on the outskirts of the park, these people initially used the area covered by the park as their grazing area. Because of their attachment to the mountain the Masai people have a name for the Mount Kenya which is Ol Donyo Keri a Masai slag meaning mountain of stripes which refers to the dark shades observed from the surrounding plains. The Masai people also reference the mountain in their prayers to God.
- Kikuyu
The kikuyu people live on the southern and western region of mountain, the kikuyu people have a great attachment to Mount Kenya as they believe that their god Ngai come from the sky and used to live on this mountain. To the kikuyu people mountain Kenya is a sacred place where Gikuyu the father of the kikuyu tribe and the first person on earth to ascend the mountain used to meet their god, because of their strong belief in the mountain the kikuyu used to build their houses with their doors facing the mountain.
Caves
Mau Mau cave
Mau Mau caves in Mount Kenya national park are historically significant caves, they were used as hide outs for Mau Mau rebellion fighters and while in the park it is a thrill to visit them and learn more about their history and intriguing nature.
Shipton’s caves
Shipton’s caves is another cave on Mount Kenya situated just before shipton’s camp along Sirimon route
Things to do in mount Kenya national park
Mountain Climbing/ trekking
Mountain climbing is the highlight activity in mountain Kenya national park, climbing Mount Kenya is a very adventurous activity consisting of climbing to the summit of Mount Kenya to numerous peaks. As you climb you pass through various vegetation covers dominating the slopes which are fascinating to encounter, you also get to view many animals such as elephants, buffaloes and many bird species. Climbing mountain Kenya many routes are used to get to the summit of the mountain and they include
- Naro Moru route
- Sirimon Route
- Chogoria Route
- Summit Circuit
- Timau route
- Burguret route
While climbing the mountain you get stunning views of lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks, though climbing the mountain a bit challenging it is very rewarding and an activity you should participate in once a life time.
Camping and cave tours
Mount Kenya national park is camping experiences, the park has many camping sites where you get to camp and enjoy the nature together with the scenic views. These camping sites include mackinders campsite situated in Teleki valley and encountered while climbing on Naro Moru route, shipton’s hut and many more.
Mount Kenya national park host to caves which can be visited while in Mount Kenya park for a safari, these caves include mau mau cave and shipton’s cave.
Game viewing
Mount Kenya national park offers amazing game viewing experience, as already mentioned the park hosts a population of wildlife. Mount Kenya park is generally a forest dominated tourist destination and while in the park, while in the park you get to view many animals such as elephants, tree hyrax, white tailed mongoose, black fronted duikers, mole rats, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, leopards, black rhinos, buffaloes and many more.
Best time to visit Mount Kenya national park
It is always a good time to visit Mount Kenya national park, for the best experience the best time to visit the park is in the period of December to march. This period is a dry season receiving less rainfall with a lot of sunshine, because of the sunshine the park’s hiking trails are dry and there is clear views of the mountain picks.
Where to stay in Mount Kenya national park
While on a safari in Mount Kenya national park there is a variety of accommodation facilities which are available for tourists on a safari in the park, these facilities include Serena mountain lodge, Rutundu log cabins, shipton’s camp mountain hut, Oldmoses camp mountain hut, Laragai house, Fairmount mount Kenya safari club, castle forest lodge, mukima lodge, Timau river lodge, Laikipia safari camp, the great circle lodge and many more.
How to get to Mount Kenya national park
Mount Kenya National Park as a top tourist destination in Kenya is very accessible from Nairobi where most tours to the park kick off from, to access the park there is 6 gates which are used to get to the park that is The Narumoru Gate, Kihari Gate, Mawingu Gate, Sirimon Gate, Kamweti Gate and Chogoria Gate. Mount Kenya national park is situated approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Nairobi and you can use both road and air to get to the park for a safari. By road from Nairobi city routes through Nanyuki or Naro Moru are used to reach to the park using either public or private means, the most used route is Nanyuki -Isiolo road and also the park can be accessed form Chogoria.
By air chartered domestic flights are available from jomo Kenyatta international airport in Nairobi to Nanyuki airstrip and Laikipia airstrip which are situated close to the park.
