Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weather like?

The weather can be anything from hot and sunny to pouring rain to snowing. You could face anything from pleasant temperatures like a North American summer day to -5 degrees C (15 F) and snow. In other words, you need to come prepared with a sweater/fleece, shell jacket (like those sold by Helly Hansen, North Face, Taiga, Mountain Equipment Coop, REI etc), mittens, hat, warm socks and hiking boots. Running shoes are out of the question. More information about clothing below.

Do I need to be experienced in rock climbing?

Absolutely not. Trekking Mount Kenya is a hiking experience for most people and, for a rare few who wish to do technical climbing, this can be arranged. If you can hike 10-15 km (6-12 mi) with an elevation gain then you can do this trip. The terrain is mostly dirt trail and occasionally scree.

What do I need to bring?

You are responsible for bringing:

•warm clothing: see "What clothing should I bring?"

•appropriate hiking footwear

•backpack

•first aid kit (tylenol/paracetamol, medical tape, gauze, blister kit, cold medication, anti-diarrheal agent, gravol, etc - this is not a complete list!)

•toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, toilet paper, soap, sanitary napkins etc.
•sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
•binoculars
•climbing gear (for those of you intend to do technical climbing)
•water bottles and water filtering/purification system

You may choose to bring your own:

•sleeping bag

•thermarest (or equivalent)

•we can provide a sleeping bag for you if need be and the huts have well-loved foam matresses.

You do not need to bring:

•food - we bring lots

•cooking stove and fuel - we've got that covered

•cooking utensils, plates

What clothing should I bring?

This is not an exhaustive list but here are our suggestions.

Upper Body

inner layer: polypropylene long underwear with good wicking ability.

middle layer: fleece and/or soft shell

outer later: Gore-tex shell

Depending on the time of year you may consider bringing a down jacket.

fleece hat and fleece gloves

shell gloves

two T-shirts

Lower Body:

inner layer: polypropylene long underwear with good wicking ability.

middle layer: fleece pants

outer later: Gore-tex or other shell

bring shorts also - conditions are highly variable
Feet:
two pairs of thin polypropylene socks and two pairs of wool

or synthetic hiking socks

hiking boots

gaiters are nice but not a necessity

Can I drink the water?

Naturally, dysentery is not high on our list of things that we want our customers to experience. Therefore, we strongly advise that you do not drink the stream water directly even though it is glacial fed. You can bring along any number of water purification systems available from outdoor shops. These can be filter/iodination systems (like those available from Katadyn, or MSR) or just chlorine purification drops (eg Pristine).

Do I need any specialized gear?

Only if you plan to do technical climbing.

Do I have to carry my own pack?

Generally, you carry a pack but the heaviest packs are carried by our porters. You cannot expect us to act as your sherpas but you will not have to carry the heaviest of the packs - unless, of course, you want to for some reason.

What is provided with the daily base price?

For Mount Kenya treks the base price includes:

•transportation
•all meals
•accomodation (ie the huts)
•sleeping bag if needed
For Mount Kilimanjaro, because the park fees are structured differently, the camping fees are part of the park fees and are not included in the base price. See the pricing page for an explanation.

Are park fees included in the base price?

No. You will have to pay the park entrance fees which are reasonable for Mount Kenya and sort-of-outrageous for Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kenya Prices park fees are:

$70 for adult non-residents for the first three days + $20.00 per day for every additional day. There are discounts for children and students. Markedly lower fees apply to Kenyan residents.

The pricing page gives more details.

What if I am not an experienced trekker?

This is not a big deal - the most important thing is that you are physically fit. If you excercise regularly then you should be able to accomplish the trek without difficulty. You should be able to carry a pack while you hike but you will not be loaded down like a burrow. If you have done all-day hikes in the past then you will be able to do this.

What if I want to do some technical rock climbing - can you still guide me?

Yes - we can arrange for you to have assitance from a local climber with experience on the most easy and difficult faces on the mountain. We do need to know this ahead of time and there will be extra fees associated with this that we can negotiate with you. We don't set standard extra fees for technical climbers because each climber wants to arrange something unique and we determine the cost accordingly.

Could I get altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness, also known as mountain sickness is always a possibility and can put quite a damper on a trekker's experience. Typically, mountain sickness is manifested by headache, nausea and vomitting but can lead to very dangerous pulmonary and cerebral edema. The chance of getting mountain sickness decreases when the climber has ascended slowly or has had thorough acclimatization with each elevation gain. It is not recommended to do the trek immediately upon arrival to Kenya. Acclimitization with a few days at Nairobi's 5300 ft elevation is preferable. The only cure for mountain sickness is descent and we will descend with any trekker about whom we are concerned. Should you choose to use acetazolamide to prevent mountain sickness, you would have to arrange this with your physician. We will not provide you with this prescription medication.

Do I need topographical maps and my GPS?

No - we have done this trek hundreds of times. We know our way. If you want to bring these tools for your own benefit, you may do so.

What sorts of plants and animals will I see?

You are going to see plants like you have never seen anywhere. Have a look in the photos! The Kenyan Wildlife Service gives a nice description of wildlife here. Definitely, the most common animal for you to see will be the rock hyrax. These are impertinent little creatures of a comically unfriendly temperment. This does not mean that they are unwilling to mooch your food. They are mooches. They are a very interesting animal that you will not likely see elsewhere in such abundance. Fortunately, the Mt Kenya variety do not make that ear-splitting scream that the tree hyraxes of the Masai Mara do!

How do I book with you?

See the Contact Us page.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We are a small independent operation owned by Kenyan nationals. For this reason, at this time, we can only accept cash payment.

Recent Pics

Please feel free to visit the photo gallery section to view more of our adventures!