Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park is a tour destination described as one of the most impressive landscapes in Eastern Africa to visit with its rugged glacier-clad summits.

Mount Kenya National Park was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya, the wildlife and surrounding environment, which forms a habitat for wild animals, as well as acting as an area for the catchment of water, to supply Kenya's water.

Overview: Mount Kenya National Park

Mt. Kenya National Park is located to the east of the Great Rift Valley, about 175km North-East of Nairobi. The ecosystem lies in Central and Eastern provinces of Kenya. At 5,199m the mountain is the second highest peak in Africa. Mt. Kenya is an important water tower in the country. It provides water for about 50% of the country’s population and produces 70% of Kenya’s hydroelectric power.

UNESCO inscribed Mount Kenya as a World Heritage Site. Its described as one of the most impressive landscapes in Eastern Africa with its rugged glacier-clad summits, Afro-alpine moorlands and diverse forests that illustrate outstanding ecological processes.

History; Mount Kenya national park:

Initially, Mount Kenya National Park was a forest reserve, before being announced as a national park. Currently, the national park is encircled by the forest reserve. In April 1978, the area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Combined, the national park and forest reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Government of Kenya had four reasons for creating a national park on and around Mount Kenya. These were the importance of tourism for the local and national economies, to preserve an area of great scenic beauty, to conserve the biodiversity within the park, and to preserve the water-catchment for the surrounding area

Access: Mount Kenya National Park

The national park has an area of 715 square kilometres (276 sq mi), most of which is above the 3,000-metre (9,800 ft) contour line. The forest reserve has an area of 705 square kilometres (272 sq mi). Combined, this makes the area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 1,420 square kilometres (548 sq mi).

By Road: 175 Kms from Nairobi, the park can be reached on Nanyuki-Isiolo road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru. The park is also reachable via Chogoria on the Embu - Meru road, about 150km north of Nairobi.
By Airstrip: The closest commercial airstrip to the park is at Nanyuki

Park Gate:

Narumoru Gate
Sirimon Gate
Marania Gate
Chogoria Gate
Mawingu Gate
Kamweti Gate
Kihari Gate

Climate:

Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude

Attractions: Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park's major attractions include Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.

Wildlife:

Wildlife at Mount Kenya National Park Include Elephants, tree hyrax, white tailed mongoose, suni, black fronted duiker, mole rat, bushbucks, water buck and Elands. Animas rarely seen include leopard, bongo, giant forest hog and rhino.

Birding: Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park has over 130 bird species.

Where to Stay: Mount Kenya National Park

Kenya Wildlife Services – Catering Accommodation:

Batian Guesthouse
Sirimon Bandas

Camping Facilities:

Kinondoni, Road Head, Mintos Hut & Campsite, Narumoru Gate, Met Station, Mackinders Campsite, Mackinders, Austrian Hut, Sirimon, Judmaier, Shipton, Liki North Hut 7, Solo and Major public campsites.

Activity Options: