Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya

At 5,199m, Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa. This magnificent extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands, lies about 140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. It has two main peaks i.e. Nelion at 5,188m and Batian at 5,200m. Mount Kenya with its U-shaped glacial valleys, boasts as one of the more impressive landmasses in East Africa whose evolution and ecology provides an outstanding example of ecological processes. Its slopes are shrouded in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on the high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. The forest reserve covers an area of 715 sq km. The mountain was first climbed by Sir Halford McKinder in 1899.

Mount Kenya

Vegetation

Mt. Kenya NP has rich and varied vegetation which varies with altitude and rainfall changes; -from thick rainforests to bamboos, alpine moorlands, glaciers and tarns. You will find luxurious growth of rainforests on its lower slopes between altitudes of 2,100 – 2,400m, while dense belt of bamboo appear at an altitude of 2,400 – 2,850m. Between altitude 3,000m and 3,500 m, shrubs with small leaves like African Sage, and Helicrysum are found. The lower alpine or moorland region is found between 3,400 – 3,900m. Above the 3500m line is the Afro-alpine zone, a moorland characterized by tussock grasses, lobelias and senecios. The Alpine zone goes up to 4,350m, and beyond this is the zone are glaciers.

The National Park

Mount Kenya National Park, one of the country’s finest game reserves is located amidst amazing surroundings of Mt Kenya with breathtaking scenery and a rich biodiversity. It lies at an altitude of over 1,800 m and covers an area of 2, 090 sq km. Mt Kenya National Park which was declared a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 because of its variety of habitats ranging from higher forest, bamboo, alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial morains. Opened as Mount Kenya National Park in 1949, the mountain has been recognized by local inhabitants for generations since it’s the official home of ‘Ngai’, the Kikuyu tribe’s Supreme person.

Wildlife

Just like its vegetation, Mount Kenya National Park is renowned for its rich and diverse wildlife. Excursions to the National Park, enable you see amazing varieties of wildlife that include many rare and endangered species such as the Black Leopard, Sykes and Colobus monkeys, Suni Antelope, Mole Rat, Montane Vipers and Albino Zebra. Other common wild animals include the elusive Bongo Antelopes, Cape Buffaloes, and Black-tipped Mongoose, Elephants, Monkeys, Spotted Hyenas, Black Backed Jackals, Olive Baboon, Porcupine, Elands, Bushbucks, Rock Hyrax, giant Forest Hogs and black rhinos.
The birdlife around the mountain is also prolific including huge eagles, giant kingfisher, red-fronted parrots and multicolored sunbirds. Others are White-backed Vultures, Crowned-hawk Eagles, Long-Crested Eagles, Green Ibis, African Black Duck, Great Sparrow Hawks, Hornbill, Bronze-napped Pigeons, and Mountain and Auger Buzza. Cuckoo Falcons are also commonly spotted in the park.

Getting There

Mount Kenya national park is 175 km from Nairobi and can be reached by road on Nanyuki-Isiolo road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru. The park is also accessible through Chogoria on the Embu – Meru road, about 150km north of Nairobi.

The park can also be accessed by air through Nanyuki- the closest commercial airstrip. There is also an airstrip in Naro Moru thus those avoiding a road trip can go by flight and take a short drive from the airstrip to the park. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport can also be used to reach the Park.