The END Fund Mount Kenya Trek
July 13 – 22, 2022
SUMMARY
Welcome to the END Fund Mount Kenya Trek! Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya and the second tallest one on the African continent, just slightly shorter than Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Surrounded by a national park that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Kenya is a unique trekking experience. It’s an ancient extinct volcano with glaciers and rugged sumits and peaks. Truly an incredible landscape. You’ll trek through different ecological zones and may see more wildlife and birdlife than you would expect at such high altitudes. You may be able to see animals you’d see on a safari; zebra, eland, duiker, buffalo, and if you’re really lucky, cats.
There are five different routes you can take and you are taking the Chogoria Route, which has a fantastic charm as it brings a feeling of solitude and peace into a magnificent mountain hike. This route brings to life some of the most beautiful and scenic sites on the mountain. The trek will take 5 days, and you will be staying at campsites set up by a team of trained local porters, cooks and guides, who accompany you throughout the expedition. This route offers the best parts of Mt. Kenya, stunning views of the peaks, tarns and fantastic endemic flora. At the summit, you’ll have full panoramic views of the Kenyan plains and all the other mountain peaks that surround the Rift Valley.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Karibuni sana! You will arrive to Nairobi today and be picked up from the airport by a private driver and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at your leisure, relaxing and settling in to the hotel before you convene for a Welcome Dinner to get to know your fellow trekkers and kick off this week’s adventure!
Overnight: Villa Rosa Kempinski (Nairobi, Kenya)
Day 2: Thursday, July 14, 2022
After breakfast at your hotel, you will check out and transfer to the Ministry of Health office in Nairobi. Afterwards, you will transfer to the Wilson AIrport for a flight from Nairobi to Nanyuki. When you arrive, you will drive to Sweetwaters Serena Camp to rest and relax before your trek begins tomorrow.
Overnight: Sweetwaters Serena Camp (Nanyuki, Kenya)
Day 3: Friday, July 15, 2022
Trekking Day 1: Nanyuki – Chogoria – Forest Camp
Today you begin your trek! After a leisurely breakfast at Sweetwaters, you will be driven to the beginning of the Chogoria route where you will trek through the forest to the Forest Base Camp where you will stay overnight.
Trekking Distance: 6 miles (10 kilometers)
Trekking Time: 5 hours
Elevation Start: 7,743 feet (2,360 meters)
Elevation End: 8,301 feet (2,530 meters)
Overnight: Forest Camp
Day 4: Saturday, July 16, 2022
Trekking Day 2: Forest Camp – Lake Ellis Camp
Today’s walk starts with spectacular views of rolling hills ahead and perhaps even a glimpse of the snow-capped peaks of Batian and Nelion high above.
This is a relatively short hike and you should be in camp a little earlier than the previous day, which gives you a great chance to sit back and relax after lunch, and enjoy the views of Lake Ellis surrounding you. An evening walk to nearby Mugi HIll can be a wonderful way to end the day and help acclimatize you and prepare you for your ascent.
Trekking Distance: 6 miles (10 kilometers)
Trekking Time: 5 hours
Elevation Start: 8,301 feet (2,530 meters)
Elevation End: 11,417 feet (3,480 meters)
Elevation Gain: 950 meters
Overnight: Lake Ellis Camp
Day 5: Sunday, July 17, 2022
Trekking Day 3: Lake Ellis Camp – Lake Michaelson Camp
This day is a beautiful walk which takes you up along the ridge overlooking the Gorges valley and later on in the day Lake Michelson comes in to view. We will break for lunch overlooking the Lake with a spectacular view, and then continue on a gentle traverse and descend to Lake Michaelson camp site. You can rest in the afternoon or wander around the Lake. Lake Michaelson is considered to be the most stunning location on this great mountain. Set at the head of the Gorges Valley surrounded by 200m rock walls on each side that make up the Temple.
Trekking Distance: 5 miles (8 kilometers)
Trekking Time: 7 hours
Elevation Start: 11,417 feet (3,480 meters)
Elevation End: 14,075 feet (4,290 meters)
Elevation Gain: 810 meters
Overnight: Lake Michaelson Camp
Day 6: Monday, July 18, 2022
Trekking Day 4: Lake Michaelson Camp – Simba Col
This morning, you’ll have a slower start. The immense beauty at the breakfast table makes for a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a late start today. The walk up to the Simba Col is steep and short so best to find your slow and steady pace and enjoy the breathtaking views as you walk out of the Gorges valley. Simba Col Camp is nestled in a bowl on the shoulder of Point Lenana at 4500 meters. This makes for a great camp for an approach to the summit.
Trekking Distance: 2 miles (3 kilometers)
Trekking Time: 2 hours
Elevation Start: 14,075 feet (4,290 meters)
Elevation End: 15,256 feet (4,650 meters)
Elevation Gain: 360 meters
Overnight: Simba Col Camp
Day 7: Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Trekking Day 5: Simba Col – Summit & Descent to Old Moses
An early departure at 5:30 AM for a sunrise summit is the best way to experience this climb and enjoy the expansive views of the mountainside, valleys and country beyond – even the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro – whilst sipping a nice warm drink.
The descent takes you down the southern side along the Sirimon Route where you will have brunch in the Mackinder Valley. Then it’s a final walk down to the Old Moses where you will be transferred to Enasoit Safari Camp.
Trekking Distance: 11 miles (17 kilometers)
Trekking Time: 8 – 10 hours
Elevation Start: 15,256 feet (4,650 meters)
Elevation End: 9,974 feet (3,040 meters)
Elevation Loss: 1,610 meters
Overnight: Enasoit Safari Camp
Day 8: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 – Rest Day
Enjoy a rest day in the Laikipia Highlands, which can be as action-packed or as relaxed as you’d like. You may enjoy taking game drives and guided bush walks to see the divers wildlife of Enasoit Reserve.
Overnight: Enasoit Safari Camp
Day 9: Thursday, July 21, 2022
Today the group will take an early morning charter flight from Kamok to Kisumu. Upon arrival there is a 45 minute drive to Vihiga County to visit The END Fund’s work. The group will spend the day with community health works. In the late afternoon the group will return to Kisumu to relax at the resort before tonight’s Farewell Dinner.

END Fund Photo: Community drug distributors Mariam Abas and Khadija Galgalo check the height of patients and then distribute an appropriate dosage of IDA treatment in Lamu Town, Kenya, on November 20, 2018. The triple drug therapy, known as IDA, is a breakthrough combination of three drugs for lymphatic filariasis (LF) with potential to reduce treatment time considerably. Kenya is the first country in Africa to pilot this new treatment for LF.
LF, commonly known as elephantiasis, is one of 18 little known diseases clustered by the WHO as neglected tropical diseases. As of 2017, 856 million people in 52 countries are in need of treatment for LF worldwide, with 43% of them living in Africa.
Overnight: Ciala Resort (Kisumu, Kenya)
Day 10: Friday, July 22, 2022
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a mid-morning flight back to Nairobi. Before taking off, enjoy a final group lunch together at Villa Rosa Kempinski and you will have a day room available until 6pm. You will be transferred to the airport with a private driver to fly back home or continue on with your travels.