4 Day Mount Kenya Trek via Chogoria
and Sirimon Routes

Mount Kenya Chogoria and Sirimon Traverse Overview

This 4 day Mount Kenya trek via the Chogoria and Sirimon routes crosses the mountain from east to west, ascending the scenic Chogoria side and descending through the drier forest tracks of Sirimon. The route passes Lake Ellis and follows the rim of the Gorges Valley before reaching Mintos Hut and the summit push to Point Lenana at 4,985 metres.

The Chogoria approach is the driest and most scenic ascent on Mount Kenya, while the Sirimon descent completes a full traverse rather than retracing the same path. This is the shortest itinerary on which the traverse can be completed, and it suits trekkers with previous altitude experience who are working to a tight schedule.

That last sentence is doing deliberate work. It differentiates this page from the 7 day one and sets an honest expectation rather than letting a first-time trekker book the harder product by accident.

Best Time to use Chogoria-Sirimon Route

The best time to use the Chogoria-Sirimon route on Mount Kenya is during the dry seasons: January to March and July to October. These months offer clearer weather, dry trails, and better views. The scenic Chogoria ascent combined with the drier Sirimon descent provides the best, safest, and most rewarding trekking experience, ideal for avoiding heavy rain and mud.

Trekking Highlights

Route Map

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

Your journey begins with a scenic drive from Nairobi to the Chogoria Gate (2,600m). After registering at the park entrance, start your hike through the lush montane forests filled with rich biodiversity, including giant trees and various bird species. As you ascend, enjoy the refreshing mountain air and the sounds of nature. Arrive at Chogoria Camp, set up your tents, and enjoy dinner while taking in the beautiful mountain scenery.

Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 700m

Accommodation:

Meal Plan:

After breakfast, set out towards Lake Ellis, following a winding trail that weaves through beautiful moorland adorned with giant lobelias and senecios. This section of the trek offers fantastic views of the mountain peaks and expansive landscapes. Upon reaching Lake Ellis, take time to relax by the water’s edge, soak in the tranquility, and capture stunning photographs. Camp here for the night and enjoy a warm meal under the stars.

Distance: 14 km
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Elevation Gain: 300m

Accommodation:

Meal Plan:

Today’s trek takes you to Mintos Hut, where the trail gradually becomes steeper, presenting a mix of rocky terrain and moorland as you ascend. Keep an eye out for the unique wildlife that inhabits this area. The views become increasingly dramatic as you approach Mintos Hut, which is situated at the base of towering peaks. After settling in, enjoy the stunning vistas and take a short acclimatization hike to explore the area further.

Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 700m

Accommodation:

Meal Plan:

Awake early for a pre-dawn ascent to Point Lenana. The hike involves navigating steep, rocky terrain in the dark, with headlamps lighting your path. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views and a stunning sunrise over the African plains. After taking in the moment, descend back to Mintos Hut for a quick breakfast before continuing down to Shipton Camp. The descent offers beautiful vistas and allows you to appreciate the diverse landscapes of the area.

Distance: 20 km
Hiking Time: 10-12 hours
Elevation Gain: 685m

COST BREAKDOWN

Trekking Cost Covers

All entrance fees and Government Taxes
Airport Transfers (upon Arrival and Departure)
Clean, purified drinking water
Fair wages for the mountain crew.
All meals while on the Mountain 
Rescue Fees and all taxes.
Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides 
Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
Private cook speaking fluent English
Private guide speaking fluent English
Transfers to and from the Accommodation facility.

Does not Cover

Travel insurance
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
International flights (can be booked for you on request)
Tips for guides, porters, and cooks
Accommodation on day of arrival and departure
Visas & vaccinations
Personal expenses eg. Laundry, beverages, etc.
Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.
Private Toilet and hot shower tent.

INQUIRIES & FAQ's

Inquiry Space

Your Trekking & Hiking Questions Answered

How long does it take to climb Mount Kenya via Chogoria?

The Chogoria Route to Point Lenana takes between four and seven days depending on the acclimatisation profile and descent route. A four day itinerary is the fastest way to complete the Chogoria to Sirimon traverse, while a seven day version allows more time to adjust to altitude and generally produces a higher summit success rate.

Can you traverse Mount Kenya?

Yes, Mount Kenya can be traversed by ascending one route and descending another. The Chogoria to Sirimon traverse is the most popular combination because it delivers the scenery of the eastern approach and the gentler descent gradient of the northwest.

What is Point Lenana?

Point Lenana is the third highest peak on Mount Kenya at 4,985 metres and the highest point reachable by trekking rather than technical climbing. It is the objective of almost all guided Mount Kenya trips.

How fit do you need to be to climb Mount Kenya?

A good general level of fitness is sufficient for Point Lenana, with the ability to walk for four to six hours on consecutive days over uneven ground. This four day itinerary is more demanding than the longer versions, since the final day combines the summit push with a long descent, so regular hill walking in the months beforehand matters more here.

How do you avoid altitude sickness on Mount Kenya?

The most effective prevention is a slow ascent profile with enough nights at intermediate altitude, which is why longer itineraries generally produce better summit rates. Staying well hydrated, eating adequately, avoiding alcohol and walking at a deliberately slow pace all reduce the risk, and prior experience at altitude is an advantage on a compressed four day schedule.

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   Peter B 
 
 
 
 Verified Overall, an incredible experience with a professional and friendly guide and team. A fantastic experience, made possible and truly enjoyable thanks to our excellent lead guide, Innocent, our guide Emanuel, and our dedicated team of porters. The food and accommodation were excellent, our privacy was respected, and we felt secure knowing that Innocent—who had lost count of his ascents after 200—prepared us well for each day ahead and for summit night.
  
 
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   matildabond 
 
 
 
 Verified Best experience of my life! I don't know where to begin! My dad and I have just arrived back home and I want to start by saying that I already miss being on the mountain with our incredible team. From beginning to end, this trip has been the most incredible experience! We did the 8 day Lemosho route just the two of us with our amazing team. To say that I was nervous about this trip is an understatement as neither of us had any prior experience. The minute we met our lead guide, Innocent, all the nerves dropped. Innocent, as well as our team, all deserve a medal for everything they did for us during our time on the mountain! One of the things I valued the most with our team is how incredibly safe they made us feel. Innocent and Emanuel (assistant guide) both had so much experience and it felt like anything could have been thrown at us and I would've been calm in their presence. We were so well looked after and supported and for the last two days, when I wasn't feeling 100%, Innocent carried my bag for me (he did this all the way up to the summit!). Kindest man ever! We were so taken care of by everyone in the team! We got served delicious meals throughout the day (including what became our favourite snack - popcorn), hot water for tea and hot water for washing. Every night Innocent came to do our medical form and brief us on the next day. Side note: We think Innocent might be the weather-god. EVERY single day we got to the camp and inside our tents about 2 minute before the rain started. Huge thank you to Innocent, Emanuel, Ronaldi, Visent, Barak, Lutin, Ernest, Hamza, Jackson and Elisha! You made us feel like we were apart of a beautiful family and we would not have been able to make it without you! We will miss you all very, very much. Some tips: - Get a private toilet. This made a huge difference and was worth every penny. - Bring electrolytes to ensure you don't get dehydrated - Bring snacks that you know you'll eat even when your appetite is low - Bring an extra pair of thermals so you have a dry pair for summit night - Bring Dextro for summit night - Bring a small hot water bottle (this saved me on the colder nights) - Headphones for summit night (Me and dad had one headphone each. This was a treat) Matilda
  
 
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   hel e 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing experience for machame with Ladi and team I did the 6 days machame route with Ladi and the team from Almighty and it was an amazing experience. The team was very sweet and caring and Ladi took great care of me and managed the hiking schedule perfectly. I felt safe at all times, food was really tasty snd everyone was really caring.
  
 
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   james s 
 
 
 
 Verified Great team Great experience. The team were great. They certainly helped me get to the top. The whole team work tirelessly to make sure your trip goes well. Thanks!
  
 
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   Lauren 
 
 
 
 Verified Almighty Kilimanjaro Incredible! From start to finish, we were taken care of. Ombenni and his team were fantastic. The porters put the climbers to shame, running up and down the mountain and the chef cooked us a high class meal every day. I would recommend Almighty Kilimanjaro as the company to take you up Kilimanjaro everyday of the week. Thank you team for all you did in helping us achieve our dream!
  
 
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   Dredre 
 
 
 
 Verified FIRST MOUNTAIN CLIMBING EXPERIENCE DONE RIGHT! A truly wonderful experience from start to end, coming from Singapore, a really busy city with lots of buildings and no mountains here. My first experience ever climbing a mountain with my wife (also her first time). The Head Guide John from Almighty was really professional and experienced, from his briefings, safety briefings, expert guidance and understanding symptoms of Altitude sickness etc made us feel safe in his hands. Also leading a superb team of chef and porters who are really hard working and strong, truly admire their resilience and also “happy go lucky” attitudes despite their tough jobs. Really didn’t think we could make it to the summit at Stella Point as I was suffering from fever, nausea, diarrhea etc and my wife was experiencing some difficulty breathing. We weren’t too used to the altitude, but our guide managed to push us through while still being very cautious about our symptoms and constantly checking in on us during Summit Night. After many long hours, we finally made it to Stella Point and that too us was really amazing as we just stood there and enjoyed the views surrounding us, thinking that we weren’t gonna make it tbh. Sunrise was beautiful and we were in awe of the views surrounding us. Highly recommend Almighty as they are affordable and truly professional for a locally owned Tanzanian Operator.
  
 
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   Meirion B J 
 
 
 
 Verified Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro. I went on an epic adventure with Almighty Kilimanjaro The guide John and the whole team looked after me like family, they cater and support you in every step of the way up and down and made it exceptionally Amazing ???????? Thanks to the whole team Meirion
  
 
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   Todev 
 
 
 
 Verified Magical Amazing experience with a wonderful team, always here for help and support ! Thanks a lot to Amiss, John, Devi, Panfi, Olaïs, Robinson and David ????????
  
 
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   Samara L 
 
 
 
 Verified A truly life changing experience with Muntari and his team My friend and I undertook the 6 day Marangu Route with our lead guide Muntari and his incredible team. From the very start, everything was handled with professionalism and care. The support and encouragement that was provided to us throughout the hike was outstanding and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Muntari and his team to anyone interested. Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro is not for the faint hearted, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The Marangu route accommodation is in huts and the fantastic Amani was always so caring and ensured that we had a warm drink when walking up in the morning and that we ate enough to fuel our hikes. The food also exceeded our expectations, our chef Shabani did a wonderful job providing us with nutritious and delicious meals. We never went hungry. We were always briefed daily and had our oxygen concentrations and pulse assessed to ensure that we were fit and well to continue our hike to the summit. Muntari and his team provided an abundance of knowledge when it came to experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness and were always there to reassure and provide us with the positive mindset that is necessary to conquer the summit. The chorus of singing and dancing as we walked in the dark on summit night really lifted our spirits. A special shout out to the porters! They are the magic behind the scenes who allowed us to complete this challenge by carrying our extra clothes and items from camp to camp. Vincent our assistant guide and Mparee one of our porters were the reason I managed to get to the summit. I couldn’t have done it without them. A last thanks to Almighty Kilimanjaro, Muntari and his team for a truly life changing experience.
  
 
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   nikki27527 
 
 
 
 Verified Once in a lifetime experience with a great team! We had the best time celebrating my 30th birthday with a hike up Kilimanjaro with Muntas (Muntari) and his team. The hike was hard but the team encouraged and supported us along the way, always making sure we were taken care of and doing ok. They also were genuinely lovely people who we made memories with as a small group of 2 with a fantastic crew of 6. Special mentions to Amani who was one of our wonderful porters who brought a smile to our face every single day with his warm and caring service waking us with a hot drink. He was so kind, sincerely cared about how we were doing and joked with us ensuring we always ate enough to fuel all the exercise. He also supported me the entire way down the summit ensuring I was always safe. Muntas was also a great leader who really supported us in the hike and had great emotional intelligence to check in at the right times. They went out of their way to ensure we reached the peaks and even celebrated with a birthday cake at the end of the trip. Vincent, Shabani, Mparee and the rest of the team! We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you. You all contributed to us having a great time and returning back after 6 days of hard work. We were sad to leave them all and would highly recommend them for any hikers in future. We didn’t feel like just any other customers but like family!