Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Mount Kenya is the second tallest mount with up to 5,199 meters in Africa after Tanzania`s Mt. Kilimanjaro. The park started in 1949, located the east of the great rift valley. Mount Kenya National park was meant to conserve the authenticity Mount Kenya, wildlife and the surrounding environment. The park covers an area of 2800km2, 3000m over the contour line. Mount Kenya National park is roughly 175km northeast of Nairobi. The scenery around Mount Kenya offers breathtaking views of lakes, tarns, moorland rock and ice, mountain rivers, glaciers, mineral springs, dense forests with glittering twin peaks of Batian and Nelion. It also features a range of wild game and birdlife. Mount Kenya is the country`s national icon and nations namesake.
History of Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Mount Kenya National Park began as a forest reserve. It was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. Mount Kenya National park was later joined with the forest reserve to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The reasons stated by the government of Kenya for designation of Mount Kenya national park included; to benefit the local and national economy through tourism, to conserve an area of remarkable scenery, to conserve the park`s ecosystem, and to preserve a water-catchment area to the surroundings.
Mount Kenya National park was originally the Sacred home of the god Ngai
The kikuyu people who mostly surround the park have great attachment to Mount Kenya. The area is still regarded as a sacred home for their god ‘Ngai’. It was named Mount Kenya by the Kamba people which finally became the country`s name. The Embu and Maasai people also gave different names to the current Mount Kenya such as the mountain peaks Batian, Nelion ant Point Lenana – and such names are given to the Maasai brave men and medicine men. They are many other legendary stories connected to mountain Kenya.
What to see in Mount Kenya National Park
Wild game in Mount Kenya National Park; Mt Kenya National Park is a home to diverse species of wild animals such the Black rhinos, white-tailed buffalo, leopards, African Elephant, genet cat, black fronted duikers, giant forest hog, antelopes, bongo antelope, waterbucks, Bush Pig, olive baboon, black and white Colobus and Sykes monkeys, rock hyrax, suni antelope, albino zebras, spotted hyenas among others. Endangered species in Mount Kenya national Park include; the Sunni Buck, Mount Kenya Mole Shrew, skinks (lizard), and owls.
Birdlife in Mount Kenya National Park; Mount Kenya national park inhabits over 130 species of birds including six of the eight Kenya Mountains Endemic Bird Area and 54 of the 70 Afrotropical Highlands biome species existing in Kenya. Rare bird species in Mount Kenya national park include; Lesser Kestrel, the Abbott’s Starling, Jackson’s widowbird, Sharpe’s Longclaw, Lammergeier, Olive Ibis, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, African Grass Owl, African Crowned Eagle, Cape Eagle-Owl, Long-tailed widowbird, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Abyssinian Owl, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, and Kenrick’s Starling which is which is only found here in Kenya.
What to do in Mount Kenya National Park
Mountaineering in Mount Kenya national Park; Mount Kenya is one of the best destinations for visitors who enjoy hiking. Climbing Mount Kenya take minimally five days to reach highest that humans can go on Mount Kenya. Hiking tracks on Mount Kenya include Summit circuit, Nelion normal route, Burget route and Timau track. Mount Kenya provides quite challenging and adventurous hikes as one enjoys the impressive scenery. Mount Kenya`s highest peaks include; Nelion (5,188 m), Batian (5,199 m), and Point Lenana (4,985 m). Remember Mount Kenya has an elevation of 5,199metres, and it is second to Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895) in Tanzania.
For junior hikers, you have eight rising routes to reach the main peaks. Some of the routes include; Chogoria, Moru, Naro, and Sirimon routes. There is also a Summit Circuit path that circles the Mount Kenya in one day or two days of trekking.
Animal Viewing Safari in Mount Kenya National Park-Kenya; The Mount Kenya National Park features mainly Mount Kenya and a forest reserve. The forest is a home to a great diversity of animals such as elephants, leopards, white tailed mongoose, tree hyrax, mole rats, bushbucks, black fronted duikers, elands, waterbucks, black rhinos, and buffaloes.
Bird Watching in Mount Kenya National Park; Birding along the forest trails of Mount Kenya national park enhance a rewarding experience to people with great person in viewing birds. The park`s landscapes such as the montane forest, montane savanna, bamboo and the moorland are homes to rare bird species like the lesser Kestrel, Abbott’s Starling, Jackson’s Widowbird and Sharpe’s Long claw. Other birds species include Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Grey-olive Greenbul, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Black-Throated Wattle-eye, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, Singing, Red faced, Winding, Rattling, Croaking Cisiticolas, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Broad-tailed Warbler, African-moustached Warbler, Yellow-crowned Bishop, African Golden Weaver, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, African Fire finch, and Abyssinian Crimson wing. And so many other species.
Accessibility, Getting to Mount Kenya National Park
From Nairobi, Mount Kenya is about 4 hours’ drive. The roads are tarmacked, except when you are approaching the park gates where the road is rough and hard to pass in rainy season.
By Air;
An airstrip in Naro-Moru town is the closest to Mt Kenya and there are scheduled domestic flights that operate on this routing.
When to Visit Mount Kenya National Park-Kenya
From mid-March to mid-June, Kenya faces strong rains and from September to October the rains are short. Visiting Mount Kenya National park is possible all year round. However, in long rains, the tracks tend to become muddy and challenging. In dry season, expect scorching sun all day.
How to Get to Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Where to stay in Mount Kenya National Park
Serena Mountain Lodge; Serena Mountain lodge provides champagne-clear mountain air, breathtaking views across the tree-canopy. The lodge is set 2,134 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the Mount Kenya, the lodge offers impressive wildlife views in the park.
Facilities & Amenities at Serena Mountain Lodge in Mount Kenya National Park
- 41 rooms
- Gallery dining room at tree-top level
- Bar with viewing deck and central fireplace
- Business center & Gift shop
- Massage, pedicures, manicures & facials
- Board games and African library
- Wake up alarms to see animals at the waterhole on request.
Fairmount Mount Kenya Safari Club; This facility has impressive scenery of Mount Kenya. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club features 120 splendidly nestled rooms, spacious compound on over 100 acres of improved gardens, for comfort, relaxation and leisure.
Recreational activities at this facility include: horseback riding, swimming, croquet, golf, table tennis, a bowling green, animal orphanage and much more.
Castle Forest Lodge in Mount Kenya National Park Kenya; Castle Forest Lodge provides serene accommodations in Mount Kenya national park. Spacious private parking is available for visitors. A sitting area. Some units feature a dining area and/or patio. Bed linen are provided. Castle Forest Lodge also includes a year-round outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar and restaurant. This property also has one of the top-rated strategic scenes in Mount Kenya National park.
Castle Forest Lodge in Mount Kenya National Park also features
- Two-bedroom chalets
- Two-bedroom bungalows
- Deluxe Bungalows
- Double/twin room with garden view
- Budget double/ twin room.
- Free internet
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