Mt Kenya (4,985m)

Previous hiking and mountain experience is not required. A good level of fitness and the ability to hike 5 days in a row is required. If you lead a relatively active lifestyle, then we would recommend maintaining this. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the hike - we recommend that you start training 2-3 months before the hike, with activities such as jogging, cycling, swimming etc. If you can, we also highly recommend going for a few practice day hikes with a 5kg rucksack on.

Please see the section above for trip inclusions and exclusions.

- A 4-season sleeping bag with a -15C comfort rating (not the extreme rating). This can be rented @$25 - Sleeping mat: Therma-rest or equivalent. Mats can be rented @$25 - Wool hat - Waterproof gloves - Fleece gloves - Sun hat - Sunglasses: essential when at altitude - 3x T-shirts: No cotton. - Long sleeve baselayer top - Fleece or soft-shell jacket - Waterproof jacket and trousers - Down or Synthetic jacket - Underwear - Hiking shorts: one pair of quick-drying shorts - Long underwear or tights - Hiking trousers - 3 pairs of thin socks - 2 pairs of thick socks - Hiking boots - Gaiters (optional) - Trainers or sandals - Toiletries (Wet wipes, deodorant, toothbrush, multi-purpose soap etc.) - Sunscreen and lip balm - Earplugs - Personal first aid - Towel - Water bottles (At least 2L) - Water purification tablets - Walking poles (optional) - Day Pack (30 - 35L) - Large Backpack (50 - 65L): this will be carried by the porters, and have everything you don't need during the day - Dry bags - Tech: Camera, phone, chargers etc. - Snacks - Personal medicine if required (please inform your guide in case of emergency)

You can see the latest NHS advice at https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/kenya

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers -However, we do need a minimum of two people to guarantee a trip run. If you are booking solo, please check with Skyhook (info@skyhookadventure.com) to see if there is already an existing group you can join.

The minimum age for this trek is 18 years, or 16 years with a parent/guardian.

As of January 2024, all visitors to Kenya are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). Kenya no longer issues visas for visitors. Apply for the eTA on the website link below (visible after booking). This is also a very new process so changes are also possible, please check the official website. Be advised that the Kenya eTA is not as simple as other eTAs, for instance, the USA, Australia and NZ; - The amount of information asked for is more than that required by most countries for the issue of a visa. - Exact flight and date of entry must be specified, as well as the date of departure, and evidence of this must be attached. So a ticket must be purchased before application for an eTA. - There is a charge for the issue of the eTA. The normal fee is USD 34.09, and the express (VIP) service costs about USD 55.00. WHAT DO I NEED FOR THE APPLICATION? - Passport information page - Passport photo or selfie - International Travel Itinerary/Airline tickets - Hotel booking, or letter of invitation if not staying at a hotel. (NB Every night of the stay in Kenya must be accounted for here. It must tie in with the international travel itinerary/flight information provided) THE GOOD NEWS; - The eTA application website is much more user-friendly than the previous Visa application website. - There is no longer a requirement to provide the names and status of parents! - When you upload your passport info page, your passport details are auto-populated onto the application form. - There is no longer a limit on the file size or format of documents (ie they no longer need to be only jpeg) - You can enter Kenya any time in the 3 months after the eTA is approved, and it’s valid for a maximum stay of 3 months. According to the website; Normal applications will be approved within 9 hours - 3 days, and Express Applications in 24hrs. Note that we have experienced it taking a little longer.

You may encounter some larger animals such as elephants and buffalo, and your guides will brief you when you arrive on how to stay safe around them. You may also choose to do a 2-day safari immediately after your Mt Kenya trek.

Mt. Kenya can be hiked all year round, as it is very close to the equator, so it doesn't matter that much when you choose to hike the mountain. The drier seasons however are January - March and June - October, so we recommend picking these months if they work well for you. Expect temperatures of 25-30 C (77-86 F) at the bottom, and as cold as -20 C (-5 F) on the summit.

Day 1: 3-4hrs, 14km Day 2: 5-6hrs, 8km Day 3: 7-8hrs, 9km Day 4: 14hrs, 23km Day 5: 2-3hrs, 9km

You will be camping for the entire trip, sharing a 3-person tent (with just 2 people in each). The campsites are in remote areas on the mountain and therefore have limited facilities. You can expect various types of toilets on your trip, including drop toilets (seated) and tented toilets. Warm water is available at the camps. Note that accommodation in Nairobi the night before or after your trip is not included. We recommend Holiday Inn (at Two Rivers) or The West Wood.

Day 1: Start - 1900m, End - 2950m Day 2: Start - 2950m, End - 3400m Day 3: Start - 3400m, End - 4200m Day 4: Start - 4200m, Summit - 4200m, End - 3300m Day 5: Start - 3300m, End - 2000m

Start: You can be collected at 9:15 AM at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, or 9:00 AM from Nairobi Airport (NBO) on day 1 of your itinerary. If you fly in, please ensure that your flight lands early enough so that you are on time for the pick-up. Please note that if you are late for the pick-up, you will need to take a private car for around 4 hours to Mount Kenya National Park (this can be arranged for you in advance - please contact us if required). End: You'll be dropped back off at Nairobi Airport (NBO), or a hotel of your choice in Nairobi, at 6:00 PM on day 5 of the itinerary. Alternatively, you can choose to start a 2-day safari on the last day of your Mt Kenya itinerary. You'll go straight from the bottom of the mountain to your safari, rather than returning back to Nairobi. If you arrive in Nairobi a day or more before the trip and depart a day or more after the trip then we will collect you from a hotel in Nairobi (Westland's area is best)- Airport transfers are not included if you arrive outside the trip dates.

Yes, you are welcome to leave any extra bags and possessions at our base camp in Sagana. We will give them back to you at the park gate when you get collected after your trek. Note that although the premises is secure, possessions are left at your own risk

We recommend tipping $100 USD per client.

It is possible to book a flight on the last day of the trip. We can get people to the airport by 5 pm. Please ensure you book international flights no earlier than 8 pm. If you are flying within Kenya, 6 pm is okay.

If you can't find an early morning arrival flight for the first day of your trip, you can arrive the day before. In this case, you will need to arrange your airport transfer as well as accommodation in Nairobi. We recommend staying at the West Wood or Holiday Inn at Two Rivers.