Mt Kenya Ascent

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  David Rowley

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written March 2013

  Very well run trip by excellent ground operator 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  All thirteen group members making the peak in time for sunrise

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Francis was excellent..taking time to go through all the details of the trip.He made sure we all had the correct kit..even going and buying odd items like suncream and sunglasses some of us had forgotten.

  He seemed a little serious to begin with but relaxed as the trip went on and the group bonded and he realised we were all comfortable.

  The owner of the ground operator..Mr Patrick met us at a lovely hotel on the way to the airport and gave our certificates and bought us a couple of drinks...nice touch that never had before on previous exodus..great chap who made us feel valued as a customer 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Exodus guidelines for tipping very important..we all gave the higher rate 100  dollars/£60/8000 schillings plus some on a direct basis..there were 26 staff looking after the 13 of us who worked very hard for us..they earnt every penny

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Harder ascent and descent than Kili but not as long..less crowded and more enjoyable...go for it!

   
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  Charles Beckett

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written March 2013

  Great trip with a well thought out route and itinerary. Exceptional food and hygiene throughout coupled with supportive staff, help make this challenging walk a safe and enjoyable trek. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Inspired to try and cook better food ; if I can eat fantastic food up a mountain with simple cooking facilities, I should be able to make better use of home facilities.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Professional and committed to the group achieving the goal.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Double up with some Independant travel. A week is great if you don't have much annual leave (or have child care responsibilities), 2 to 3 would do Kenya more justice.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  When my kids are ready for this, am gonna take them. Good, safe walk. Not extreme enough for some, but was quite nice to come home without deli belly; although my wife was really looking forward to me dropping a stone.

   
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  Christine Gausden

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written July 2012

  Climbing Mount Kenya was a fabulous experience, extremely tough & delivering a both a mental & a physical challenge 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Reaching the summit in time for sunrise - just ....

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent in every respect, always mindful of our safety & comfort, as a group & as individuals

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This is a tough challenge, both the ascent & descent - harder than Kilimanjaro both ascending & descending

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The final day of ascent & descent was overly lengthy; whilst nothing was untoward, had something gone wrong there would have been little contingency time

   
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  Phil Brookes

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written February 2012

  Superb trek, well led by great local guides Francis and John. Very warm welcome from Patrick, MD of local company 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The celebratory Tusker beer at Old Moses Camp the evening of the successful ascent day!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Francis, what a guy! Knows the mountain like the back of his hand, flexible with arrangements when asked by clients, led a gr8 teams of cooks, porters and support staff

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  DON'T bother with antimalarials if you are only doing the basic trip - obvioulsy needed if you are off to the bush for safari after, or heading to Mombasa beach.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Just do it!

   
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  Ronnie Celaire

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written February 2012

  Mount Kenya is frequently desribed by friends as a 'prettier' climb than Mt Killimanjaro, so with that in mind I set off on the ascent with a group of like minded souls from various walks of life. 

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group leader maintained a steady pace, always on the look out for those who might be tailing off the back, and even reorganising our order so that we would not be split up so frequently. An outline of the regions troubled history was a useful refresher, particularly when we got to the Mau Mau caves.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Although involved in an ascent of one of Africa's higheset mountains, the route is manageable by all those with a modicum of fitness. But do be prepared for smokey eating areas, as delightful meals are prepared on some very basic facilities, and be sure to wrap up at night when it can get cold while camping.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Remember that we, the tourists and travellers, are the means by which the stall-holders earn their living, so don't be offended if they persist in trying to persuade you to buy something from their particular staff.

   
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  Matthew Handford

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written September 2011

  For an 8 day trip, this was a real adventure.  Although primarily about reaching the summit of Mount Kenya, I thought travelling about 150 miles across the centre of Kenya, and back into the centre of Nairobi, was a really interesting experience - a panorama of people, animals, the Kenyan landscape and East Africa. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  It is difficult to get away from reaching the summit of Mount Kenya, after the amount of effort involved.  Getting up at 2.00am, heading up scree slopes in the dark using head torches, reaching the Austrian hut before the final push to the summit, being on the top as the sun comes up.

  I also really liked seeing some of the animals on this trip.  There were groups of Colubus monkeys and baboons moving along the dusty drive way, on our return to Montain Rock lodge.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We had two leaders; Francis and Caesar, who I thought co-ordinated activities pretty well.  They knew how to control both us and the cooks and porters too.  They had a lot of local knowledge about flora and fauna.  Most importantly, they handled the most dangerous bits of the ascent with skill and a responsible attitude.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  For me, a key thing would be to consider an extra day on the end of this trip.  It builds to a 14 hour ascent day, followed by half a day back across Kenya in a Landcruiser, before the overnight flight home.  I found this combination tiring.

   Generally, one has to be prepared for a lot of exertion and to be disciplined in combating altitude sickness i.e. make sure to drink 4 litres of water per day and rest up as appropriate.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  A great trip, which could be seen as an introduction to a longer adventure at high altitude, such as Kilimanjaro ascent.

   
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  colin harrow

  MT KENYA ASCENT

  

  Written July 2011

  A great experience but harder than the impression given from the daily height gains shown in the trip notes. There's a lot of additional ups and downs involved.  This isn't just trekking straight up a mountain. Several people in the party who've done Kilimanjaro said Mount Kenya was more beautiful, varied and difficult and required a wider variety of mountaineering skills. The trip notes for the final two days need to be revised as they don't reflect the situation on the ground.    

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  This is a really beautiful mountain and the final scramble to the summit is exhilarating if a bit unexpected and hairy! The surrounding scenery through which the acclimatisation treks are completed is also beautiful with valleys and tarns reminscent of the Lake District enhanced by several thousand meters. Although it may sound a little exaggerated, in comparing Mount Kenya to Kilimanjaro one of the guides commented that if the latter was Africa's Everest the former was its K2.  I understand what he means.    

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group leader Francis and his sidekick Ceasar, who was particularly good on local flora and fauna, made sure we were well and steadily prepared for any problems with altitude sickness which was vital on this sort of trip which after all is only five days from arrival to summit.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I went in July and although you actually cross the equator on the trip up from Nairobi to the first mountain hut do remember it is really cold on the summit. Gloves, fleeces, down jackets or the equivalent windproof outer gear are essential.  And do be prepared for some long and arduous treks up and down the sides of some pretty steep valleys before you get to the final ascent. Over the course of five day's trekking you are probably looking at covering a total ground distance of around 70 kms, and although gaining a straight up, top to bottom equivalent of 3,000 metres from start point to summit there is considerably more total height gained if you add in all the ups and downs of getting to Mackinder's camp which is the final set off point for the summit.

  Many summiteers start their ascent from Shipton's camp but for good reasons of acclimatisation this trip takes you on a grueling trek round the mountain to Mackinder's. The scenery is spectacular but although the total start to finish height gain for the day is less than 100 metres your legs tell a different story as you have also ascended the Hausberg Col at 4,600 meters and then come down again in order to reach your destination.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Okay, so maybe it was harder than I expected. But the sense of achievement at having done it more than compensated for any additional effort expended. However I would have appreciated an extra day of R&R in Nairobi at the end of it in order to enjoy a proper celebration dinner with the really great group who helped me achieve it. 

  Exodus Response

  The trip notes have been revised for 2012 as we now ascent via a different route to that used in 2011. The path for the final ascent to the summit had  become unpredictable underfoot especially when it has snowed a day or two before any ascent. The park authorities had promised to put up a cable for trekkers to support themselves with, but this has not happened at the time of writing, so we now ascent via an alternative route.

   Nick Nikolsky - Trip Manager

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   

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