Mt. Kenya is the jewel in the crown of the central Kenya circuit with gleaming snow-white peaks, it is the only massif to straddle the Equator, which runs 17 Kms from the highest peak. The mountain’s imposing height of 17,058 ft makes it the second in Africa after Kilimanjaro and the first in Kenya.The picturesque majestic landscape located 180 Kms north of Nairobi city is unique and listed among the world’s most impressive landscapes. It was inscribed on the World Heritage Site list in 1997 by the 21st session of the World Heritage Committee.

Mt. Kenya is a rich biodiversity and an outstanding example of ecological processes. At the summit, it has three rugged peaks and four secondary peaks sitting on U-shaped glacial valleys. There are twelve remnant glaciers receding rapidly that feed thirty two enchanted jades and tarns in the moorlands.
It is endowed with an alpine desert and moorland between 11,000 – 15,000 ft contours covered with giant tussock grass, water filled lobelia and groundsels endemic only to its bog and marshes.

Mt. Kenya Fact File

• Mt Kenya has three main peaks namely Nelion, Batian and Lenana.There are other four secondary peaks. The three main peaks are encircled by glistering necklaces of glaciers.
• Batian the highest peak rises to an imposing height of 17, 058 ft above sea level.
• The equator cuts across the mountain on the northern slopes at 11,500 feet and 17km from the highest peak.
• The mountain has a broad cone-shape of 5199 meters
• It is characteristic by two rainy seasons i.e. March-June and October-November.

Wildlife

Mt.Kenya has 6 species of large mammals of international conservation interest i.e. elephants, black rhino, leopard, giant forest hog, bongo and black fronted duiker.

Others are ungulates e.g. bush buck, deffassa waterbuck, red and grey duikers, Cape buffalo, small animals like tree hyrax, white tailed mongoose and the rock hyr endemic to Mt. Kenya.

Primates

Black and white Columbus monkeys, olive baboon and Sykes monkeys.

Birdlife

Has over 130 bird species which include malachite sunbird, cliff chat, verreaux eagle, augur buzzard, lammergeyer eagle and Mackinder’s eagle.

Attractions

• Sacred shrines and groves
• Historical caves
• Meandering rivers plunging into spectacular waterfalls.
• Springs and enchanted Jade tarns filled with trout fish.
• Ravines, gorges and rugged valleys of outstanding scenic view.
• Ancient animal salt licks
• Giant age old indigenous trees covered with moss, wild flowers of outstanding beauty.