Chogoria 6 Day Trek
The Chogoria Route has a fantastic charm as it brings a feeling of solitude and peace into a magnificent mountain hike. This route brings to life some of the most beautiful and scenic sites on the mountain, it is also your best chance to see wildlife and birdlife at higher altitudes than expected, with an abundance of zebra, eland, duiker, buffalo, and if you’re really lucky cats. All in all, it takes 5 days with campsites set up by a team of trained local porters and guides, who accompany you throughout your expedition.
DAY 1 NANYUKI TO CHOGORIA BANDAS (2,530 m).
Trekking time: 5 hours.
After an early breakfast, you will meet the African Ascents team at Nanyuki airstrip and be driven to the start of the route. The first day’s walk takes you up through the forest for about four hours where you camp in a pocket of forest beyond Kenya Wildlife Service entrance at Chogoria Banda’s. If it is a clear afternoon you can generally get a good sense of the landscape from this point; where the Afro- alpine forest ends and the moorland begins. The afternoon is a good opportunity to walk around the area and acclimatize.
DAY 2 CHOGORIA BANDAS TO LAKE ELLIS (3,460 m).
Trekking time: 4 hours.
The walk starts with spectacular views of the rolling hills ahead and perhaps even a glimpse of the snow- capped peaks of Batian (5,199m) and Nelion (5,188m) high above.
This is a relatively short hike and you will in camp a little earlier than the previous day, which gives you a great chance to sit back and relax after lunch and simply enjoy the views around Lake Ellis. We go by the general rule of thumb to “climb high and sleep low” to allow for better acclimatization. An evening walk up to nearby Mugi Hill can be a wonderful way to end the day, and will hopefully make your ascent a lot easier as well. You can even try your hand at a spot of fly-fishing in the Lake.
DAY 3 LAKE ELLIS TO LAKE MICHAELSON (4,100m).
Trekking time: 5 hours
This day is a beautiful walk which takes you up along the ridge overlooking the Gorges valley and later on in the day Lake Michelson comes in to view. We will break for lunch over looking the Lake with a spectacular view, and then continue on a gentle traverse and descend to Lake Michaelson camp site. You can rest in the afternoon or go for a wonder around the Lake.
DAY 4 LAKE MICHAELSON TO AUSTRIAN HUT (4,670m).
Trekking time: 5 hours.
You will depart at around 9 am for a beautiful day’s walk up and around the peaks. You will arrive at the Austrian Hut where you will have lunch. In the afternoon you can wonder around along the edge of the Lewis Glacier and investigate the ice caves being formed as the glacier melts.
DAY 5 AUSTRIAN HUT TO POINT LENANA (4,985 m) TO MACKINDER VALLEY (4200M)
Trekking time: 5 hours
An early departure at 5.30am for a sunrise summit is the best way to experience this climb, and enjoy the expansive views of the mountainside, valleys and country beyond - even the summit of Kilimanjaro - whilst sipping a nice warm drink. The descent takes you down the southern side to where you will stop at a camp site just below the Shiptons Hut at 4200m for the night.
DAY 6 MACKINDER VALLEY TO OLD MOSES (3400M)
Trekking time :5-6 hours
The descent takes you down the southern side along the Sirimon route where you will have brunch in the Mackinder Valley. Then it’s a final walk down to Old Mozes for collection. You will be back in the Nanyuki area by 3pm for a late lunch at Nanyuki airstrip.