4 Day Mount Kenya Climb via Sirimon Route

The Sirimon route is the gentlest way up Mount Kenya, climbing gradually through moorland rather than the steeper forest paths used elsewhere on the mountain.

A 4 day Sirimon route trip takes you to Point Lenana at 4,985 metres, the highest point most trekkers reach without technical rock climbing gear. The gradual gain in altitude on this route gives your body a genuinely better chance to acclimatise than the shorter, steeper alternatives.

We run every Sirimon route climb with a licensed mountain guide, porters and hut or camp accommodation included. Prices below are a guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you pay a deposit.

Highlights

• The most gradual, gentlest ascent profile on Mount Kenya
• Point Lenana summit at 4,985 metres, no technical climbing needed
• Moorland scenery with giant lobelia and groundsel plants
• Licensed mountain guide and porters included throughout
• Mount Kenya park fees itemised and confirmed in writing before you pay
• Can descend via the Chogoria route for a scenic, non repeating circuit

Day by day plan

1. Day 1

   Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Camp

   Pickup from Nanyuki, then a short drive to Sirimon Gate at about 2,650 metres. The Sirimon route begins here, climbing gently through cedar and bamboo forest before opening into moorland, reaching Old Moses Camp at about 3,300 metres by mid afternoon, roughly 3 to 4 hours of walking.

2. Day 2

   Old Moses to Shipton’s Camp

   A longer day across open moorland with views of Mount Kenya’s jagged peaks ahead, gaining altitude steadily to Shipton’s Camp at about 4,200 metres, about 5 to 6 hours of walking. The Sirimon route’s gradual gain through this section is exactly why it suits acclimatisation better than steeper alternatives.

3. Day 3

   Summit Point Lenana and descend

   A pre dawn start, usually around 3am, for the final push to Point Lenana at 4,985 metres, timed to reach the summit for sunrise over the peaks. After summiting you descend the same day, either back down the Sirimon route to Old Moses or via the Chogoria side for different scenery, reaching your overnight stop by early afternoon.

4. Day 4

   Descend to the gate and drive to Nairobi

   A final descent through forest back to the gate, then a drive back to Nairobi or Nanyuki, arriving by mid afternoon and closing out your 4 day Sirimon route climb.

4 day Sirimon route climb, per person sharing

• Rates include Mount Kenya park fees for 4 days, hut or camp accommodation, a licensed mountain guide, porters and meals on the mountain.
• Mount Kenya park fees run about USD 70 per person per day, USD 280 in total for a 4 day Sirimon route climb, itemised separately in your quote.
• Premium tier includes a private cook and slightly better camp equipment; huts along the Sirimon route are shared dormitory style at standard and mid tiers.

Get my exact price on WhatsApp

Is Sirimon the easiest Mount Kenya route

Yes, the Sirimon route is generally considered the easiest and most gradual approach to Point Lenana, with a gentler daily altitude gain than the steeper Naro Moru or Chogoria approaches on their own.

Easiest here means the gradient and pacing, not that the climb requires no effort. A 4 day Sirimon route trip still demands reasonable fitness and several hours of walking each day at altitude.

Is 4 days enough to acclimatise

4 days is the minimum most guides recommend for the Sirimon route, and it works for many fit trekkers, though a 5 day version with an extra acclimatisation day at Shipton’s Camp improves your summit success odds further.

If you have any past experience with altitude sickness, or simply want better odds, ask us about extending to 5 days. Otherwise a 4 day Sirimon route climb is a realistic, well tested itinerary for most healthy adults.

How much is a 4 day Sirimon climb

A 4 day Sirimon route climb starts from about USD 950 per person sharing in a group of 6 at the standard tier, rising to around USD 1,680 for premium at 2 people sharing. Mount Kenya park fees, about USD 280 per person for 4 days, are itemised separately in every quote.

See our Mount Kenya climbing packages hub page for how this compares against our other routes and durations.

Where does the Sirimon route start

The Sirimon route starts at Sirimon Gate, on the northwest side of Mount Kenya, about 15 kilometres from Nanyuki town by road. It is the most accessible gate from Nanyuki, which is also why most Sirimon route climbs begin with a short transfer from there rather than Nairobi directly.

Guests flying into Nairobi typically overnight in Nanyuki the evening before starting, giving a shorter transfer on the first climbing day.

Sirimon versus Naro Moru and Chogoria

Naro Moru is steeper and shorter, gaining altitude faster with less time to acclimatise, which raises the risk of altitude sickness for first time high altitude trekkers. Chogoria is arguably the most scenic route but adds a longer drive to reach the gate.

Many trekkers combine routes, climbing up the Sirimon route and descending via Chogoria, which avoids retracing your steps and adds variety without extending the trip much. See our 5 day Sirimon up, Chogoria down page for that combined option, or our 4 day Naro Moru route page if a shorter, steeper climb suits your schedule better.

What altitude sickness feels like and how we manage it

Mild headache, nausea and fatigue above 3,500 metres are common and usually manageable with a slow pace, hydration and the gradual gain the Sirimon route is chosen for in the first place. Your guide monitors everyone daily and will adjust pace or, in serious cases, recommend descending.

Tell your guide about any symptoms as soon as they appear rather than pushing through them, since early, honest reporting is what keeps a 4 day Sirimon route climb safe for everyone in the group.

What fitness level do you need

Moderate to good fitness helps considerably, since you are walking 4 to 7 hours a day at increasing altitude with a summit push starting around 3am on Day 3. Regular hill walking or hiking in the months before your trip is good preparation.

You do not need technical climbing experience for the Sirimon route to Point Lenana, since it is a trekking peak rather than a technical rock climb. See our Batian and Nelion technical climb page if you are after the true summits instead, which do require rock climbing skill.

What to pack for a Sirimon route climb

Layered clothing matters most, since temperatures range from warm at the gate to well below freezing at Shipton’s Camp and on the summit push. A warm sleeping bag rated for sub zero temperatures, sturdy waterproof boots, gloves, a warm hat and a headlamp are essential.

See our packing checklist for general safari items, though a Mount Kenya climb needs considerably warmer gear than a standard game drive trip.

Best time of year to climb

Jan to Feb and Jun to Oct are Mount Kenya’s driest windows, offering firmer trails and clearer summit views on your Sirimon route climb. The rains, particularly Apr and Nov, bring wetter trails and more cloud cover, though the route stays open year round.

Cold nights at Shipton’s Camp happen regardless of season, since altitude drives the temperature more than the time of year does.

Guides, porters and mountain crew

Every Sirimon route climb we run includes a licensed mountain guide who has completed the route many times, plus porters who carry group equipment, camp gear and food so you only carry a light day pack.

Tipping your guide and porters is customary at the end of the trek; our Kenya safari tipping guide covers recommended amounts, most of which apply equally to a mountain crew as to a safari driver guide.

Extending your Mount Kenya trip

Some climbers add a rest day in Nanyuki before or after the climb, or combine it with a short safari at nearby Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a lower altitude wildlife contrast. See our 2 day Ol Pejeta safari page for that pairing.

For a longer mountain trip with better acclimatisation odds, our 5 day Sirimon Chogoria route adds an extra day and a different descent for more scenery.

Who this itinerary suits

A 4 day Sirimon route climb suits fit, healthy adults with some hiking experience who want Point Lenana without committing to a longer 5 or 6 day itinerary. It suits budget conscious climbers too, since fewer nights on the mountain means a lower total cost.

It is less suited to complete beginners with no hiking background or to anyone wanting the highest possible chance of summit success, since an extra acclimatisation day genuinely does improve those odds on this route.

What the moorland scenery looks like along the way

Above the forest belt, the Sirimon route opens into rolling moorland dotted with giant lobelia and groundsel, plants found almost nowhere else on earth outside a handful of East African peaks. Streams cross the trail regularly, and the peaks themselves come into full view long before you reach Shipton’s Camp.

This open, gradually rising landscape is a large part of why photographers and first time trekkers alike tend to prefer the Sirimon route over the more enclosed forest sections found on some other approaches.

How to book your sirimon route

Booking your sirimon route with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.

1. Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
2. Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
3. Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
4. Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
5. Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.

What every trip with us includes

Every sirimon route plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box, and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.

We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.

Paying safely

We share payment details in writing only, and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.

Why book with a Nairobi team

We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos, and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good sirimon route into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews, and we plan to keep it that way.

Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.

Questions people ask

Official information: KWS park fee schedule.

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