The Ultimate Guide to Climbing Mount Kenya

Point Lenana at sunrise was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. James and his team were incredible — they knew every trail, monitored our altitude sickness symptoms, and cooked meals that had no business being that good at 4,200m.

As a Kenyan, I'm embarrassed it took me this long to climb my own mountain. The citizen rates made it so affordable, and the experience was world-class. The giant groundsels and glacial valleys are genuinely mind-blowing.

We used Mount Kenya as our Kilimanjaro warm-up and it was the best decision of our trip. We summited Kili three days later with zero altitude problems. Mt Kenya was actually the more scenic climb.

Lake Michaelson and the Gorges Valley took my breath away — literally and figuratively. The Chogoria descent is hands down the most beautiful trek I've done, and I've trekked in Nepal and Ladakh.

The Vertical Bog earned its name — it was tough! But standing on Point Lenana watching the sunrise over the clouds made every muddy step worth it. Great value for money with the local rates.

I came for Kilimanjaro and added Mt Kenya on a whim. It turned out to be the highlight of my entire East Africa trip. Fewer crowds, more wildlife, and the scenery is absolutely unreal. Cannot recommend enough.

From Dubai to the summit in under 24 hours of travel. The contrast from desert heat to sub-zero alpine conditions is surreal. The guides were professional, the food was excellent, and the price was half what I expected.

Having hiked all over the Drakensberg, I thought I knew African mountains. Mount Kenya is on another level entirely. The five ecosystems you pass through in a single trek — from tropical forest to glacial desert — is something I've never experienced anywhere else.