Mt Kenya, Chogoria Route

Getting There

If using public means from Nairobi, take either Meru or Chogoria matatus  from their Tea Room Stage at the junction of Accra Rd and River Road. At Chogoria, if you are in a group, negotiate with Land Rover operators who provide transport services for visitors to the mountain. If you are alone or two people and looking for a cost-effective means of getting to the Park, you can instead negotiate with boda boda operators to take you up the mountain. Alternatively, you have the option of hiking the 29km distance from Chogoria Town to the Park Gate, if you have an extra day or two to spend on the mountain.

If driving, you’ll need a good 4WD vehicle, hopefully with a differential lock, and off-road driving skills that will be tested to the limit on the last 10km to Chogoria Park Gate. From Nairobi, use Thika Road and go past Thika and Makuyu all the way to Makutano junction. Turn right on to Embu/Meru road and go past Mwea, Embu, Runyenjes and Chuka till the Chogoria turn off to your left. This will take you to Chogoria town. From here, follow the Mt Kenya signs along the dirt road past Chogoria Forest Station till the Chogoria Park Gate for Mt Kenya National Park.

Typical charges by Land Rover operators: Ksh 7,000 or Ksh 4,500 if you hike the last 10km.

Typical charges by boda boda operators: Ksh 800.

Contacts of some Land Rover operators:

Mugendi  +254(0)732 773609

Jayford Mutembei  +254(0)722 323399, email mutembei2002@yahoo.com

Guide

Benson Kinaro +254(0)721 642553

Accommodation

Accommodation in Chogoria town:

Transit Motel Chogoria (Mukatha) +254(0)721 973133. This facility has reasonably clean rooms with hot showers, and a restaurant. If you expect to be getting into Chogoria late in the evening, they can arrange to pick you from the junction on the Meru Road.

Accommodation at Chogoria Park Gate:

Meru Mt Kenya Bandas; This is a Tharaka Nithi County facility providing self-catering bandas with hot showers and a warm fire. You can either book on location and settle with the caretaker, or book through Lets Go Travel agency in Nairobi. Price range is Ksh 2,000 per day for an adult, and Ksh 1,000 per day for each child.

Camping; If you have camping gear, you can pitch tent on the KWS campsite next to the Park Gate,or go to the Special campsite about 3km into the Park as you head towards Roadhead. Both campsites have tap water.

Accommodation at Minto’sHut:

This unmanned wooden cabin at Hall Tarns can accommodate about 16 people. However, it is poorly ventilated and therefore tends to get stuffy. As a result, many visitors choose to pitch tent instead. Water from the nearby Hall Tarns is of questionable quality due to carelessness of visitors passing through over the years, so you’d be well advised to treat your drinking water at this place.

Entry Requirements

KWS Tariffs for Park entry.