Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya

Known by the local Kikuyu people as Kirinyaga - place of light - the imposing Mount Kenya broods over the surrounding national park and forest reserve.  At 5,199 metres high, this impressive peak is capped by snow - extremely rare so close to the equator.  This is a stunning and challenging destination for climbers and trekkers.

The national park, combined with the adjoining forest reserve, make up  a UNESCO World Heritage Site of  1420 sqare kilometres.  The belts of forest in the lower slopes are home to a host of wildlife species, including bushbuck, buffalo, elephants, Colobus and Sykes' monkeys and, lower down, even black rhino, giant forest hogs, baboons and hyena. 

On the foothills of Mount Kenya is Ol Pejeta, a 90,000-acre private wildlife conservancy.  Situated on the equator, this conservancy is home to not only the "Big Five" (white and black rhino, leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion), but also cheetah, zebra, hertebeest, chimpanzee and more.

Also nearby is the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club, originally founded by movie star William Holden, now one of Kenya's luxury resorts.

Photos of Mount Kenya National Park

 

Snow capped Mount Kenya

(photo by S.K. LO)

 

Cape Buffalo, a common sight at Mount Kenya

(photo by Burrard Lucas)

 

Sykes' Monkey

(photo by Mohammed)

Tours and Safaris to Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya Camp; Samburu National Park
days from $769 per person

Mount Kenya Camp; Shaba Game Reserve
days from $829 per person

Mount Kenya, Nakuru, Naivasha, Masai
days from $1,885 per person

Best of Kenya in Two Weeks
days from $3,669 per person

Mount Kenya Trek - Circumnavigation
days from $917 per person

Mount Kenya - Sirimon & Naromoru Crossover
days from $767 per person

Mount Kenya Trek - Up-and-Down Sirimon
days from $793 per person

Mount Kenya Trek - Up-and-Down Chogoria
days from $1,001 per person

Mount Kenya Trek - Chogoria-Sirimon Traverse
days from $1,014 per person

Mount Kenya Trek - Sirimon/Chogoria Route
days from $845 per person

Hotels in (or near to) Mount Kenya National Park

Mackinder's Camp
Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya Safari Club
Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya Serena Mountain Lodge
Mount Kenya

Old Moses Hut
Mount Kenya

Shiptons Hut
Mount Kenya

Wildlife you can see in Mount Kenya National Park

Cape Buffalo

Elephant

Black Kite

Black leopard

Black-and-White Colobus Monkey

Bongo

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Eland

Giant Forest Hog

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Hartlaub's Turaco

Hyrax

Olive Baboon

Red-fronted Parrot

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Sykes' Monkey

Waterbuck