Mount Kenya
- Region
Kenyan highlands, east of the Rift Valley
Information status: VerifiedSource: Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
The mountain spans several counties; we haven't found an official source that lists them.
- About
Africa's second-highest peak at 5,199 m, an extinct volcano about 193 km north-east of Nairobi. Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, first inscribed in 1997.
Information status: VerifiedSource: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Highlights
- Forested middle slopes, with alpine moorland and grassland above 3,000 m
- Twelve remnant glaciers, all receding rapidly
- Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ngare Ndare Forest, also part of the World Heritage Site, with the world's largest resident population of Grevy's zebra
Information status: VerifiedSource: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Good for
- Hiking
- Wildlife
- Photography (only here among these)
KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.
- Suggested time
At least 2 days
Information status: UnconfirmedKenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
- Road time from Nairobi
~3 h, about 190 km
Information status: EstimatedDriving time on the road route from openrouteservice (OpenStreetMap data, built 2026-10-24), plus 20% for stops, towns and slower traffic. Real times depend on road condition, traffic and the time of day. Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
- When to go
Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December.
Information status: EstimatedA summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
For the Mount Kenya counties (Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga), the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and continuing into January.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
- Entry fees
KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Mount Kenya for figures and their label.
- Confirm before booking
- Park entry fees and any climbing or guide requirements with the Kenya Wildlife Service
- Which gate and route you will use, and the road to it
- Fees and booking for Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which is managed separately