Climb Mount Kenya & Safari in Ol Pejeta — Self-Launched

Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Take a private taxi or Uber from the airport to Nairobi city centre (~£10–15) if you need to rest before heading out, or arrange a shared shuttle/matatu to Sagana (~£5–8, around 2.5 hrs). Sagana is a well-known adventure hub on the Tana River. Check into a budget guesthouse or banda (thatched cottage) in the area. The Sagana Outdoors camp is popular and affordable, and you can arrange your trek logistics here. Grab dinner at a local restaurant or at your guesthouse.

🚌Shared matatu or shuttle from Nairobi to Sagana (~£5–8, 2.5 hrs)

🛏Sagana Outdoors Camp or similar riverside guesthouse, budget banda/twin share (~£15–20/night)

• →Arrive at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
• →Transfer to Sagana River area by shared matatu or shuttle (~£6)
• →Check in to budget guesthouse/banda accommodation
• →Evening briefing and gear check ahead of the trek

Rise early for breakfast, then hire a local matatu or arrange a shared 4x4 transfer from Sagana to Chogoria town on the eastern side of Mount Kenya (~3.5 hrs, £10–15). From Chogoria town, arrange a 4x4 vehicle to take you to the park gate — this is standard practice and costs around £10–20 shared. You must hire a certified guide at the gate (mandatory, ~£25–35/day) and can hire porters (~£12–18/day each). Acclimatisation hike from the forest at 2,200m up to Chogoria Gate camp at 2,950m (~2 hrs, 10km). Porters will carry your main pack and set up camp. Dinner cooked by your guide/porter team.

🚌Matatu Sagana → Chogoria town (~£12); 4x4 Chogoria town → park gate (~£15 shared)

🛏Chogoria Gate campsite — bring or hire a tent; basic facilities (~£5–8 camping fee)

• →Transfer from Sagana to Chogoria town by matatu/shared taxi (~£12)
• →4x4 vehicle from Chogoria town to park gate (~£15 shared)
• →Register at the gate and hire certified guide + 2 porters
• →Acclimatisation hike through montane forest to Chogoria Gate campsite (2,950m)
• →Campfire dinner in the rainforest

An early breakfast and a full day of trekking through lush moorland and tussock grassland, passing Urumandi Falls and ascending to the spectacular Lake Ellis at 3,390m. The lake sits off the main trail with sweeping panoramas of the Mount Kenya peaks — an outstanding wild camp spot. Your porters carry the heavy gear while you trek with a daypack (30L recommended). All food is carried by the team. Enjoy the silence and the incredible stargazing at altitude.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Wild camping at Lake Ellis (~£5–8 park camping fee)

• →Full-day trek: Chogoria Gate → Urumandi Falls → Lake Ellis (7km, ~5 hrs, 550m ascent)
• →Wildlife spotting in the moorland ecosystem (buffalo, eland, hyena possible)
• →Camp at Lake Ellis with panoramic peak views
• →Stargazing at 3,390m altitude

A long and rewarding day well off the beaten track. Skirt around Lake Ellis, cross the valley and follow a ridge deeper into the mountain, enjoying breathtaking views over Gorges Valley. The destination is Lake Michaelson, a stunning glacial lake at 3,962m surrounded by 'The Temple' — a dramatic 200m amphitheatre of cliff faces. This is one of the most spectacular wild campsites in all of Africa. Your guide and porters will have camp set up and dinner ready as you arrive.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Wild camping at Lake Michaelson (~£5–8 park camping fee)

• →Trek from Lake Ellis, skirting the lake and crossing into Gorges Valley (9km, ~6–7 hrs, 900m ascent/390m descent)
• →Off-trail navigation with your certified guide
• →Arrive at Lake Michaelson — one of Africa's most dramatic campsites
• →Rest and acclimatise at 3,962m

A shorter day by distance but critical for acclimatisation. The trail continues along the Chogoria Route up to Mintos Camp at 4,200m — a ridge-top camp with stunning all-round views. Arrive early afternoon, giving you time to rest, hydrate, and eat well before the 2:15am summit start tomorrow. Follow your guide's advice on altitude management — 'pole pole' (slowly, slowly). Early dinner and in your sleeping bag by 7pm. Your guide will wake you well before midnight.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Wild camping at Mintos Camp (~£5–8 park camping fee)

• →Short acclimatisation trek to Mintos Camp (4km, ~2 hrs, 434m ascent)
• →Rest, hydrate and prepare gear for summit day
• →Early dinner and briefing from your guide
• →Altitude check — follow your guide's assessment of readiness

The alarm goes off at 2:15am. Headtorch on, coffee down, and you set off into the dark for the summit push. Ascend via Simba Col to reach Point Lenana (4,985m) by sunrise — standing on the roof of Kenya with views stretching to Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Descend via a steep scree slope to Shipton's Camp for a late breakfast and rest, then continue down to Judmier Camp. Say goodbye to your porters (tip generously — it's customary and they've worked hard), load into a local 4x4 and drive 3 hrs to Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Check into budget tented camp accommodation inside or near the reserve.

🚌Hired 4x4 from Judmier Camp to Ol Pejeta (~£20–25 shared, 3 hrs)

🛏Budget tented camp near Ol Pejeta Conservancy, e.g. Sweetwaters Serena Camp budget options or Ol Pejeta Bush Camp (~£30–45/night)

• →2:15am summit push — ascent to Point Lenana (4,985m) via Simba Col (~4 hrs up)
• →Sunrise panorama from Africa's second-highest trekking summit
• →Descent via scree slope to Shipton's Camp for breakfast (~3 hrs)
• →Walk down to Judmier Camp and farewell to porters (tip: £10–15/porter)
• →4x4 transfer to Ol Pejeta Conservancy (~3 hrs, ~£20 shared)
• →Check in to budget tented camp near Ol Pejeta

Ol Pejeta is one of Kenya's finest wildlife conservancies — home to the Big Five, the world's last two northern white rhinos, and a chimpanzee sanctuary. Book a full-day shared game drive directly at the conservancy gate or through your camp (~£40–60 for a shared 4x4 game drive with a guide). Entry fees to the conservancy (~£30/day) are on top. Spend the day searching for lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and endangered black rhinos. In the evening, experience the African bush at night — sounds, stars, and wildlife just metres away.

🚌Shared 4x4 game drive vehicle provided through camp or gate booking

🛏Budget tented camp inside or adjacent to Ol Pejeta (~£30–45/night)

• →Full-day shared game drive in Ol Pejeta Conservancy with a certified wildlife guide (~£40–60)
• →Ol Pejeta conservancy entry fee (~£30/day)
• →Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary and northern white rhino enclosure (small extra fee)
• →Sundowner in the bush
• →Night spent listening to Africa's sounds from your tented camp

Wake early for a morning game drive in the golden light — the best time for wildlife activity. Return to camp for breakfast, then load your bags for the drive back towards Sagana (~3 hrs, £12–18 by shared matatu/local taxi). Back at Sagana, check into a riverside banda or guesthouse for your final night. The afternoon is yours — the area is famous for adventure activities including zip-lining, bungee jumping, white-water rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking, all available to book on the spot at local outfitters. Or simply relax by the river.

🚌Shared matatu/local taxi Ol Pejeta → Sagana (~£12–18, 3 hrs)

🛏Riverside guesthouse or banda at Sagana (~£15–20/night)

• →Early morning game drive in Ol Pejeta (2–3 hrs, included in conservancy entry or small additional fee)
• →Transfer back to Sagana River by shared taxi/matatu (~£15, 3 hrs)
• →Optional: zip-lining, bungee jumping or white-water rafting at Sagana (~£15–40 depending on activity)
• →Evening riverside dinner and reflection on an epic week

Final breakfast by the Sagana River. Depending on your flight time, take a shared matatu or book a private taxi back to Nairobi (~2.5 hrs, £6–15). If flying early morning, arrange a private taxi the night before (~£30–40 from Sagana). Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with time to spare for your onward flight. Kenya has been an adventure — summit views, safari sunsets, and the sounds of the African bush. Time to head home (or onwards).

🚌Shared matatu or private taxi Sagana → NBO (~£6–40 depending on departure time, ~2.5 hrs)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast at your riverside guesthouse
• →Transfer to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) by shared matatu (~£6) or private taxi (~£30–40 for early flights)
• →Depart Kenya