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MOUNT KENYA
NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating the landscape of the
Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift. Mt. Kenya lies about 140 km North,North-East
of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across the Equator. The
mountain has two main peaks - Batian (5200m) and Nelion (5188m). The mountains
slopes are cloaked in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on
the high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Mt. Kenya is an
important water catchment area, supplying the Tana and Northern Ewaso
Ngiro systems. The park includes a variety of habitats ranging from higher
forest, bamboo,alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial morains.
The park, which was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997ans
is also a Biosphere Reserve, covers 715 km2, and includes the Peaks consisting
of all the ground above 3200m with two small salients
extending lower down to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks.
Surrounding the park is Mount Kenya National Reserve with an area of approximately
2095 km2.
Climate:
Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude.
HOW TO GET THERE
Access Roads:
175 kms from Nairobi, the park can be reached on Nanyuki-Isiolo road via
Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru. The park is also reachable
via Chogoria on the Embu - Meru road, about 150km north of
Nairobi.
Airstrips:
The closest commercial airstrip to the park is at Nanyuki.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks of great beauty,geological
variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals,
High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine
vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.
FACILITIES
Huts:
Liki North Hut; Minto's Hut; Austrian Hut; Mackinders Hut (managed by
NaroMoru Lodge); Judmare Hut; Shiptons Hut (managed by Mountain Rock Hotel).
Bandas:
Sirimon Bandas, Warden's Cottage.
Lodges:
Mountain Lodge (Serena Hotels); Rutundu Fishes Lodge (book through Lets
GoTravel) ACTIVITIES
Mountain climbing, game viewing.
WILDLIFE
Reptiles:
Alpine Meadow Lizard; lizards and skinks; montane viper.
Major animals:
Baboon, Olive; Bat, Banana; Bongo; Buffalo African; Bushbuck; Cat, AfricanWild;
Civet, African; Colobus, Black and White; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse,African;
Duiker, Black-fronted; Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Elephant,
African; Genet, Large-spotted; Hare, African; Hog, Giant Forest; Hyaena,Spotted;
Hyrax, Rock; Hyrax, Tree; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal,Side-striped; Klipspringer;
Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Slender; Monkey,
Sykes; Otter, Clawless; Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Crested;Rat,
Mt Kenya Mole; Reedbuck, Chanler's; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval; Shrew,Mole;
Suni; Zebra, Common.
Major Birds:
Owl, Mackinder's Eagle; Owl, Cape Grass; Owl, African Wood; Owl, AfricanMarsh;
Owl, Abyssinian Long-eared; Oriole, Black-winged; Nightjar,Abyssinian;
Martin, African Sand; Martin, African Rock; Lanner;
Lammergeyer; Kite, European Black; Kite, African Black; Kingfisher,Grey-headed;
Kingfisher, Giant; Kestrel, Lesser; Kestrel, European; Ibis,Green; Hornbill,
Silvery-cheeked..
MT. KENYA NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE
COMMON VEGETATION:
This varies with altitude and rainfall, and there is a rich alpine and
sub-alpine flora.Between 1200m and 1850m, the vegetation is mainly
dry upland forest comprising of Croton associations. Juniperus procera
and Podocarpus
spp.are predominant in the drier parts of the lower zone (below 2,500m),
with rainfall between 875 and 1400mm (Naro Moru and Sirimon tracks on
the western slopes). In wetter areas (over 2200mm/year) in the south-west
and north-east, Cassipourea malosana predominates.
Higher altitudes (2,500-3,000m with rainfall over 2000mm/year)
are dominated by a dense belt of bamboo Arundinaria alpina on south-eastern
slopes, and a mosaic of bamboo and Podocarpus milanjianus with bamboo
at intermediate elevations (2,600-2,800m), and Podocarpus at higher and
lower elevations (2,800-3,000m) and (2,500-2,600m).Towards the west and
north of the mountain, bamboo becomes progressively smaller and less dominant.
There are also areas in zones of maximum rainfall 2,000-3,500m with up
to 2,400mm/year, where Hagenia abyssinica with Hagenia revolutum predominate.
Above 3,000m, cold (low temperatures) become a more important factor,
treestature declines, and Podocarpus is replaced by Hypericum spp. A more
open canopy here results in a more developed understorey. Many of the
trees are festooned with mosses. Grassy glades are common especially on
ridges.
Highaltitude heath between 3,000m and 3,500m is characterised by
shrubs withsmall leaves like African sage, Protea and Helicrysum.
The lower alpine or moorland zone (3,400-3,800m) is characterized
by high rainfall, a thick humus layer, low topographic diversity, and
low speciesrichness. Tussock grasses Festuca pilgeri, and sedges Carex
spp.predominate. Between the tussocks there are Alchemilla cyclophylla,Alchemilla
johnstonii, and Geranium vagans.
Above the 3500m contour is theAfro-alpine zone, a moorland characterised
by tussock grasses, senecios and lobelias.
The upper alpinezone (3,800-4,500m) is more topographically diverse,
and contains a more varied flora. Many of the species here are bizarre,
especially the giant rosette plants Lobelia telekii and Lobelia keniensis,Senecio
keniodendron and Carduus spp.. Senecio brassica is found in both the lower
and upper alpine zone.
There are a variety of grasses on well-drained ground and along the streams
and river banks such as megaphytic Senecio battescombei and Helichrysum
kilimanjari.
Continuous vegetation stops at about 4,500m although isolated vascular
plants have been found at over 5,000m. There are 13 species endemic to
Mount Kenya listed in Hedberg,(1951).
Find and book Mt Kenya climbing routes at Mount Kenya National Park Kenya
Mount Kenya
Climb Sirimon out Sirimon route-4 Days
Climbing Mt Kenya Naro Moru out Naro Moru Route-5
Days
Mt Kenya climbing Chogoria out Chogoria route-5
Days
Chogoria route out Naro Moru gate on Mt.Kenya
Climb
Mt Kenia Climb Sirimon out Chogoria route-6
days
Mount Kenya trekking Naro Moru out Chogoria
Route-6 Days
Mount Longonot and Mount Kenya Climbs-7
Days
Mt Kenya Techinical Climbing -8 Days
Mt Kenya trek combined with a Kenyan safari
Mount Kenya Climbing and Mt Kilimanjaro Climb
Combined -13 Days
Best Months to trek Mt Kenya
Mt Kenya Joining dates 2010 /2011
Mount Kenya Climbing gear and Equipments
Mount Kenya Group Trekking-students,companies and
organised groups
Mt Kenya climb routes and prices
Mount Kenya Guides and Porters
Climb
Mt Kilimanjaro 2010,Find and book Mount Kilimanjaro Joining dates
and group trekking
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