Mount Kenya National ParkThis national park encompasses Africa's second highest mountain,
Mt Kenya, an extinct volcano with a series of jagged snow-covered
peaks. The local Kikuyu people revere the mountain they call
Kirinvaga or 'Place of Light' as the home of their Supreme Being,
Ngai, and traditionally Kikuyu homes are built to face the sacred
summit. Part of the mountain's attraction is the incredible
variation in flora and fauna due to the changes in altitude and its
position on the equator. The slopes are covered in thick forest,
home to a variety of animals including the black leopard. Bamboo,
moorland and alpine vegetation give way to rock, ice and one of the
world's rarest sights - equatorial snow. The summit is a technical
climb, but Point Lenana is a popular trekkers' objective, the third
highest peak that can be reached by a number of different scenic
routes, lasting from three to five days. For those not wishing to
climb the mountain the park offers a pristine wilderness, lakes and
glaciers an Website: www.mck.or.ke Telephone: 061 556 45 Transportation: Two-hour drive from Nairobi Admission: National Park entry: US$55 (adults), US$20 (children).
There are concessions for residents and citizens of Kenya.
Mountaineering fee: US$70 (adults), US$50 (children) |