Sirimon/ Sirimon Route
This is the least of the three routes. This is on the dry side of the mountain, and offers some of the finest forest walking that is to be had on any tropical mountain. In the lower sections, above the park gate, one can find large stands of cedar and Podocarpus trees. Higher up, bamboo and huge specimens of St. John’s Wort. There is also an abundance of wildlife; elephant, buffalo and sometimes lion. From Nanyuki, one should head towards Isiolo. After 14km turn right at the National Park sign board. Again you pass through farm land and forest 10km approximately, before reaching the gate at 2,440m. then it is 8km to Judmier’s Camp (3,150m) and a further 2 km to the road head at 3,350m. From that point there are two routes to Shipton’s camp. One is to go straight towards “the Barrow”. Below this point, one path turns to the right and contours around the hillside, crosses two streams and then rises to the ridge over looking the Liki North Hut is visible from this point. A rough estimate of the time between Judmier’s camp and Liki North is about three hours. Shipton’s camp is another three hours from hare. To reach it one must climb the opposite side of the valley, following red and white posts, before dropping down 250m. This puts you in the Mackinder’s valley, where you must ascend again this time following the right hand side of the valley. The other route, branches right soon after the road head and contours around the mountain. It avoids Liki North and drops into the Mackinder valley at a much lower elevation. This route is less scenic and has stretches of terrible boggy ground, reminiscent of the Naromoru route. Just before crossing the makinders river, the two paths join. Cross the river and cross to the right hand side of the valley. There is a steep section right before Shipton’s camp. To reach Kami hut, head straight up towards the foot of Northey Glacier. The small, makeshift hut takes about a half hour to reach and 150m above shipton’s situated near the tarn. From here, Pt. Lenana is reached the next day by heading right, up and out of the valley and then following moraine ridges in the general direction of Simba Col. When level with the col, move right to join the rigdge overlooking galeary tarn.The climb takes about 3 to 4 hours. The route from kami hut to where it joins the moraine ridges is across steep boulder scree. It is best negotiated in the daylight of the previous day, before crossing in the next morning.
Around the peaks kami to two tarn - Ascend steeply to Hausberg col on an evil looking scree.Cross the ridge at its lowest point and start descending on a loose sand scree.Halfway down this changes to boulder scree.Move to the right side and follow the cairns down to between the two tarns,Hausberg and Oblong.Straight on leads to another scree slope. At the base of the slope, head left towards the col south of Arther’s seat,cross over,and finally descend to two Tarn hut.Straight on, longer but less steep ,is the western Terminal.Here one traverses left around the base of Arthur’s seat,across to the Eastern Terminal and on towards Nanyuki Tarn.NOTE-take care to avoid descending to Emerald Tarn by mistake.
Minto’s to Kami - See description under Chogoria route.
Kami to Austrian Hut -
Follow the description for Sirimon route as far as the ridge above Simba col.Descend to Simba Tarn and then go up and right into a square-cut valley leading towards square tarn. Continue as if on the upper section of the Chogoria route. Allow three hours for this walk. Two tarn to Austrian and then on to Pt.Lenana. Follow the edge of the tarn to where it empties into the Telic valley. Descend directly on vegetated scree.Go across the American camp flats and down to join the normal route to Austrian Hut (see Naro Moru route). Allow 2 hours.Point Lenana is reached from Austrian Hut by gaining the ridge just 50m from the hut, and climbing straight up. This shold take 45 minutes.Other walking routes on th mountain there are four other recognised routes up the mountain namely the Old Moses and Burgurret routes, the Timau route to the east of the Sirimon walk and the Kamweti route from near Embu. None are controlled by park gates and permission to use them must be obtained from the warden in advance. For a better description of all the afore mentioned walks and routes, look at Mountain walking in Africa by Else Robertson McCarta.
04 DAYS SIRIMON - SIRIMON
DAY 01: Transfer from Nairobi to Sirimon Park Gate 2600m. After a picnic lunch begin the acclimatization hike to Old Moses camp 3300m [3 hours].
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 02: After breakfast hike leisurely to Shipton's Camp 4200m for overnight [6-7 hours]. Picnic lunch & dinner is provided.
DAY 03: Pre-dawn attempt Pt. Lenana 4985m and descend leisurely Old Moses to Camp for overnight [5-6 hours] Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided.
DAY 04: Descend to road head [3 hours] for your transfer vehicle to Nairobi. Breakfast & lunch provided.
