Mount Kenya National Park
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 HIGHLIGHTS
* Mountain climbing, natural minerals springs
* Fantastic scenery: lakes, glaciers & peaks
* Rare birds & animals
* Mountain Forest with high altitude plains game
FACT FILE
* Altitude: 11,000 - 17,058 ft
* Area: 715 km2
* Distance from Nairobi: 175 km
* Airstrips: 1
* Opened: December 1949
LOGDES & CAMPS: Mount Kenya Safari Club, Sweetwaters Camp
At 5,199m high, Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain and today is a popular peak to conquer. It offers easy or challenging ascents with scenic beauty. The mountain was first climbed in 1899 by Sir Halford McKinder. There are three peaks, Point Lenana can be reached by most relatively fit people, but the other two are only accessible to mountaineers with technical skills.
According to Kikuyu folklore, it is the home of the Supreme Being: Ngai, a name also used by the Masai and Kamba to describe God. In traditional prayers and sacrifices, Ngai is addressed by the Kikuyu as Mwene Nyaga: Possessor of Brightness. The name comes from Kere Nyaga the Kikuyu name for Mount Kenya, meaning Mountain of Brightness - Ngai's official home.
 LANDSCAPE
Part of the mountain's fascination is the variation in flora and fauna as the altitude changes. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true mountain forest begins at 2,000m is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500m begins a dense belt of bamboo forest which merges into the upper forest of smaller trees, interspersed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude moss.
The high altitude heath at the top (3,000 - 3,500m) is generally open, dotted with shrubs: African Sage, protea and helicrysum. The peak (above 3,500m) is moorland, with little game other than high altitude zebra and eland, common in the northern moorland.
GAME & BIRDS
The forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. There are black and white Colobus and Sykes monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo, elephant and lower down Olive baboon, waterbuck, black rhino, black fronted duikers, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the Bongo, a rare type of forest antelope.
A number of other rare or endangered species can also be found here: Sunni Buck, Mount Kenya Mole Shrew, Skinks (lizard), and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings of albino zebra have been recorded.
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