Things to do at Mount Kenya National Park

Things to do at Mount Kenya National Park : Mount Kenya National Park is Kenya’s biggest hiking safari destination, through being the highest mountain in the country and second biggest in Africa. Not only being the hiking destination, the mountain is a home of the diverse biodiversity which attracts various tourists in the country. There was once a forest reserve on the 524,852-acre park. It received the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation in 1978. The national park and forest reserve were united to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Thus, visit this worldwide symbol with pride and remember to complete these seven tasks.

1. Climb Mount Kenya.

Of obviously, you would not go all that way and neglect out on this now, would you? The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian (5,199 M), Nelion (5,188 M) and Point Lenana (4,985 M), if you are up for a challenge. The current summit region is an array of sharp ridges scattered with glaciers which surround the two twin summits separated by a gap known as the Gate of the Mists. Alternative options include Point Pigott (4,957), Point Dutton (4,885 M), Point Melhuish (4,880 M), Point John (4,863 M), Point Peter (4,757 M), Point Thomson and Thomson Flake (4,955 M), and Midget Peak (4,700 M).

Since nobody expects snow in the tropics, the sight of snow on the seven permanent glaciers on the mountain draws large crowds. 81 of the numerous high-altitude plants found on Mount Kenya are indigenous. They may be extinct species of plants that were formerly common in the Pleistocene era’s frigid climate. These plants withdrew to the mountain’s now-colder climate as global temperatures rose. Because of the moisture extraction, the highest parts of Mount Kenya are characterised by their dryness.

2. Watch Birds at Lake Rutundu.

Lake Rutundu is located in Mount Kenya National Park approximately 3,100 metres (10,000 feet) above the mountain’s forest. The unusual plants and birds that live in the lake.

About 3,100 metres (10,000 feet) above the forest of Mount Kenya is Lake Rutundu. The unusual plants and birds that live in the lake. It is not merely a nature lovers’ joy but it is also an ideal spot for hikers and fishermen hoping to catch rainbow trout. Here, horseback riding Kenya safari is another well-liked pastime. Over 130 different bird species are visible here.

3. Catch Trout at Lake Alice.

The biggest of Mount Kenya’s huge lakes is called Lake Alice. Lake Rutundu, Lake Ellis, and Lake Michaelson are the others. One of Kenya’s greatest locations for trout fishing is Lake Alice, which is well-known for having an abundant supply of trout. Like Lake Rutundu, 3,550 M Lake Alice is surrounded by exotic vegetation, including huge lobelia and Senecio, and is stocked with rainbow trout, making it a great safari destination to fish. But due of the steep slope behind it, casting can be difficult near the lake’s northern edge. That’s why a lot of anglers like the southernmost portion of the lake, where the shingle shore makes casting considerably easier.

The lake bears the name of the Duchess of Gloucester and is located a two-hour climb higher up Mount Kenya. Shortly after the lake’s discovery, she travelled to Kenya. Fly fishing is the only activity permitted, and you are encouraged to catch and release as much as you can. If you’re not into fishing, you’ll find the lovely stroll around the lake through forests of giant ferns and heather to be rather rejuvenating. This site can get very cold after sunset, probably because of its proximity to Mount Kenya. It would be best for you to leave before dusk because you would have to deal with some extreme temperature reductions. It’s interesting to note that a group of explorers who were looking for legendary animals that were thought to live in this area accidentally discovered Lake Alice.

4. See Endemic Plant life.

With eleven rare plant species, Mount Kenya National Park is renowned for its vast diversity of distinctive montane and alpine vegetation.

5. Interact with High-altitude Game.

See a range of plains game that has adapted to high altitudes, including uncommon and threatened species like the rhino, giant forest hog, and bongo. You are able to observe elephants, tree hyrax, white-tailed mongoose, suni, black-fronted duiker, mole rats, bushbucks, waterbuck and elands. The leopard is a rare sight, even though it is not threatened.

6. Crack the Mima Mounds Mystery.

Hog Wallows, another name for the enigmatic Mima Mounds, are found on Mount Kenya at heights between 1,500 and 3,600 metres. They expand to a diameter of 6 M and ascend to a height of 1 to 3 M. They can also be found in the Aberdares, close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Nyahururu. For many years, these landforms have baffled scientists all across the world. The scientific community is divided over how they came to be. But one notion put forth by retired US Bureau of Mines geologist Andrew Berg appears to be gathering traction. Berg postulated that the mounds might have been created by the vibrations of strong earthquakes. Remarkably, current studies reveal that the majority of termite mounds in the Kenyan highlands may actually be Mima mounds.

7. Climb the Via Ferrata.

The world’s tallest ladder, known as the Via Ferrata (Iron Road in Italian), is situated 4,985 metres above sea level atop Mount Kenya. Locally referred to as Olonana, it is the only one of its kind in the area. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) commissioned the ladder to provide access to difficult and remote mountain trails. Climbers of all skill levels may now reach the summit of the mountain with more ease. Additionally, it will offer more picturesque park vistas. At 3,800 metres above sea level on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, Malaysia, Olonana has overthrown the highest Via Ferrata in existence. On the difficult parts of Point Lenana, the first phase of Mount Kenya’s Via Ferrata will be constructed. Climbers can approach the summit from the Austrian hut on the Naromoru route, or from the Shipton camp.

Have you ever visited the second-tallest peak in Africa? If not, perhaps this is the ideal time to go to Mount Kenya National Park. Here’s something intriguing to get you motivated. Only seven of the eighteen glaciers that were identified in 1893 are still there today. Experts now caution that they might disappear in 25 years.

 Glacial erosion is therefore at its height, but you may not notice much of it. It is hard at work clearing the top crater and caldera of any remnants and clearing most of the material from the mountain’s upper slopes.