Chogoria - Mount Kenya Bandas

Through jungle to the start of the trek

Petr Liška
Wrote 2420 articles and follows him / her 243 travelers
Inserted: 28.11.2013
© gigaplaces.com
Suitable for:
Hikers
Excursionist

190 km from Nairobi, i.e. several long hours by bus, lies at the foot of the massif of Mount Kenya a former old Scottish missionary base – Chogorie (1 550 m asl). Tourists come here for one reason only. It is one of possible starting points to trek through the massif of Mount Kenya. You can hire a guide here and mainly arrange transport to the gate of the National Park (2 990 m asl), which is also the beginning of this wonderful trek. The entry to the mountains is still approximately 26 km from Chogorie, 20 km of which leads along annoying muddy path through the jungle. And this article is about this journey by jeep from Chogorie to the gate of the national park.

Chogoria

Chogoria is not very picturesque town and its muddy streets are almost impassable with dry foot in rain. Since, however, it is not quite close to Nairobi, you will come here probably very late. So you will have to probably sleep here (which is fortunately not a problem).

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Banana plantation

The road rises from Chogoria between rounded hills in fertile landscape, where you can see many species of crops. Many of them thrive here well, for example bananas.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Tea plantation

Extensive tea plantations are in the highest locations.

After approximately six kilometers at about 1740 meters asl begins national park, i.e. end fields and begins impenetrable forest.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Drive through the jungle

Twenty kilometer long muddy path through the jungle is difficult also for off –road vehicle. This path is completely impassable even several days after frequent rains. Sometimes it is passable only partly. Anyway, although car travel is expensive, it is still a better option than long walking in monotonous forest in the mud.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Unexpected destination

Unfortunately it may happen that you really cannot pass further. So there is no other choice but to walk, sometimes even a few hours.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Mount Kenya Bandas

In the forest will gradually prevail bamboo, and then with increasing altitude it thins and grassy meadows appear. Here you are already in place in almost three thousand meters above sea level. The whole camp gives picturesque impression.

Author: Jaroslav Málek © gigaplaces.com

In the camp

It is safe to stay nearby the camp early in the morning and in the evening, because malicious buffaloes gather nearby the pond.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

View of Mount Kenya

From the camp you can see yet quite distant peaks of the massif of Mount Kenya. The best weather is here early in the morning, it is then cloudy and it rains/snows at higher elevations.

Author: © gigaplaces.com
Applaud the author of the article!
Share it on:

Articles nearby

Part of itienary

Article: Crossing of Mount Kenya

The crossing of the highest mountain in the country – Mount Kenya is certainly the most interesting and famous trek in Kenya.… continue reading