Choosing Between Sirimon and Chogoria on Mount Kenya

When a client emails us asking which Mount Kenya route to take, they're usually picking between Sirimon and Chogoria. They've read that Naro Moru is the steepest, Burguret is the wildest, and Timau is the longest, but it's Sirimon and Chogoria that show up in most itineraries — and for good reason.

Here's the short version: Sirimon is the gentler, more gradual route up the northwest of the mountain. It gives you a proper three days to acclimatise before summit day. Chogoria, on the southeast, is the most scenic route on the mountain — bar none. The trick most experienced trekkers use is to go up Sirimon and down Chogoria. That's how Tai Trails runs our flagship 5-day itinerary.

Why up Sirimon? The acclimatisation profile is the best on the mountain. Old Moses → Shipton's gives you two nights between 3,300 and 4,200 m, with a built-in 'climb high, sleep low' acclimatisation day at Shipton's Caves on day three. That's the single biggest predictor of summit success.

Why down Chogoria? The descent off Point Lenana drops you into Square Tarn, then past Lake Michaelson sitting in a 200m amphitheatre, then through the Gorges Valley, then the bamboo forest. It's six hours of constantly changing scenery. The Sirimon descent is fine but it's the same moorland you walked up.

One thing to know: the Chogoria descent is long and hard on the knees. Bring trekking poles — we include them on this route at no extra charge for clients who don't have their own.

The exceptions. If you're short on time, do Sirimon up and down (our 4-day Express itinerary). If you're a strong, acclimatised climber and want a route nobody else is on, ask us about Burguret. If you want something truly off-grid, the Kamweti route on the southwest side is brutal but unforgettable.