Initially a forest reserve Mount Kenya National park was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya and the surrounding ecosystem from exploitation as it provides the necessary habitat for wildlife and the ecosystem also acts as a water catchment area. In 1978, the area of the park was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve after which the park and the forest became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The park itself has area of 715 km2 and with the forest cover, the UNESCO world Heritage site is 1,420km2.
The park is located in the central region of Kenya which is mainly occupied by the Kikuyu, Aembu and Meru Communities which are well known for their Agricultural prowess and mainly due to the favorable climatic conditions, Agriculture is their Main economic Activity. These communities have rich Historical background connected to the independence of the country as a majority of our freedom fighters were from these communities and thus making this communities hold special places in Kenyan History.
Being Africa’s second highest Mountain after Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya stands at 5,199 m high. Scaling up this heights up to the highest peak of the Mountain is an adventure worth taking, as it offers you a great opportunity of experiencing the different, climatic conditions and experiencing the great sceneries along your ascent to the highest peak which is Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m) and Point Lenana (4,985 m). A variety of wildlife can be easily spotted and inhibit the park and these animals, mainly include: elephants, the Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Bushbucks, Sykes Monkey, buffaloes, leopard, elands, the bongo and many others which are occasionally spotted in the park.
Mount Kenya, like most locations in the tropics, has two wet seasons and two dry seasons.From mid-March to June the heavy rain season. This is followed by the wetter of the two dry seasons which lasts until September. October to December are the short rains when the mountain receives approximately a third of its rainfall total. Finally from December to mid-March is the dry, dry season when the mountain experiences the least rain. Mount Kenya straddles the equator.
A typical day is clear and cool in the morning with low humidity. The mountain is in direct sunlight which causes the temperatures to rise quickly with the warmest temperatures occurring between 9 am and midday. This corresponds to a maxima in the pressure, usually around 10am.
Mount Kenya straddles the equator. This means during the northern hemisphere summer the sun is to the north of the mountain. The altitude and aspect of the watersheds and main peaks results in the north side of the upper mountain being in summer conditions. Simultaneously, the southern side is experiencing winter conditions. Once it is the southern hemisphere summer, the situation reverses.
The temperatures on Mount Kenya fluctuate greatly. This fluctuation is largest on the lower slopes of the moorland zone. At an altitude of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) there is an 11.5 °C mean range in daily temperature, this goes down to 7.5 °C at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) and 4 °C at 4,800 metres (15,700 ft)
