BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Mt Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating the landscape
of the Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift. Mt. Kenya lies about
140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks
across the Equator. The mountain has two main peaks - Batian
(5200m) and Nelion (5188m). The mountains slopes are cloaked
in forest, bamboo, scrub and moorland giving way on the high
central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Mt. Kenya is an important
water catchment area, supplying the Tana and Northern Ewaso
Ngiro systems.
The park includes a variety of habitats ranging from higher
forest, bamboo, alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial
morains.
The park, which is also an International Biosphere Reserve,
covers 715 km2, includes the Mountain and consists of all the
ground above 3200m with two small salients extending lower down
to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks. Surrounding
the park is Mount Kenya Forest Reserve with an area of approximately
2095 km2.
CLIMATE:
Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude.
But generally wet.
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HOW TO GET THERE
175 kms from Nairobi, the park can be reached on Nanyuki-Isiolo
road via Sirimon Track or Nyeri-Nanyuki road near Naro Moru.
The park is also reachable via Chogoria on the Embu - Meru road,
about 150km north of Nairobi.
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AIRSTRIPS:
The park has three airstrips at Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria
gates (latter 2 not for commercial or private use).
PARK ROADS
The park is served by 22km of two roads starting from Naro Moru
and Sirimon gates. Both roads are motorable up to 3350m contour.
Access above this contour is on foot.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Mountain climbing, hiking, Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns,
glaciers and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest,
mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High
altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation
with 11 species of endemic plants.
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FACILITIES
Huts:
Kami Rescue Hut; Liki North Hut; Two Tarn Hut; Old Kami Hut;
Minto's Hut; Top Hut; Austrian Hut.
Bandas:
Shipton bandas; Old Moses bandas; Met Station bandas.
Lodges:
Makinder's Lodge
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ACTIVITIES
Mountain climbing, game viewing.
WILDLIFE
Reptiles:
Alpine Meadow Lizard; Green Mamba; lizards and skinks; montane
viper.
Insects:
Stick insect; Bee; Butterfly; Grasshopper.
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MAJOR ANIMALS
Baboon, Olive; Bat, Banana; Bongo; Buffalo African;
Bushbuck; Cat, African Wild; Civet, African; Colobus, Black
and White; Dog, Hunting; Dormouse, African; Duiker, Black-fronted;
Duiker, Bush; Duiker, Red; Elephant, African; Genet, Large-spotted;
Hare, African; Hog, Giant Forest; Hyaena, Spotted; Hyrax, Rock;
Hyrax, Tree; Jackal, Black-backed; Jackal, Side-striped; Klipspringer;
Leopard; Lion; Mongoose, Slender; Monkey, Sykes; Otter, Clawless;
Pig, Forest Bush; Porcupine, Crested; Rat, Crested; Rat, Mt
Kenya Mole; Reedbuck, Chanler's; Rhinoceros, Black; Serval;
Shrew, Mole; Suni; Zebra, Common.
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MAJOR BIRDS
Owl, Mackinder's Eagle; Owl, Cape Grass; Owl, African Wood;
Owl, African Marsh; Owl, Abyssinian Long-eared; Oriole, Black-winged;
Nightjar, Abyssinian; Martin, African Sand; Martin, African
Rock; Lanner; Lammergeyer; Kite, European Black; Kite, African
Black; Kingfisher, Grey-headed; Kingfisher, Giant; Kestrel,
Lesser; Kestrel, European; Ibis, Green; Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked.........
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COMMON VEGETATION
This varies with altitude and rainfall, and there is a rich
alpine and sub-alpine flora.
Between 1200m and 1850m, the vegetation is mainly dry upland
forest comprising of Croton associations. Juniperus procera
and Podocarpus spp. are predominant in the drier parts of the
lower zone (below 2,500m), with rainfall between 875 and 1400mm
(Naro Moru and Sirimon tracks on the western slopes). In wetter
areas (over 2200mm/year) in the south-west and north-east, Cassipourea
malosana predominates.
Higher altitudes (2,500-3,000m with rainfall over 2000mm/year)
are dominated by a dense belt of bamboo Arundinaria alpina on
south-eastern slopes, and a mosaic of bamboo and Podocarpus
milanjianus with bamboo at intermediate elevations (2,600-2,800m),
and Podocarpus at higher and lower elevations (2,800-3,000m)
and (2,500-2,600m).
Towards the west and north of the mountain, bamboo becomes progressively
smaller and less dominant. There are also areas in zones of
maximum rainfall 2,000-3,500m with up to 2,400mm/year, where
Hagenia abyssinica with H. revolutum predominate.
Above 3,000m, cold (low temperatures) become a more important
factor, tree stature declines, and Podocarpus is replaced by
Hypericum spp. A more open canopy here results in a more developed
understorey. Many of the trees are festooned with rnosses. Grassy
glades are common especially on ridges. High altitude heath
between 3,000m and 3,500m is characterised by shrubs with small
leaves like African sage, Protea and Helicrysum.
The lower alpine or moorland zone (3,400-3,800m) is characterized
by high rainfall, a thick humus layer, low topographic diversity,
and low species richness. Tussock grasses Festuca pilgeri, and
sedges Carex spp. predominate. Between the tussocks there are
Alchemilla cyclophylla, A. johnstonii, and Geranium vagans.
Above the 3500m contour is the Afro-alpine zone, a moorland
characterised by tussock grasses, senecios and lobelias.
The upper alpinezone (3,800-4,500m) is more topographically
diverse, and contains a more varied flora. Many of the species
here are bizarre, especially the giant rosette plants Lobelia
telekii and L. keniensis, Senecio keniodendron and Carduus spp..
Senecio brassica is found in both the lower and upper alpine
zone.
There are a variety of grasses on well-drained ground and along
the streams and river banks such as megaphytic Senecio battescombei
and Helichrysum kilimanjari.
Continuous vegetation stops at about 4,500m although isolated
vascular plants have been found at over 5,000m. There are 13
species endemic to Mount Kenya listed in Hedberg,(1951).
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