Let's rock - climbing and hiking on Mount Kenya

One project on our trip was to climb Mount Kenya with Katrin and Nigel. So we head back to Nairobi.

But before we meet them for the climbing we enjoy some days in Nairobi with our friends Judith and Thomas.  We visit Nairobi National Park and Lake Magadi. What a luxury to drive around in a car! No sweat, no heat, no hassle, no worries, but also no interaction on the street. We almost feel invisible without our bikes and luggage. 

Crowned cranes.

Lake Magadi  - lots of flamingos...

... and red saline soil.

Katrin and Nigel join us in Nairobi and we leave for Mount Kenya National Park. James, our guide has taken care of everything. Like "real" tourists, we just lay back and enjoy...

Shopping for 8 days of food for 4 Muzungus, a guide and 7 porters!

At the entrance of the National Park, each backpack is weighted. Maximal load allowed: 18 -20 kg. per person. What are we going to do with the extra luggage? Yep, the Muzungus have to take more...

Walking in two days to our base-camp we hiked through nice landscapes. This small one is particularly nice, but we have no idea what kind of chameleon it is....

Water filled Lobelia. It's  easy with the plants here, almost every species we see is some sort of lobelia. 

First sight of Mount Batian (5199m).

Having a well deserved power-nap.

More Lobelias and some other colorful, back-packed species. 

Shipton Camp, our base. From here we went to Lenana and Batian.

Some like the luxury of a private toilet at 4200m (it's not ours!)

Ascend (not the first ; ) ) to Point Lenana. This is the trekking peak accessible with a nice hike.

Nelion viewed from Point Lenana (4985m)

Frauenpower!

Hey, there's snow in Kenya. Descend towards Austrian hut.

Yann also makes it to the top of point Lenana. 

The weather pattern seems to be constant. Sunny in the morning, a lot of wind and clouds in the afternoon. Sometimes there is a little bit of snow. 

Where Orion....

....meets Venus, the nights are cold...

... and so are the mornings.

Nigel was not  feeling well and therefore decided to go back to more comfortable hights. The altitude takes its tolls.  Just three left.

It's climbing-time, we are getting  ready...

Preparation for the following day. Hauling up some gear to the foot of the climbing route. 

6.30am, sun rises, we are at the entry point of the north-route to Batian. The climbing can start!!!

Point of return after 14 of the 21 pitches.

See Shipton Camp?

Old abseiling point! There's a lot of trust involved in climbing!

Safely back at  Shipton camp.

As the nights were so cold we decided to sleep all three in a tent for two. Crowded but cozy. 

Minto's hut. 

Walking out Chogoria route, beautiful lakes and nice company. Yann seems to enjoy being all alone with us two girls. 

No, there is no more space in our tent. They have to sleep outside...

THE place to be if you want to send some text messages to your family. 

Who is watching who. We, the Hyrax or it us? 

We could almost see some prehistoric beasts walking through the valley. 

Unfortunately some of the visitors don't act responsible. Waste at the side of the walking path. 

Our team!!!

They said it were leopard tracks.

The buffalos are coming to eat at the campsite lawn. Don't go to the toilet at night...

Fairy- forest...

Adventurous from the beginning right until the end. Driving out of Mount Kenya National Park...

... in a Land Rover from 1984!