Mount Kenya Challenge

Level of difficulty

The Mount Kenya Challenge is graded as “extreme”.

"Extreme" challenges will involve altitude, and a great deal of endurance. These trips are not to be taken lightly, and will take place in extreme environments, without home comforts. They are usually undertaken by someone with previous experience in a mountain setting, but who wants to take their experience to the next level physically and mentally. Training is essential to ensure you are suitably prepared for the challenge.

Please be aware many trekkers find the summit day on Mount Kenya a real challenge and the hardest section of the whole trek.

You can tell your supporters that on your Mount Kenya Challenge you will be:

• Trekking for 5 consecutive days for around 6-8 hours per day
• Battling the altitude on the mountain up to the summit of 4985m
• Trekking through the night on summit day to get to Point Lenana for sunrise
• Experiencing nightly temperatures of down to -15 degrees
• Sleeping in a tent for 4 nights

Evacuations

In the event of a medical emergency the first choice of evacuation method will be on foot, or on a stretcher, to get back down the mountain. You would then be met by a vehicle to take you to the nearest hospital or hotel to rest.

In the event of a serious medical emergency, where walking or a stretcher back down the mountain is not possible, an evacuation by helicopter may be the quickest and safest choice, this will be dependent on the weather and service availability. Your Challenge Leader and the Expedition Doctor will discuss this with you, with the final decision resting with the doctor.

We appreciate that having to descend from the mountain will be a disappointment, having trained and fundraised for the challenge. However, the doctor will make the decision based on their professional assessment of your health. Your safety is, and always will be, Charity Challenge’s number one priority.

We will organise the logistics of the helicopter evacuation and in most cases, you would be taken to a hospital in Nanyuki (nearest hospital to Mount Kenya). We will make the arrangements as quickly as possible to get you to safety, but it will be your responsibility to cover the costs of the helicopter evacuation before being taken into the hospital. Therefore, Charity Challenge requires you to have access to a minimum of USD $4,000 (about £3,200) of available funds and we would highly recommend that you have sufficient funds on your credit card before you leave home. Whilst Charity Challenge can initially open an insurance claim on your behalf, you will need to process a claim on your return home to recover any costs as a result of the evacuation. In order to process the claim further down the line, and as a minimum, insurance companies will require the helicopter invoice, a receipt of payment and a medical report from the doctor/hospital.   

Charity Challenge will help you make all necessary arrangements for your accommodation, your return flight (if you return home earlier than the scheduled return date) and to advise you of the next steps depending on your particular situation. Once again, you will need to pay for additional services and keep receipts in order to recover costs once you return home.

Some airlines may require a “Fit To Fly” certificate, especially if the medical emergency was as a result of an altitude related condition.  Please refer to the Insurance tab for further information.

A typical day

During the trek you will be trekking an average of 5 to 8 hours each day. Depending on the weather and the day, rest/water stops will be set up regularly, where you can regroup, rest and relax while drinking water and eating your snacks. Lunch will usually be a cooked lunch either along the way or when you reach the campsite (depending on the length of that trekking day). You will get to your campsite in the afternoon where you can relax, have a hot drink and eat your dinner in the mess tent. Along the route, toilet facilities are limited to the great outdoors. At the campsites there will be toilet tents erected for the group.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up Challenge Safe, one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. Challenge Safe formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount.
In terms of your Mount Kenya Challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

• You will be trekking to an altitude of 4985m, and altitude trekking carries it's own risks
• Emergency evacuation to a hospital may take upwards of 8 hours, depending on your location on the mountain
• You will be sleeping in temperatures of down to -15 degrees

Emergencies

We provide a UK trained expedition medic to support you on this trek with a full emergency medical kit if required.  If you are unable to continue the climb, you will be sent down with a porter where you can seek additional medical attention at the local hospital if needed. The doctors at this hospital are very well trained in dealing with altitude related illnesses as well as trekking injuries. However, please be understanding of the fact that facilities in this part of Africa will not compare to those that you are used to at home. If a visit to a local hospital is not necessary, then you will be provided with porter assistance to a lower camp or back to the hotel to wait and rejoin the group.

All medical expenses incurred are the responsibility of the individual(s) concerned and should be paid in full to our local operator before departing Kenya.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also make a contribution each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost £200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orang-utan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support.

Flights & Extending your return flight

You will be flying overnight from London to Nairobi Kenyatta airport. Your flight tickets will be e-mailed to you before departure. Charity Challenge will be booking your flight as and when you register & pay your registration fee for the challenge. As seats and fares are subject to availability, there might be flight supplements but we will let you know if this is the case via email.

If you choose to book your own flights you must confirm with the Charity Challenge office as soon as you register for the challenge. Please note; if you are arranging your own flights, we are unable to arrange airport transfers between the hours of 20:00 and 06:00 due to safety issues, so please avoid flights that arrive during this period.

Can I delay my return flight and stay in-country after the challenge has finished?

If you wish to extend, we would urge you to get in touch with our flights team flights@charitychallenge.com as soon as possible to request a change in your return flight.

The airline is likely to permit a change to the return date, subject to the airlines availability and terms and conditions. Where we are able to change your return date, there will be a flat non-refundable fee of £60. Of course, if the change of date results in a more expensive ticket, you will also be required to pay the difference. You will not be able to amend the outward date, only the return date.

Your request to extend must be put in writing at the time of registering for the challenge via flights@charitychallenge.com before it will be actioned. You must give a preferred return date but also two other dates, just in case the first date is not available. If you choose to request a change, and then do not wish to take the requested return flight, you WILL be charged the £60 admin fee. However, if we cannot confirm your requested change of return date we will NOT charge you the admin fee.

Please note: Timings of the flights are subject to change so please take this into consideration when booking domestic travel arrangements to reach your departure airport i.e. book flexible tickets where possible. We are unable to take responsibility for the consequences of missed international flights due to delayed travel arrangements to the airport. We therefore advise you, when booking transport and making any arrangements, to plan to get to the airport in plenty of time allowing for any possible delays which may occur on the day (bad weather, break down, cancellations etc). If you book a domestic flight, in order to get to your international departure airport, please do consider that this flight ticket cannot be linked to the ticket we are organising for you; you will need to collect your luggage, possibly change terminal and check-in again as normal.

Visa

Passport

To enter Kenya, your passport must have:

• an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive
• at least 2 blank pages

E-Visa Application

You must have a visa to visit Kenya if you are aged 16 and over. Visa applications can now be completed online by using the following link: https://evisa.go.ke/ More guidance on your e-visa application will be provided 3 months prior to departure.

Insurance

Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenges is our main concern which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy that will cover you for the adventurous nature of your challenge. We have chosen to partner with specialist travel insurance providers Campbell Irvine, who offer cover for an extensive number of adventurous activities. Cover is available directly from Campbell Irvine for most European residents and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation and for your cancellation or curtailment of the challenge. Full details including costs may be found by clicking here. 

For more travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page or for any specific queries, please contact us at bookings@charitychallenge.com.

Vaccinations, Medicines & Altitude

For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro page: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/117/kenya#Vaccine_Recommendations

Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting, and as such it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication:

• Carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled original packaging, as issued by the pharmacist. These should be carried in your hand luggage.
• Consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage
• A letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required
• Carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications
• Take out an appropriate level of travel health insurance including repatriation and specific cover for any pre-existing illnesses

N.B.  Some medications are banned abroad so please check. You can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

Altitude:
For advice on altitude sickness, please see https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/26/altitude-illness

Climate & Terrain

Climate

Although Kenya lies in the tropics, the temperature depends more on altitude than on season. Kenya straddles the equator so short showers can happen at any time of year. Daytime temperatures can get as high as 30 degrees in Nairobi but with low humidity.

Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, but it's safest to climb during the dry seasons: January-February and July to September offer the most reliably fine weather and it's best to avoid the two rainy seasons from mid-March until June and from mid-October to the end of December. Above the cloud line, the days are warm and pleasant, with temperatures in sunlight often above 20ºC, but the nights can get very cold. Temperatures can get as low as -15ºC at our highest overnight stop. The daily weather pattern on the mountain tends to be clear mornings with an afternoon cloud build-up that often clears before sunset.

Please note that mountain weather conditions are never totally predictable and we may meet wet and snowy conditions at any time. As we climb with altitude these conditions will tend to change, so always best to be prepared for every eventuality.

Terrain

Some of the trails are not well defined and some forest sections can be slippery and moorland paths can be very wet in poor weather conditions but the guides will help you throughout. As we reach higher altitudes on days 5 and 6 of the itinerary there may be a lot of scree, making the trek more challenging. The final ascent is almost exclusively on scree and loose rock without permanent footpaths but no technical skills are required.

Training

A good level of fitness is definitely required, as this challenge is graded ‘Extreme’, due to the basic facilities, high altitude, long days and climate. Don’t forget the impact of temperature extremes and high altitude; and remember that you will be trekking for a number of days. Anyone who leads an active and healthy lifestyle should find this challenge achievable, however always ensure that you have trained and prepared throughly before the trip departs but the more you train before the challenge, the more you will get out of it. 

Training tips for the Mount Kenya Challenge:

• Endurance training should be your primary focus
• Ensure that you get some training walks done in the mountains of the UK to familiarise yourself with walking on rugged terrain
• Try to incorporate ascents into your training as well as long distances
• Carry a full daypack while training, and steadily add more weight
• Join one of our training weekends! 
• Visit an altitude centre
• Use the Fitness and Training tips in your account area

Challenge Training

If you would like to get a feel for our challenges ahead of your departure, why not consider booking on a 1 or 2 day UK Challenge?

We have a variety of challenges, covering all levels of difficulty, taking place in stunning National Parks across the UK that are led by highly qualified and experienced expedition and mountain leaders. These challenges will give you the perfect opportunity to monitor fitness levels, test out your kit, meet people in the great outdoors, share fundraising stories and gain valuable advice and support for the challenge ahead. We encourage participants to make use of our highly knowledgeable leaders and ask them any questions you may have about clothing and equipment, expedition health and wellbeing, trekking skills, walking techniques and teamwork!

We are offering all participants 50% off the registration fee when you book on one of the UK challenges listed via the link below. Just use the code TRAINING when booking. T&C’s – you must have an active booking on a challenge to avail of this offer. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Find out more here

Luggage allowance & valuables

As no formal clothes are needed, luggage should be kept to the absolute minimum – details of what to pack are provided in your Kit List. You will require three types of bag for this trip:

• Daypack - This will be carried by you during the trekking day and will contain your trekking essentials. This bag should be fitted properly and should be 25-35 litres in capacity. 
• Duffle bag (or rucksack) - This will be carried by the porter during the trek and will only be accessible at the campsites. It should contain everthing that you require for the trek that you will not be carrying yourself. Please do not bring a bag with hard sides or wheels as porters often carry luggage on their heads. Your duffel bag should be 70-90 litres capacity. The maximum weight each porter will carry is 15kgs.
• Hotel bag - This will be left at the hotel while you are on the mountain. You can leave any non-trekking items in this bag to be collected when you return from your trek. These items are left with the hotel reception but they are left at your own risk. Your passport, money and any valuables should be kept on you at all times.

While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches.  

On your outward journey, please wear your trekking gear, hiking boots, and carry a spare change of clothing in your hand luggage, just in case your duffle bag gets delayed.

Leadership

There is quite a large team supporting you to the summit of Mount Kenya! You will fly out with a UK Mountain Leader & Expedition Medic. We also employ a number of first aid qualified local challenge guides, all of whom speak fluent English and have a huge amount of expereince on the mountain. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. The itinerary is there as a guide and may be forced to change, for example, due to unusual weather patterns or the strength of the group. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary. However, we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your challenge leader will have the final say.

An expedition medic will also join the group to provide full time support and assistance throughout the trek. The medic will be english speaking and are often UK based.

Group Size

Each group is intended to be a minimum of 19 people in order to run and a maximum of 30 people. We will be able to run this challenge for 15 to 18 people, by charging a small group supplement of £95, which will be added to your final balance invoice (self funders) or charged to your charity (minimum sponsorship or flexi).

Clothing and Equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, waterproof, well-worn in boots will be indispensable, particularly coupled with some really good quality walking socks. You don’t need a clean pair every day, but enough to make sure you have dry socks each morning.

The benefits of a comfortable day sack cannot be underestimated, so make sure that you get one fitted in-store and train with this. Other essentials are high quality gore-tex waterproof and windproof jackets and trousers, technical/wicking t-shirts rather than cotton shirts, and a down jacket for the evenings in camp and your summit day/night. A full kit list for this challenge can be found in your account area and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners Outdoorhire, Cotswold Outdoor and altitude centre.

Accommodation and Toilets

Accommodation
On arrival, you will stay in a hotel in Nairobi. You will be camping on the mountain in two person tents, which will be supplied and erected by the ground team. Before and after your climb, you will be staying in more comfortable accommodation at a lodge at the base of Mt Kenya. If you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with, please let Charity Challenge know in advance. If you do not wish to share a tent/hotel room, please enquire with Charity Challenge regarding the single supplement.

Toilets
In the camps you will have toilet tents set up by your ground team, containing chemical toilets. Your camp team will provide washing bowls of warm water as you arrive at camp at the end of the days trekking. There will also be water and soap available in camp to wash your hand with after using the toilet and before eating.

You should take plenty of toilet paper and wet wipes with you as well as anti-bacterial hand gel. You should also bring something to put used toilet paper in during the trekking day as toilet facilities between campsites will be limited to the great outdoors. Please note, there are no showers whilst you are on the trek.

Food and Drink

Breakfast: cereals, assorted fruits and fruit juice, tea/coffee/chocolate, oat porridge, toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, or sausages.
Picnic lunch: ­ham/cheese/lettuce sandwiches, burger steaks or veggie burgers, assorted fruits, packets of fruit juice, and crisps.
Dinner: Soup of the day, fish fillets with buttered potatoes or vegetable stew with rice, fruit, tea or coffee.

You will need to bring plenty of snacks to keep your energy levels and calorie intake high during the trekking hours, especially on summit night. It is advisable to bring snacks that you really enjoy eating as altitude can affect your appetite.

There will be ample drinking water, as we will be filling up from local water sources. All the water is treated and is safe to drink, but you may wish to also use iodine drops or tablets as well whilst trekking. If you choose to use water straight from the stream or from hotel taps it is best to purify it first. The porters will collect water each morning and evening for drinking and cooking.

Please note that in Kenya the availability of certain products for restricted diets, e.g. gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home. It is extremely important that you let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.

Money

Currency: The national currency of Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). US dollars are accepted in most places and should be used in country.

Credit cards: Major credit cards are sometimes accepted at larger hotels. Other than that, their use is limited and are not generally accepted in restaurants, shops etc. Bring enough money and do not carry all your cash on you. Cash point machines, which allow the use of Visa & MasterCard etc with a PIN, can be found at the airport and in the main towns (such as Nairobi), but are rare in smaller towns.

Spending money: You will not need a large amount of money during this trip. Somewhere in the region of £250-£300 in US dollars should be sufficient to cover presents, tips, drinks, and so on. Keep in mind that other than at the start and end of the challenge, you will be in the mountains away from any foreign exchanges or banks. We recommend that you carry cash. 

Tips: In Kenya, it is customary to tip your local staff. Although this is not compulsory, we should point out that it is expected and you should allow for this. It is also normal to give small tips in restaurants and to luggage porters. We recommend allowing between £40 and £60 (or US$70 and US$100) for the staff on Mount Kenya and this should be given to the challenge leader on the last day of the trek, who will distribute it among all of the support team. If you do want to give one member of staff an extra tip, please also leave this until the end and allocate this on top of the recommended tipping amount.

Phone and Wifi

There is Wi-Fi at the hotels at the beginning and end, but not on the mountain.  Phone signal is available in town, but virtually non-existent on the mountain.

There is no opportunity to recharge any electrical equipment during the trek, but if you want to bring a solar charger these can work well to charge phones.  There are charge points in your rooms at the hotel.

Pre existing medical conditions

We do not professionally vet your medical details. Please assess for yourself whether you are fit and able to take on the challenge. Please review the detailed Trip Notes and itinerary to get a better idea of what is involved. Please speak to your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns about taking part. If you think that there are things we can do to make the challenge more accessible/comfortable for you, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will then let you know if we can accommodate your request.

Medical Support

First Aid qualified staff & expedition medic will be provided with the medical details that you give on your booking form but please note that they are on the challenge to support with medical matters related to the challenge environment and terrain itself, i.e. heat/cold, high altitude and so on. They will deal with any incidents and accidents (cuts, sprains, breaks and so on). They are not intended to continue any ongoing specialist medical care that you receive in the UK for pre-exiting medical conditions, and should not be assumed to have any professional experience of your specific medical condition.

If you have any specific needs around pre-existing medical conditions, you should discuss with your family doctor or specialist in advance and can discuss any advice given by them with the challenge leader or doctor.