The 1 Peak 1 Week Kenya Challenge aims to raise funds to support and to implement a range of projects focused on the promotion and advancement of women and girls through education, health, community-led conservation and micro-enterprise. Climb Africa’s second highest peak, Mt Kenya, and experience the beauty of the Loisaba Wilderness, and support women-led development initiatives.

This years challenge is being held on 1st -9th October.

www.peaksfoundation.org/

The Mount Kenya '10 to 4' is a downhill mountain bike race and fun ride, orgnised by Executive Officer of the Mount Kenya Trust and a small but dedicated committee. The event is held annually to raise funds for local communities and conservation efforts on Mount Kenya. The race begins at the edge of the Mount Kenya National Reserve boundary at an elevation of over 10,000 ft and finishes in dry savannah country below on the Laikipia plains at approximately 4,000 ft. There is now a new event day called the ’10 to 4 Hardcore’ aimed at elite Kenyan cyclists and the very fit and experienced. We particularly welcome overseas entrants to try the new 2-day event.

The 2011 2-Day event results and photos can now be found on the 10 to 4 Website: www.10to4.org. Dates for the 2012 event are 17th and18th February 2012 and info and entries will be available from October 2011.

The proceeds of the 10 to 4 Mountain Bike Challenge are divided between community schools and projects in the vicinity of the 10 to 4 route, and the Mount Kenya Trust. Participants can compete for a range of prizes and also get to experience one of Africa’s most stunning landscapes in an entirely unique way.

For inquires about taking part in the event both locally and from overseas please send an email to Susie Weeks: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Location

Located on the northern foothills of Mount Kenya is the 5300 hectare indigenous Ngare Ndare Forest, with red cedar, podo - measuring over 7 meters in circumferance, greenheart, and mugumo (fig). Is a safe haven for large mammals including elephant, and a paradise for monkeys, birds and butterflies.

There are also black rhino in the forest which are under constant surveillance. In the past, there was free movement of wildlife between the Mt Kenya forest and Laikipia / Samburu, and the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust is working to re-establish a wildlife corridor.

Description

An impressive game viewing platform has been built 25 feet high amongst the fruiting mugumo trees, where groups of Hartlaub's Turaco gather. The platform overlooks a natural swamp fed by an underground spring, where a variety of unique vegetation grows including Phoenix palms, giant cycads and wild flowers. Here elephants and buffalo come to drink. The platform is an ideal picnic and sundowner spot, and on clear starry nights - a fantastic place to sleep. Below is plenty of space to set up a campsite.

Accommodation/Facilities:

• Water is available from the spring
• Firewood can be collected
• Temporary toilets need to be dug and covered before departure
• Good Safaricom mobile phone signal
• Day-time rangers are on hand to guide visitors on all walks and to help in the campsite
• Night-time watch man is available

Walking, hiking & biking: The forest has several walking trails, and scenic picnic spots. Only an hours walk from the platform is a hidden waterfall - ideal for a quick dip. There are opportunities for hiking up Simangwa Hill, rewarded by views across the vast Laikipia plain. Old forest roads are ideal for mountain biking, however advice on the whereabouts of elephant and buffalo must be sought before heading out. Local guides must accompany visitors on all walks and hikes.

Cultural Interaction: The community have received funds from the Tourism Trust Fund to develop a cultural boma at Manyangalo Village, which will display artefacts from different tribes living in the area, including Maasai, Boran, Kikuyu and Meru.

Access / Directions:

• Located 36kms from Nanyuki (approx 1-hour). 4-wheel drive vehicle necessary in the rainy season
• Head north on the Nanyuki - Meru road through Timau town - 28kms
• One km after Timau turn left on a dirt road marked with several signs - including one for Tassia / Il N'gwesi
• Go through Ethi town after another 10kms
• Reach an electric elephant fence less than one km
• From the fence to the right hand turning leading to the campsite is another 3.2kms
• Follow the track to the platform parking area (1.2kms)

Location

Situated on 50 acres along the Ngobit River with a 1 km frontage, surrounded by dry olive and cedar forest and relics of riverine forest trees with views of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares.

Description

The Lodge was originally built in the early 1960’s as a Club and has now been carefully restored maintaining its original character. The spacious Club facilities make it an ideal venue for groups while smaller parties will find Colobus House equally comfortable.

Accommodation/Facilities: The lodge has 6 twin en-suite cottages, with a centrally located lounge, dining room and kitchen. There is Colobus House – a self catering facility for families or a small groups, with a lounge/dining room and fireplace; 3 bedrooms (7 beds), 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and verandah.

Lodge: KShs. 15,000 per night for cottages and clubhouse (12 beds)
Colobus House: KShs. 10,000 per night (7 beds)

Activities:

• Walking and brid watching along the riverbank, or guided walks within the surrounding hills. There is easy access to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Aberdare National Park and Solio Ranch.

Access: By Road - 4WD recommended at all times but necessary during wet season. From Naro Moru town – approximately 1 hour.

Booking and Contact details:

Ngobit River Lodge,

P.O. Box 24983, 00502, Nairobi

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 0735099932/0733613744

Location

Rutundu Log Cabins are situated on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, at 10,200 feet, just above the forest line. In total privacy, these log cabins are positioned overlooking Lake Rutundu, surrounded by alpine country, a home for unique bird life and vegetation.

Description

Rutundu is not only a nature lover’s paradise, but is also an ideal spot for fishermen and hikers. The cabins are built in original ‘log cabin’ style with moss filling the gap between logs and bitumen roofing; and rustic interior, furnished with sheepskin rugs.

Accommodation/Facilities: Accommodation consists of two log cabins, with open fires, en-suite bathrooms and flush toilets. One room is attached to the sitting/dining area, verandah and kitchen. The other is separate from the main building. Rutundu can accommodate four people comfortably, but has a sleeping capacity of eight.

Hosted By: A dynamic team of staff, trained in cooking, house keeping, guiding and fishing, look-after Rutundu guests...

Activities:

• Both Lake Rutundu and Lake Alice (12,200 feet) are privately stocked with Rainbow Trout, and provide excellent opportunities for fishing. The average catch is 2 to 3 Ibs, but a 6 pounder is not unusual!
• Nearby, a crystal clear river runs through the Kizita gorge with small brown trout for the keen fisherman.
• There is a beautiful walk around Lake Alice, through Giant Groundsel and Heather forests. In contrast to this moorland terrain, the Cedar and Podo forest, below Rutundu, provides lovely walks and picnic sites.
• Riding from a farm at the foot of the mountain to the cabins on polo ponies can be arranged.

Optional Extras: Scenic flights and riding. Catering option available.

Closed Season: Open all year round.

Access: Almost a three hour drive from the tarmac turnoff on the Nanyuki Meru road, by private charter flight to Rutundu airfield, or on horse back.

Location

Mukima is a 15 minute drive from Nanyuki. The house stands on a 350 acre triangle, which was once a cedar forest. Evidence of the age and size of the forest can be seen in the timbers of which the house is built. There are clear views of Mount Kenya and the Loldaiga Hills from all corners of the property. An electric fence, patrolled by a group of Samburu warriors, protect the land and its replanted forest of 20,000 hardwood trees from the cattle and goats that were overgrazing and causing erosion. Trails have been cut through the bush, which are safe to walk and enjoy the birds, plants and insects.

Accommodation/Facilities: The double story house has 6 spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms (3 doubles and 3 twins). It can comfortably accommodate 6 couples, and extra beds can be added for children. It also comprises of a lounge, study, games room, TV room, kitchen and dining room with French windows that open on to the front lawn. Verandas surround the house on 2 sides. There is a pool with its own pool house, sauna and massage room, as well as a tennis court. The house is let out on a full board basis.

Hosted by/The Team: Mukima House has a resident manager and a full team of staff including guides, chefs, room stewards and security guards.

Activities:

Game drives to neighbouring reserves including Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Solio Game Reserve

• Game drives onto the neighbouring Lolldaiga Hills
• Fishing trips on Mount Kenya
• Horse riding
• Bird watching and nature walks
• Swimming in the pool, crocket on the lawns

Optional Extras: Catering, visits to game parks, trout fishing, horse riding, massage.

Seasons: Open all year round

Access: By vehicle from Nanyuki town is 20 minutes. The murram road is rough and 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended, especially in rainy seasons.

The Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary opened in 1993. Lonrho Africa, the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) established a facility to receive and provide sanctuary and housing to an original group of 3 chimps orphaned at a young age by the bush-meat trade. With the evacuation of the JGI facility in Bujumbura due to civil war breaking out in Burundi, the chimps were brought to Sweetwaters. In 1995, 9 older chimpanzees arrived, followed at the beginning of 1996 by 10 younger chimpanzees.

The Sanctuary is partitioned into two parts, with the river acting as a natural border between the two groups. The eastern side of the sanctuary is 96 acres and home to the older group while the western side is 151 acres and home to the younger group. The sole objective of the sanctuary is to provide a safe, secure and permanent refuge for theses chimpanzees in an environment that is as natural as possible.

Owing to the ongoing destruction of the West African rainforest and continued demand for bush-meat, Sweetwaters is compelled to continue accepting new orphaned and abused chimpanzees. The sanctuary now holds 40 chimpanzees with 16 fully qualified staff taking care of them day and night.

The annual cost of taking care of each chimpanzee is approximately $6000. Any contributions we receive help us to give these chimpanzees the life they deserve.

If you would like to help the chimpanzees, Ol Pejeta now offer 2 new improved adoption packages available to people visiting The Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The money from these adoption packages and any donations goes toward the feeding, housing and care of the chimpanzees.

This cave is located at the foothills of Mt. Kenya, in Naru-Moru forest block of Mt.kenya forest reserve. The precise location of the cave is 19.5km from Munyu junction on Nairobi-Nanyuki road, which is 11km from Kiganjo Police College junction. It is 200m right of Narumoru forest station towards Nairobi River. The adjacent Nairobi River is 200m down the steep valley on whose slopes the cave is situated.

From the Munyu junction visitors encounter vast tracts of ranching farms in this savannah range land. As one gets to the first shopping centre, one experiences a rapid change in both altitude and livelihoods. From the shopping centre on farmlands change to small-scale subsistence farming with a mixture of horticultural production. The roadside vegetation is characterized by thick undergrowth of green plants which indicates soil fertility. The forest reserve is a mixture of plantation and indigenous forests occasionally interrupted by green carpeted grass openings. The location of these caves is spectacular. Since they are mostly concealed by undergrowth and indigenous trees which include olive oak, cedar, they are easy to miss without guide.

The cave was discovered in 1953 by the Mau Mau freedom fighters that were fighting the British colonial government. This was after the declaration of emergency in 1952. Later in 1953, British soldiers captured and forcefully extracted information on the location of the hideout from the captives. This led to the attempted bombing of the cave which missed target and struck 200m away. The bombing however slightly destroyed the opening of the smaller cave while the main cave remained intact. This evidence is still intact to date. The Mau Mau forces left the hideout after that incident. Many years after independence, the cave was gazetted in 2003 by the museums of Kenya and was declared a national monument.

Million of years ago, the caves were formed through volcanic eruption of Mt. Kenya resulting to cooling of lava hence forming cave sediment rocks.

This cave has a significant place in the history of Kenya, and more so the history of the struggle for independence. They were used as military bases by the Mau Mau war heroes. Besides serving as a hideout, all freedom war plans were made and executed from these caves. The cave served as a workshop for home-made riffles and other military equipment, storage for stolen ammunitions, foodstuffs and other ordinances.

Attractions;

• Primate life; the indigenous forest acts as a habitat to primate life especially Columbus monkeys.
• Birds life; a variety of birds are found in the forests surrounding the caves.
• Vegetation; Narumoru forest consists of natural vegetation (a canopy of indigenous trees such as olive oak, cedar, wild fruits and wild flowers).
• River; Nairobi River is 200m down the steep valley where the cave is located.
• The cave: The cave is a clear evidence of volcanic activity that occurred many years back as well as a testimony of the local struggle for independence from colonial rule and domination

Fact File:

Altitude:

Distance: 19.5km from Munyu junction to the forest. Aproxx 40kms from Nyeri Town.

Climate: Cool climate

Location: Narumoru forest at the foothills of Mt. Kenya.

Gazzetted: Year 2003

Access by road: Passable murram road from Munyu junction to Narumoru forest.

Vegetation: From the Munyu junction visitors encounter vast tracts of farms in this savannah range land. The forest reserve is a mixture of plantation and indigenous forests occasionally interrupted by green carpeted grass openings.

Birds: A variety of birds found in the forest.

Light: Bring torch.

Open: all year around.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy – a 90,000-acre private wildlife conservancy – is situated on the equator, in Kenya’s Laikipia District, between the foot hills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy boasts an astounding variety of animals, including the “Big Five” (the endangered black and white rhino , leopard, elephant, buffalo and lion), Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, cheetah and chimpanzee.
The combination of amazing wildlife and stunning views across the open plains of Ol Pejeta guarantees an unforgettable safari experience. As a safe and secure private sanctuary, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy can guarantee a hassle-free safari experience with amazing wildlife viewing on good all-weather roads. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is only 1 and a half hours drive from Nyeri and welcomes day visitors. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s main gate is 14 kilometers from the equator turn off, just before Nanyuki town. Visitors to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy will pay a conservation fee for each day spent inside the Conservancy which includes a visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Gates open at 7am and all vehicles must leave the Conservancy by 7pm.
If you are staying at one of their five facilities, the conservation fees are usually included in your safari package. The revenues generated by visitors are used in support of our conservation and community outreach activities.
It is owned by John and Jane Kenyon took over the management of Ol Pejeta in 1949 when it was owned by Lord Delamere and together they spent the next 15 years developing the ranch.