Mount Kenya lodges, huts and camps
On the routes of Mount Kenya you sleep in privately operated camps, in park lodging or in a tent. Before and after the trek you sleep in a town near your gate, so choose a base by the gate you will use.
Most trekkers let their operator handle the nights on the mountain. A guided Mount Kenya trek often covers the camps and huts along the route, and you then only choose where to stay before and after.
Huts and camps on the mountain
What the main places are.
| Place | Route | Type | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Moses | Sirimon | Privately operated | First camp, about 3,350 m |
| Shipton's Camp | Sirimon | Privately operated | About 4,250 m |
| Mackinder's Camp | Naro Moru | Privately operated | About 4,200 m |
| Met Station | Naro Moru | Privately operated | About 3,050 m |
| Sirimon Bandas | Sirimon | Park lodging | Reserve through the park or KWS reservations |
| Batian Guest House | – | Park lodging | Reserve through the park or KWS reservations |
| Liki North | Sirimon side | Camping area | Do not count on a bed |
| Mintos | Chogoria | Porters' hut | Plan to camp |
| Austrian Hut | Upper summit area | Hut | Ask your operator whether it is used |
| Howell Hut | Nelion summit | Bivouac hut | For climbers, built in 1970 |
Beds, meals, heating and rates at these places depend on the operator and the season, so ask for them when you book. For most trekkers, the simplest plan is a package that names every night on the route.
Our pick: a night in a tent or banda
This two-day guided walk includes a night in camp, a way to sleep on the mountain without a long trek.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mount Kenya treks with huts and camps
Guided treks that include the nights on the mountain, with prices, durations and availability.
Mount Kenya hotels near the gates
Choose a base by location.
Pick a hotel or lodge by where your trek starts. Nanyuki is the gateway for the Sirimon route and has a commercial airfield. Nyeri lies on the road toward Naro Moru and Nanyuki. Naro Moru and Chogoria are the other gate towns, for the Naro Moru and Chogoria routes.
Gates open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gate distances from Nairobi are about 200 km to Sirimon, 188 km to Naro Moru and about 210 km to Chogoria. Our getting there page covers the roads and flights.
Camping on Mount Kenya
Fees and rules for 2026.
Fees
Public camping costs non-residents $20 per adult and $15 per child per night. Special campsites cost $35 per adult and $20 per child. Kenya residents pay KES 300 for adults and KES 200 for children at public campsites, and citizens of Kenya and the EAC pay KES 200 and KES 150. Special campsites also carry a reservation fee of KES 10,000 per week.
Booking
Public campsites do not need a reservation in advance. That rule does not automatically apply to private huts, bandas or special campsites. Camping fees come on top of the daily park entry, see park fees.
Rules
Register when you enter and leave, take all your waste back out and do not bring single-use plastic water bottles. A porter may carry 25 kg at most.
What to ask before you book a night on the mountain
Packages differ more than the camps do.
A package can combine transfers, nights in huts or camps, meals, park entry, a guide, porters and a cook. Another may include only some of these. Ask what is covered, who pays the park fee and the camping fee, and whether the nights in towns before and after are part of the price.
Also ask which camp you sleep in each night, how the camp is heated, what bedding it provides and what happens if bad weather delays you by a day. These details are not fixed across operators and seasons, so get them in writing. Our park fees page shows which costs are charged by the park.
Plan the rest of your trip
Routes, season and access.
Mount Kenya lodges and huts: frequently asked questions
Are there lodges on Mount Kenya?
On the routes you find privately operated camps such as Old Moses, Shipton's, Mackinder's and Met Station, plus park lodging like the Sirimon Bandas and Batian Guest House. Hotels and lodges for the nights before and after sit in the towns near the gates.
Do I need to book huts in advance?
Public campsites do not need a reservation. Park lodging is reserved through the park or KWS reservations. For private camps, ask your operator.
What does camping cost on Mount Kenya?
In 2026 public camping costs non-residents $20 per adult and $15 per child per night, on top of the daily entry fee. Special campsites cost $35 and $20.
Can I sleep in a hut near the summit?
The Austrian Hut lies in the upper summit area, and the Howell Hut is a bivouac on Nelion. Whether they can be used on your dates is a question for your operator, so do not plan on a bed.
Where should I stay before the trek?
In a town near your gate: Nanyuki for Sirimon, Naro Moru or Chogoria. Gates open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., so a night in a base town lets you start in daylight.