Cross Mount Kenya from the lakes and escarpments of Chogoria to the open northern country of Sirimon, reaching Point Lenana at sunrise. Recover below the mountain, then continue into the Maasai Mara for three nights of private wildlife viewing. One Kenyan team plans the complete journey from your arrival in Nairobi to the final game drive.
Two landscapes. One carefully paced journey.
Mount Kenya needs patience. The Maasai Mara rewards it too. The first part of this journey is a five-day traverse through forest, high lakes, moorland and the volcanic valleys beneath Batian and Nelion. The second exchanges boots and cold mornings for open grassland, private guiding and time to watch rather than rush from sighting to sighting.
The change in landscape is dramatic, but the journey should still feel continuous. We manage the mountain crew, camp systems, equipment, recovery night, onward transport and safari planning as one operation. You speak to one team before you arrive instead of rebuilding the trip with separate suppliers.
This private Kenya adventure suits fit travellers who want a genuine high-altitude trek followed by a safari with enough time to settle into the Mara. We can shape it for a couple, friends, a family with older teenagers or a small private group.
Why put the mountain first?
The Chogoria approach deserves time
The Chogoria Route opens gradually through Lake Ellis, Gorges Valley and the high country around Minto’s. Point Lenana is the objective, but this is not a route where every day merely leads to the summit. The landscape changes as you climb, and each camp has its own character.
Recovery is part of the itinerary
We do not send you straight from summit morning into a long safari transfer. A proper night below the mountain gives time for a hot shower, a full meal, equipment repacking and sleep before the journey turns west.
The Mara is not an afterthought
Three nights give you two complete field days. That makes it possible to choose the National Reserve, Mara Triangle or a conservancy according to the season, wildlife movement and the sort of camp you prefer. The final base is selected for your journey rather than attached as a generic hotel name.
10-day Mount Kenya and Maasai Mara itinerary
Day 1 — Arrive in Nairobi
We meet you at the airport and transfer you privately to your hotel. The mountain briefing can happen this evening or the following morning, depending on your flight. We check equipment before leaving Nairobi so there is time to deal with anything missing.
Day 2 — Nairobi to Chogoria and the mountain edge
Drive towards the eastern side of Mount Kenya and meet the mountain crew. Road and weather conditions decide the exact vehicle drop-off point. From there, walk into camp at a measured pace. The first day is for finding a rhythm, not chasing altitude.
Day 3 — Into the Chogoria landscape
Climb through open moorland towards Lake Ellis. There is time in the afternoon to eat well, rest and take a short acclimatisation walk if conditions and the group allow. Guides watch how everyone is moving, drinking and responding to the height.
Day 4 — Lake Ellis to the upper Chogoria country
Continue above Gorges Valley through the broad eastern architecture of the mountain, moving towards the Minto’s area for a high camp beneath the final approach to Point Lenana. It is a beautiful day, but an important acclimatisation day too, so pace matters more than speed.
Day 5 — Point Lenana sunrise and descent to Shipton’s
Leave before dawn for Point Lenana at 4,985 metres. On a clear morning, first light reaches the central peaks and the plains far below. Descend on the northern side for breakfast and a quieter afternoon near Shipton’s Camp. The summit attempt always remains subject to weather, health and the lead guide’s judgement.
Day 6 — Sirimon descent and recovery below the mountain
Walk down through Mackinder Valley and the Sirimon Route, then transfer to comfortable accommodation below the mountain. Shower, recover and repack for safari. Nothing else needs to be squeezed into the evening.
Day 7 — Mount Kenya country to the Maasai Mara
Continue to the Mara by the most sensible road-and-air combination for your dates. We choose the connection carefully so the transition does not become an unnecessarily long day. If timing allows, arrive for a first field session before dinner.
Day 8 — A full day in the Mara
Spend the day with a private safari guide. The plan follows the season, recent wildlife movement and your interests rather than a fixed checklist. Breakfast or lunch can travel into the field when that creates a better day.
Day 9 — A second complete Mara day
Use the second full day to work a different area, wait longer at promising sightings and enjoy the quieter hours when many vehicles have returned to camp. A balloon flight or conservancy activities can be discussed where appropriate; neither is quietly added to the base quotation.
Day 10 — Final morning and return to Nairobi
Take a final early field session when departure timing permits, then fly or drive to Nairobi. We plan the connection around your international flight and give you a clear, safe schedule before the journey begins.
What is included
- Private airport welcome and journey transfers
- Nairobi arrival accommodation
- Mount Kenya park entry and permits
- Experienced mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Mountain meals, treated drinking water and shared camp systems
- Sleeping tents and the personal-equipment arrangements agreed before travel
- Recovery-night accommodation below Mount Kenya
- The agreed road or flight connection to the Maasai Mara
- Three nights of selected Mara accommodation
- Private safari vehicle and professional safari guide
- The reserve or conservancy fees listed in your quotation
- Return to Nairobi
- Pre-departure information and equipment guidance
What is not automatically included
- International flights, visas and travel insurance
- Personal trekking clothing and footwear
- Optional balloon safari
- Premium drinks and personal purchases
- Guide and crew gratuities
- Any item not listed in your written quotation
Who will look after you?
Wilderness Alternative is a Kenyan adventure company. We keep a permanent team of three guides and bring in trusted specialist guides, cooks, porters and safari professionals according to the route, group and season. We do not make a trip look bigger by pretending every professional we work with is a permanent employee. What matters is that the right people are chosen, briefed and responsible for their part of the journey.
The same care goes into the safari. It is planned with attention to guiding, timing and ground conditions rather than bought as an anonymous add-on. On the mountain, the lead guide has the final word on pace, route changes and whether a summit attempt is safe.
Is this journey right for you?
You do not need previous high-altitude experience, but you should be ready to train for consecutive walking days and discuss your trekking background honestly. This itinerary works especially well for couples, friends and private small groups who want the climb and safari handled as one journey.
Point Lenana is a high-altitude trekking objective, not a technical ascent of Batian or Nelion. Cold, rain, wind and altitude can still make the mountain demanding. We will send a practical preparation and equipment guide once dates are agreed.
Dates, accommodation and price
This is a private departure, so dates are agreed with you. The final price depends on group size, season, the Mara area and accommodation style, and whether the Mount Kenya–Mara connection is made by road, air or a combination of both. We would rather give you an honest, complete quotation than advertise a low figure that excludes important parts of the journey.
Questions travellers often ask
What is the best time to combine Mount Kenya and the Maasai Mara?
January to March and June to October are generally the most useful planning windows, but the right answer depends on the condition of the mountain, the Mara experience you want and your travel dates. We plan for the whole journey rather than choosing a month for one landscape and ignoring the other.
Can the itinerary be shorter?
It can be adjusted, but removing the recovery night or reducing the Mara to a rushed stop usually weakens the trip. If you have fewer days, ask us which part can change without compromising acclimatisation or turning the safari into a transfer exercise.
Can we choose a conservancy instead of the National Reserve?
Yes. We can compare the National Reserve, Mara Triangle and suitable conservancies once we know your dates, interests and accommodation level. The best choice is not the same for every traveller or season.
Can this be arranged for a family or private group?
Yes. We will look at ages, fitness, previous outdoor experience and room arrangements before recommending the final version. Families with older teenagers often value the contrast between a shared mountain objective and the slower days in the Mara.
Plan this private Kenya journey
Tell us your preferred dates, party size, previous trekking experience and the style of Mara camp you have in mind. We will reply with a sensible route, an honest price and the next practical step.
Start a conversation
Enquire about 10-Day Mount Kenya & Maasai Mara Private Adventure
Dates, group size and a rough idea are enough. Tell us where you would like to go and what matters most; we will reply with honest advice and a clear next step.
