A five-day non-summit Mount Kenya journey centred on Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson, with unhurried camping, high-altitude scenery and two dedicated fly-fishing days.
This itinerary is for travellers who want to experience Mount Kenya’s lakes without a pre-dawn summit push. The pace creates time to fish, explore the shoreline and settle into camp while the Chogoria landscape rises around you.
At a glance
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Route: Chogoria, Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson
- Summit: No summit attempt
- Focus: Camping, lake walking and fly fishing
- Start and finish: Nairobi
Why choose this journey?
This is a slower way to experience the mountain: two lake camps, no summit deadline and time set aside for fishing and shoreline exploration. The journey follows the Chogoria side and is best understood alongside our guide to Mount Kenya’s lakes, tarns and valleys.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Nairobi to Lake Ellis
Travel from Nairobi to the Chogoria side and continue by 4×4 into the park. Trek to Lake Ellis and settle into a fully supported camp beside one of Mount Kenya’s most scenic accessible lakes.
Day 2 — Full day at Lake Ellis
Spend a full day at Lake Ellis. Fish under the permissions arranged for the itinerary, walk around the lake or simply enjoy camp and the changing light across the moorland. The day also provides gentle acclimatisation before moving higher.
Day 3 — Lake Ellis to Lake Michaelson
Leave Lake Ellis and trek deeper into the Chogoria side towards Lake Michaelson, set beneath the cliffs of the Gorges Valley. Camp near the lake and enjoy the quiet of the upper mountain.
Day 4 — Full day at Lake Michaelson
Remain at Lake Michaelson for a full day of camping, fishing and local exploration. The cliffs and high valley give this day a distinctly remote character without the demands of a summit schedule.
Day 5 — Lake Michaelson to Chogoria Bandas and Nairobi
Descend from Lake Michaelson to the Chogoria Bandas area, meet the vehicle and return to Nairobi.
Pricing per person
| Group size | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 guest | USD 1,800 |
| 2 guests | USD 1,500 per person |
| 3+ guests | USD 1,300 per person |
Included
- Guaranteed departure upon confirmation
- Private Nairobi–Mount Kenya return transport
- 4×4 transfers inside the park
- Full-board meals during the journey
- Fully supported lake camps
- Mount Kenya park fees and the fishing permissions required for the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking guide, mountain cook and porter team
- Boiled, safe drinking water daily
- Dining mess tent with table and seating
Not included
- Nairobi accommodation before or after the journey
- Fishing rods, tackle and waders unless agreed in your proposal
- Sleeping bag and personal trekking equipment; hire can be arranged
- Laundry, beverages and personal expenses
- International flights and visas
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Fishing, food and camp support
Sport fishing on Mount Kenya is regulated. Wilderness Alternative confirms the current park and fisheries permissions before departure, and fishing is always subject to local rules, weather and lake conditions; catches are never guaranteed. Fresh meals are prepared by our mountain cook, dietary requirements are catered for with advance notice, and the guide, cook and porter team manage the camp and treated drinking water throughout.
For preparation, equipment and altitude advice, read our Mount Kenya planning guide.
Plan your lake journey
Tell us your dates, group size, fishing experience and whether you will bring your own tackle. We will confirm the current permissions, camp plan and equipment arrangements for your departure.
Start a conversation
Enquire about 5-Day Mount Kenya Lakes & Fly-Fishing Journey
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.
