Mount Kenya straddles the equator in central Kenya, roughly 193 kilometers north of Nairobi. Most visitors arrive by taking a matatu or private 4x4 to Nanyuki or Chogoria, then hiring local transport to reach the park gates.
Mount Kenya National Park, Nanyuki, Kenya
Start at Nairobi's Nyamakima or Tea Room terminals. Matatus (shared minibuses) and long-distance buses depart daily for towns ringing the mountain, including Nanyuki, Chogoria, Embu, and Meru. Expect a four to five-hour ride from the city. Fares run about KES 700-1,000 for the trip to Nanyuki. Heading east to Chogoria costs KES 900-1,200 under the 2025 rates. These vehicles drop you at the local bus stages, not at the park boundary. You have to arrange onward transport to the gates.
Driving cuts the transit time from Nairobi down to three or four hours. The route depends on your entry point. Naro Moru Gate sits 188 kilometers north along the Nyeri-Nanyuki road. Sirimon Gate requires a 200-kilometer drive off the Nanyuki-Meru highway. Eastern access via Chogoria Gate is roughly 210 kilometers up the Embu-Meru road. Rent a 4x4. The final stretches to the gates are unpaved and turn muddy fast in wet weather. A private car holding up to six people costs KES 600 per 24 hours at the gate. Park speed limits are strictly capped at 40 km/h.
Scheduled and charter flights leave Wilson Airport in Nairobi and land at the Nanyuki commercial airstrip. The flight covers the 193-kilometer distance in 40 to 50 minutes. This is the closest commercial strip to Mount Kenya. You cannot fly directly into the park itself. Lodges and trekking companies usually arrange road transfers waiting at the airstrip to cover the final distance to the Sirimon or Naro Moru gates. Flights save hours of highway travel, making this the best choice for a tight itinerary.
Public transit does not enter Mount Kenya National Park. If you arrive in Nanyuki by matatu or plane, you need a local taxi, a hired vehicle, or a pre-arranged lodge transfer to reach the boundary. The drive to Naro Moru or Sirimon gates takes 30 to 60 minutes. Boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) run these local routes, but a car is safer and keeps your trekking gear dry. Negotiate the local fare before leaving town. Once at the gate, remember that cash is no longer accepted; all entry fees require advance digital payment via KWSPay.
Private vehicles pay a KES 600 entry fee per 24 hours to park directly at the gate ranger stations. Local taxis and boda-bodas from Nanyuki drop hikers right at Sirimon or Naro Moru gates. Both locations feature paved access roads and wheelchair-friendly facilities.
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| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi (Nyamakima or Tea Room terminals) | Matatu or long-distance bus | 4-5 hours | KES 700-1,000 to Nanyuki; KES 900-1,200 to Chogoria | Buses drop you in Nanyuki or Chogoria town. You will need a local taxi for the final stretch to the park gates. |
| Nairobi (Wilson Airport) | Scheduled or charter flight | 40-50 minutes | Varies by operator | Lands at Nanyuki's commercial airstrip. Have your trekking company arrange onward road transport to the gates. |
| Nairobi (City Center) | Private 4x4 | 3-4 hours | Fuel plus KES 600 daily vehicle entry fee | Head 188 km north to Naro Moru Gate or 200 km to Sirimon Gate. Bring a 4x4 for the access roads, which turn muddy in wet weather. |
| Nanyuki Town | Local taxi or boda-boda | 30-60 minutes | Local taxi fares apply | Public transit does not enter the park. Grab a taxi or boda-boda in town to reach the western gates. |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Road transfer | 1-1.5 hours | Varies | Drive back through Nanyuki or Naro Moru to access the mountain's western approach routes. |
Park gates don't accept cash. You must book your entry, camping, and climbing permits through eCitizen's KWSPay platform before arriving. Double-check the rates when booking, since a recent fee hike to USD 70 for non-residents is tied up in court.
Public transit won't take you straight into the park. Catch a matatu from Nairobi's Nyamakima terminal to Nanyuki for about KES 700 to KES 1,000. Once in town, hire a local taxi or boda-boda for the final 30 to 60-minute drive to Sirimon or Naro Moru gates.
The trails turn into a miserable slog during the long rains from March to May and the short rains in November. That's especially true on the Naro Moru route, where the notorious Vertical Bog becomes a thigh-deep mud trap. Book your trek between January and March or July and October for firmer ground.
Plan your final push to Point Lenana between 3:00 and 6:30 AM. Weather and visibility are most stable before dawn. Afternoon clouds and fog roll in fast, quickly obscuring the jagged spires of Batian and Nelion.
Mount Kenya National Park is a strict plastic-free zone. Leave single-use water bottles and bags behind, and pack biodegradable soap for washing. Rangers will turn you back at the gate if you show up without a KWS-licensed guide.
Matatus and long-distance buses leave daily from Nairobi's Nyamakima or Tea Room terminals to towns near the park gates. The ride takes 4 to 5 hours, with 2025 fares costing roughly KES 700 to 1,000 for Nanyuki and KES 900 to 1,200 for Chogoria. From these towns, you'll need a local taxi to reach the actual park entrances.
Naro Moru Gate is the closest approach, sitting 188 km from Nairobi along the Nyeri-Nanyuki road. Sirimon Gate is slightly further at 200 km off the Nanyuki-Meru Road, while Chogoria Gate is about 210 km north on the Embu-Meru Road. The drive generally takes 3 to 4 hours.
Scheduled and charter flights run from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to the commercial airstrip in Nanyuki. The flight takes 40 to 50 minutes. Since the airstrip is outside the park, you have to arrange onward road transport with your lodge or trekking company to reach the gates.
A 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended for the access roads leading to the gates, especially during wet weather. While the main highways from Nairobi are paved, the final stretches into the park involve rougher terrain.
The 2025 vehicle entry fee is KES 600 per 24 hours for a private car with up to six seats. Larger vehicles pay more, scaling up to KES 5,000 for buses with over 45 seats. You must pay this fee digitally in advance using the KWSPay platform on eCitizen, as the gates do not accept cash.
No direct public transit connects into the park itself. Matatus will only get you as far as base towns like Nanyuki, Naro Moru, or Chogoria. From there, you must hire a local taxi, take a boda-boda, or use arranged lodge transport for the 30 to 60-minute ride to the gates.
Sirimon, Naro Moru, and Chogoria gates allow entry and exit between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily. Night movement is prohibited without prior written approval from the Kenya Wildlife Service. Overnight climbers and campers are the only exception to the evening gate closure once inside.
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