Mount Kenya

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The Mount Kenya massif (also Mount Kenya, in the language of the Maasai Kirinyaga and Kinyaa " black-and- white mountain" ) is with 5199 meters is the second highest mountain in Africa. Its center is located about 15 km south of the equator in Kenya.

In 1997, the unique landscape of the Mount Kenya massif of UNESCO was - says World Natural Heritage - 2013 by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy extended.

  • 6.1 Highest peaks
  • 6.2 Climbing

Geography

The Mount Kenya massif is located about 140 km north-east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. There is approximately in the center of the country in the Mount Kenya National Park. While the terrain to the east drops across the Tana to the still distant Indian Ocean back, it's all about in the Kenyan highlands and the dry savanna, especially to the west.

Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park encloses the central Mount Kenya massif from about 3200 m altitude. Purpose of around 715 km ² national park is to protect the landscape and the flora and fauna and to preserve it for the future.

Landscape

After Kilimanjaro ( 5895 m), located about 325 km to the south, and in front of the Ruwenzori Mountains ( 5109 m), which lies 810 km to the west, is the Mount Kenya massif with the Batian ( 5199 m ), its highest peak, the second of the three highest peaks of eastern Africa, and thus the entire continent dar. He is one of the few places on or near the equator, where there is always snow and ice is.

The regions between its highest, often pointed soaring peaks are light and from 4700 m glaciated more from 4300 m in height; particular wells and gently sloping hills are heavily glaciated. The largest of the eight glaciers on Mount Kenya massif called Gregory and Lewis ( between Nelion and Point Lenana ) and Tyndall ( between Batian Point Pigott ). You lose for decades in size, which is due to the decrease of rainfall and global warming.

The tree line is at about 3500 m; above it extends a lush vegetation of tall grass, shrubs and bushes, which extends to approximately 4000 m. The rocky massif is also home to firn and snow fields, mountain rivers, waterfalls and mountain lakes that have formed with crystal clear water in the former volcanic craters.

Because very often accumulate in the high mountain regions of the massif clouds, which usually leads to severe and prolonged rainfall, a narrow strip could develop Tropical Rainforest located on its slopes. Therefore, the massif looms as a green island from the East African dry savannah, perched on the majestic towering peaks.

Geology

The Mount Kenya massif is located on the East African continental plate, the east of the Great African grave breach is located, it is removed from the per year by about two inches, so that the trench is getting wider, so that the solid when the drift motion permanently continues, will probably be in a few million years on a new continental plates in the Indian Ocean.

The volcanic massif located on the eastern edge of the Rift Valley, so the Kenyan part of the running in a southeasterly direction tributary of the East African grave breach. When this diversion began to split, formed about 3.5 million years ago at its edges and in its sole numerous volcanoes, including the Mount Kenya massif with its chimneys. Henceforth, the center of the Kirinyaga was for about two million years an active fire mountain - a volcano that has once reached more than 7000 m height.

Deep craters holes that have been filled with lakes or are superimposed on the ice of the glacier, some lava flows and several remaining tower and pyramid-like summit, which are still up to 5199 m high, which bear witness to this activity and former mountain height. While the softer or more porous rocks eroded over millions of years, the latter hard cores remained fairly well preserved. Because the volcano erupted not over several millennia, and scientific studies have shown that probably has not the potential for further outbreaks, it is considered extinct fire mountain.

History, research

Name interpretation and Godhead

The local Kikuyu and Kamba call the gigantic Mount Kenya massif Kirinyaga and Kinyaa what means " shining mountain". This gave the country the English name of Kenya. The massif is still regarded as the throne of the Ngai wa Kirinyaga (God of Kirinyaga ).

Discovery

The ice-covered Mount Kenya massif in 1849 for the western world "discovered ": The German missionary and African explorer Johann Ludwig Krapf was the first European who saw the mountain range with its snow and ice covered peaks. On his return, he reported from the white stuff at the equator. The message of the "Snow on the Equator " was dismissed as a hallucination and confirmed until 1883 by British explorer Joseph Thomson.

First ascent

The first ascent of the highest peak of the massif, the Batian 1899 the British succeeded Sir Halford Mackinder, Cesar Ollier and Joseph with Brocherel.

20th century

During the Mau Mau Uprising ( 1952-1957 ), who was strongly supported by the Kikuyu, hid in his impenetrable forests of the freedom fighters. One of her cave accommodation can still be seen south of Nanyuki today.

Mountains

Highest summit

The Mount Kenya massif, which is about 90 km long and 55 km wide, consists in its center, to the south about 10 km long and from east is about 15 km wide from north to west, mostly from sharp -pointed peaks, the majestic tower over the landscape of central Kenya. The massif has Batian ( 5199 m), Nelion ( 5189 m) and Lenana ( 4985 m) three main peaks, which bear the names of important Maasai chiefs. Almost all the peaks of the Massif Central are above the snow line; the regions between the highest peaks are heavily glaciated.

  • Batian ( 5199 m)
  • Nelion ( 5189 m)
  • Lenana ( 4985 m)
  • Pigott ( 4958 m)
  • Top Hat ( 4790 m)
  • Tereri ( 4715 m)
  • Sendeyo ( 4705 m)
  • Midget ( 4701 m)
  • Minte 's Hut ( 4297 m)

Mountaineering

The Mount Kenya massif can be considered as visitor-friendly mountain: on one hand lead numerous streets from all directions up to about 3000 m to the massive zoom, so a mountain tour with some height projection can be addressed. On the other hand, begin in the valley about 30 different ways, the first run through the beautiful Afro- alpine rainforest to meet in the higher regions gradually. There are light and heavy ascent routes. Currently, the three default routes to the rise of the Naro Moru route that Sirimon route and Chogoria route. Even otherwise, the mountain scenery is well developed for tourism, so that there are several camps and lodges are in his immediate environment in which to sleep. There you can acclimatize to tackle an " expedition " in the center of the massif.

Because of the high humidity ( see this and travel time of less " air " ), and the tropical heat that dominate especially in the lower and middle mountain regions, and the cold on the peaks is an ascent of the mountain quite a strenuous task: Including acclimatization should be scheduled for approximately five to seven days. To avoid altitude sickness after this familiarization, only low altitude should be overcome per day or Stage: If the weather cooperates and the ground allows a fairly rapid ascent, the summit region including return can to within two to three days ( 2 nights the mountain ) be defeated.

On a clear day, the view of the wide variety of peaks in the fertile plains surrounding the mountain range, or up to the extensive dry savannahs and deserts that are in the area - especially further north - Connect.

An ascent of the highest peak is more difficult than that of the higher by 696 m Kilimanjaro. Locals leaders can help to overcome the trails and paths and the local support available for the transport of the equipment. Climbing paths lead down to the two main peaks ( Batian and Nelion ), which should only be reached by mountaineers with the condition that the necessary and appropriate equipment and high-mountain experience, because there are glacial fields and rock walls are overcome. The main peak can be climbed on different routes of UIAA difficulty levels from IV to VIII. At the secondary peaks, there are also several rock routes from III to VIII and the whole massif there ( ie not free gekletterte ) technical rock routes.

Hikers in good physical condition and suitable equipment [ among other weatherproof high mountain clothes, backpack, hiking boots, vitamin-rich food, enough water, land and hiking maps, sleeping bag, tent, money ( for payment of any guides, porters and National Park entrance ) ] can climb to the third highest peak ( Lenana ) dare, because on the way there are indeed to climb steep paths and snow fields, but not rock faces and glaciers. Technically, this is no more than a grueling, multi-day alpine tour. Nevertheless, at this point noted that every year many accidents - even fatal - happened because the solid has its pitfalls; many climbers and hikers overestimate their abilities.

For the climbing you have not pre-book from Europe. You may at any time one of the many - visit local companies and book directly (eg in Nanyuki ) - even smaller. All the major hotels offer direct booking options, such as the Sportsman's Arms in Nanyuki. The room rates are around 40 €. If the British army but just once again conquered the hotel and the city ( the British headquarters is located near here ), it can be sensitive to loud. The booking site can be cheaper by up to half, ie around 70 Euros per day including everything ( ie guides, porters, food, transportation to the park entrance or to the Met station, etc., hut accommodation and meal preparation on the mountain ). ( :; Students about half of 55 U.S. dollars per 24 hours for 1 adult 2011) In addition, only comes to the park entrance. More expensive and tourist, but all around best-supplied with rental possibilities and also to the last scarf, for example, the Naro Moru River Lodge offers in the same location on the west side of the mountain.

Flora and Fauna

The Mount Kenya massif represents an important, abundant and species- rich habitat dar. for the African Flora and Fauna

Flora

Due to the tropical - humid high mountain air a unique flora has evolved to thrive in the countless species of plants not only in the lower mountain areas. Many of them have a magnificent stature - they are usually larger than elsewhere. Much like on Kilimanjaro surrounded the foot of the massif fertile fields and meadows: there beans, corn, coffee and tea are cultivated. In the relatively dry climate of the western flank of cattle breeding. The upper limit of the Afro alpine forest is approximately 3000 m to 3500 m in height; the area above 3200 m above sea level belongs to Mount Kenya National Park. In predominates rather loosened fouling, which is gradually replaced by screes and from about 4300 m altitude of the glacier areas.

  • Bamboo forests
  • Tree heath
  • Bültgras
  • Ferns
  • Weave
  • Heather
  • St. John's wort ( head-high shrubs )
  • Conifers
  • Kosobäume
  • Ragwort ( 4.5 to 5 m high)
  • Lobelia
  • Moose
  • Olive trees
  • Orchids
  • Páramoheide ( thrive 3500-4500 m)
  • Senezien
  • Tussock grass (several meters high)
  • Juniper
  • Cedars

Fauna

The mountainous hundreds of animal species that penetrate partly to the summit regions live.

  • Bongos
  • Bushbuck
  • Forest hogs
  • Colobus
  • Elephants - 1973 there were in the Mount Kenya National Park in 2500 copies, 1977, about 3000 and 1987, approximately 2,000 animals counted
  • Hyenas
  • African Buffalo
  • Rock Hyrax ( rock hyrax )
  • Klipspringer
  • Leopards
  • Vervet monkeys
  • Rhinos
  • Baboons
  • Ethiopia - eared owl

Climate

In the Mount Kenya massif dominates a tropical and humid climate, which is characterized by a very high humidity and large amounts of precipitation ( it rains on 200 days per year) is characterized so that transform the lower mountain slopes in mud slides. The annual rainfall varies from about 1000 mm on the northern slopes and 2200-3800 mm in the southeast. Because the evaporation through the moist, warm updrafts quite strong fails, the summits of the mountains are often enveloped by clouds. Tropical - moist weather prevails in the deeper areas and rather icy wet cold on the peaks.

January and February are the best months to the climb on the south side, the north side of this are August and September; then each one has the chance to gain a fairly dry weather in the otherwise tropical humid rainforest high mountain area.

Places

Among others, these places are located in or around the Mount Kenya massif:

  • Nyeri - place in the West
  • Naro Moru - place in the West, the most important place to rise
  • Nanyuki - town in the North West
  • Embu - place in the Southeast
  • Chogoria - Place in the East
  • Meru - place in the Northeast
  • Ena - place in the Southeast
Tana River (Kenya) Joseph Thomson (explorer) Heat wave Lichen Bryophyte Bongo (antelope) Black-and-white colobus African bush elephant Vertical draft Embu, Kenya Meru, Kenya
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