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Take a Deserved Rest in Mount Kenya Region
Updated: Dec 5, 2023
If you happen to be a native born person from either Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Embu, Kamba or Meru County and you love your traditional culture, a honeymoon in one of the resorts surrounding Mount Kenya may just be the location to take a much deserved rest!
We have all seen Mount Kenya on postcards, on our bank notes and in print calendars. Have you ever stopped to wonder why this mountain is so important to our beloved country?
For starters, Mount Kenya is the secong highest mountain in Africa. Its highest peak, Batian, soars over 5,000m above sea level. A dormant volcanoe which is about three million years old, its fertile valleys support a diversity of plant and wild life. On its lower slopes are grasslands covering the 95 mile base of the mountain. These grasslands grow on the northern and western sides. Low trees and grass grown towards the south and eastern sides.
Further up the slopes of the mountain at about 1800 meters, dense forests cover the plains and fertile valleys. Cedar and yellowwood trees grow in this area. Bamboo grass predominates the land at 2400 meters. At 3400 meters you will see giant heather growing in the surrounding landscape. Afro-alpine vegetation is prolific at 3700 meters. At 4600 meters lichen grows in patches. Beyond 4600 meters bare rocks, glaciers, ice and snow make up a magnificent view.
Culturally connected Akikuyu, Amiiru, Akamba and Embu people once believed that Ngai (God) used to live up on the mountain. In days gone by, hut doors all used to face the mountain.
Gikuyu, the founding father of the Agikuyu tribe used to offer prayers and sacrifices on its lower slopes. This is where he found the ten (10) young men who later married his daughters. They became the founders of the Ten Tribes of the Agikuyu Clan. Kirinyaga is the name given to the mountain by the Agikuyu which means owner of the whiteness. This mountain is where Kenya got its name.
A large variety of animals call this area home. They are located in the Mount Kenya National Park and Reserve. Leopards, elephants, buffalo, black rhinos, water bucks, zebra and more than 100 bird species live here.
The best time of the year for a Kenyan couple to visit the Mount Kenya National Park and Reserve is during the low season from October - March. Temperatures then are much more favourable ranging from 18 - 27 degrees centrigrade, as opposed to 14 - 16 degrees centrigrade during the April - August cold season.
Recently married couples on their honeymoon are advised to carry a food basket with snacks. However, avoid carrying plastic water bottles. Keep your beverages in flasks. Wear comfortable rubber soled shoes, socks, a t-shirt or blouse and a pair of trousers. The evenings get chilly, so carry warm jumpers or warm coats to avoid catching colds or flus.
It is always advisable to visit the national parks in a covered vehicle, led by a tour guide or ground scout who is familiar with the park. He/she will know where the best animal viewing spots are located and the best time of the day to see them.
Accommodation is plentiful in the area, ranging from luxury hotels, to boutique campsites, budget hotels and hostels.
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