10th to 13th December : Engare Sero River / Ol Donyo Lengai

Plan:

Day 0 (Tuesday, November 30^th): Planning meeting at MCK club night: Numbers or participants, car pooling and shopping arrangements.

Day 1 (Friday, December 10^th): Meet at 9am at the KY-TZ border in Namanga. After border procedures take off from Namanga-Arusha road at Longido. Expect from there another 7 hours of rather demanding rocky road. Strong and reliable 4WD vehicles with high clearance, two spares and extra fuel are required (Don’t forget tools and yellow insurance card for TZ)! Arrival at the camp site at the Engare Sero River in the late afternoon.

Day 2 (Saturday): Slow start to leave for the Engare Sero River Gorge at 9 am. With packed lunch a 5-6 hr walk up-river with some scrambling. Bring clothes that can get dirty! We reach at the end at the majestic amphitheater where the River originates from and return to the camp in the early afternoon. Guides, if necessary, will be hired at the campsite.

Day 3 (Sunday): Early start at 2am with a 30 min drive to the western slope of Lengai. The climb takes 4-5 hours and we intend to reach the top by sunrise. It is a strenuous and steep, yet not technical climb. Good knees and/or hiking poles are highly recommended for this climb (and especially the descent, 2-3 hours). Return to the camp for lunch and optional trip to Lake Natron.

Day 4 (Monday): Leave camp in the morning to return to Nairobi.

Costs:

TZ visa (not applicable to KY citizens, apparently also waived since recently for KY residents, to be confirmed) 50 USD; camping fee 3x10 USD; conservation fee 30 USD; guiding and tipping 5 USD; pocket money for fuel, repairs, etc.; non-members Ksh 400/= per person/day temporary membership.

To bring:

Camping gear (tent, mat, sleeping bag), kitchen ware (stove, pots, utensils, etc.), hiking boots and appropriate clothing for the night ascent, sun protection, camera, passport, yellow insurance card, money, food, snacks, water

Registration deadline: November 28^th with Johannes (dietz.johannes@gmail.com)

Please note for all new club members that this is not a guided tour, but rather a group event which would require initiatives by all, which I am happy to coordinate.

30th November: Talk - The Himalayan Panorama by Satyabrata Dam

The only man on the planet to have led successful expeditions to the north and south poles and to Everest, Satyabrata Dam has summited Everest three times, climbed the seven summits, and has logged over 350 major summits around the globe - many of them first ascents and new routes. A retired Indian Navy submarine commander, he is a former Indian national yachting champion, has sailed around the world and walked across the African continent.

Satya’s true passion lies in the sport of extreme mountaineering - charting new routes, undertaking highly technical climbs and exploring unknown valleys. Applying his experience in some of the deepest, most remote corners of the world, he now works as a motivational speaker and writer and continues to lead mountaineering and other outdoor adventure expeditions. He is a member of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation’s Scientific Exploration Committee and is currently working with TERI (The Energy Resources Institute) Glacier Project Team. Satya also collaborates with Icelandic Glacier Studies on climate change and effects of global warming. He does all his own photography and writing and has written two coffee table books, one on the Poles and one on Everest.

Satya is a two-time recipient of the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) twice, the Chief of Naval Staff Commendation (twice), the Commander-in-Chief Commendation and the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award.

On November 30th supper night, Satyabrata will present: The Himalayan Panorama. A rare insight through the climbs and life of Satya into the real world of big mountains where he would take us into some of remotest and least explored areas of the biggest range of mountains in the world.

 

Show starts at 9:00pm, after supper! Please bring a dish to share and the more we have the greater the selection.

 

Charges for the dinner are 400/- for non members who have not brought a dish,  200/- for members who have not brought a dish, and for those that have brought a dish eat for free.  

Contact: "Miano Njoka" <mianonjoka@gmail.com> 

26th to 29th November : Mount Kenya Cleanup

Kenya Wildlife Services is hosting Mt. Kenya Clean Up, an initiative that MCK has been involved for many years.

Anyone who is interested in joining get back to Hiroko, sugimotohiroko@gmail.com by Nov. 19th (Friday)

 

If we have enough MCK members joining, we will negotiate with the organizer about the route and other issues.

 

This is a good opportunity to go up to Pt.Lenana or Mt. Kenya in general while contributing the preservation of its precious eco-systems.

DETAILS

26th to 28th November : Aberdares with Alex

We have been promised good ranger assistance by park management especially in the exploratory hike!

Friday 26th Nov: Hitchhike, take matatu, Car convoy or ride bicycle to Njabini Forest station overnight camp.

Saturday 27th Nov: Hike to the summit of Mt. Elephant. Day hikers than can decide to bag South Kinangop peak as well or leg it back to the forest station campsite before elephant close the trail. Adventurous and/or foolhardy strike out in goose-step March across the tussock grass to camp in the high plateau (4000 metres asl).

Sunday 28th Nov: Hikers continue with the March to rendezvous with the car at National Park trails near Karuru Falls.

Will need 2 cell groups of hikers to have the 2 different hiking options.

If interested please come to the club on Tuesday 23rd November as we'll then be finalizing on logistics. DO NOT wait to call me on Thursday night! Contact alextibwitta@alspride.com

29th January to 5th February 2011 : Mt. Kilimanjaro with Gathoni

Gathoni is climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 days / 5 nights in January / February and is offering MCK

members to join. For coordination purposes please let her know the people interested, but any

payments have to made directly to Honest. The latest date by which confirmations are accepted and

deposits paid is November 10, 2010.

• Meeting point in Nairobi is at Silver Springs Hotel on January 29, 2011 at 7.15am to board Impala

Shuttle to Moshi.

• Meeting point in Moshi (in case you're going on your own) is the Kilimanjaro Safari Lodge in Moshi

on January 29 from 6pm.

• Price: Kenya Residents / Non Residents: $1,250; EA Citizens: $550 (excluding overnight at

Kilimanjaro Safari Lodge)

Day 1: (January 30) Moshi to Mandara Huts (2750m), via Marangu Gate. Walking time: 3-4 h. Climb:

950 meters. All meals and drinks included. After breakfast you will be picked from the hotel to

Marangu Gate for permit. Gate formalities take about 0.5-1 hour and then you start trekking after

introduction to your porters from the chief guide. A walk through the fascinating rain forestfrom

1800m to the Mandara Hut.

Day 2: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts (3780m) Walking time: 5-6 h, Climb: 1030m. All meals and

drinks included. After breakfast we ascend through rolling alpine meadows of giant heather trees.

Along this leisurely trail we can enjoy the flora and views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. A packed lunch

is served on the way to Horombo Hut.

Day 3: Horombo Huts to Zebra rocks. Acclimatization day ( max. 3959m). After breakfast it’s a short

day of walk for acclimatization to the beautifully rocks colored with black and white strips on the way

to Mawenzi peak and back to Horombo Huts.

Day 4: Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts (4700m). Walking time: 5-6 h. Climb: 920 m. All meals and drinks

included. After a good night's rest we continue past the cactus-like ground cover and the "last water"

stream and move onto the lunar landscape on the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi to Kibo Hut.

Day 5: Summit day. Walking time: 14-16 h. Climb: +1195m / -2215m. The start is in the early morning

hours to reach Gillman’s Point (5680m) before dawn. Witness the most spectacular and unforgettable

sunrise from there. One hour’s walk away is the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak at 5895m. The

descent is less tiring and the night is spent at Horombo Hut at 3700 m.

Day 6: Horombo Huts to Moshi via Marangu Gate. Walking time: 5-7 h. Climb: -1950 m. Another half

day's leisurely walk and one is back at the Park entrance again from where you will be taken to your

hotel for rest. The overall height difference between Marangu Gate, and the summit of Uhuru Peak is

4100 meters (13,450 ft) and the distance is 32 km (20 miles). Each way. In all a good 64 km (40 miles)

trek with the bonus of an ascent to one of the world’s finest 5000 meter peaks.

Contact: gathoni.wamacharia (at) gmail.com

12th to 14th November : Ololokwe: Hiking & Camping

Ololokwe (2000m) is located to the North East of Laikipia, in Samburu District. Panoramic vistas stretch across the arid plains to Mount Kenya and the Mathews range. The summit of Ololokwe has high altitude mist forest with giant cycads and superb bird life including Kenya's largest nesting colony of Ruppell's vultures.

Plan

Leave Nairobi on Friday at 12 noon (no later) heading to Ololokwe base camp. (>5h). Pitch camp and stay the night. Next day, hike with guide (>3h) to the camp site on top, pitch, leave our gear and continue to the peak rewarding ourselves with the stunning view. After the night at the camp we return down Sunday and drive back to Nairobi (possibly including a lunch stop at Trout Tree restaurant near Naro Moro). 

Costs

Conservation fees: Citizen/Residents – Ksh. 1,600 per person per night, Non-residents – Ksh 3,200 per person per day.

Camping fees: Citizen/Residents: Ksh 800, Non-Residents: Ksh.1,600.

Those are the two fees that need to be paid cash.

There will be additional costs, food (if we share) and fuel (if car pooling). These fees do not include any tips you may wish to give the guide. We can arrange porters if you wish and will get a quote for that later, however as it's only one night camping away from the car, the load shouldn't be too excessive for each person to carry. They will also provide an armed game scout for security and there will be a guard to watch over the cars.

Bring tent, sleeping bag/mat, water (for drinking only, cooking and washing will be provided), food and trail-mix. Also sunscreen, hat and camera. Also bring proof of residency.

Meeting point will be announced once numbers are known.

Deadline for confirmation is Friday November 5th 2010.

Contact Ivy imutiso (at) yahoo.com or Johannes dietz.johannes (at) gmail.com

6th to 7th November 2010 : Entasopia River

Meeting place and time : Sarit Center, entrance facing Jacaranda hotel at 8.00am.

Entasopia river is considered to be among the top ten hiking destinations in and around Kenya. Scrambling up big boulders, wading through swimming holes and ending up in a big water fall make for an interesting hike. Its not strenuous but requires some boulder scrambling which could be challenging for some. 

Plan

Day One : Meet at Sarit Center at 8.00am and leave by 8.15am. The drive down will take 4 hours, give or take. We will park the cars at the AMREF Station at Ngurumani, have a quick lunch and start hiking at about 1pm. We will hike following the Entasopia river upstream until we reach the waterfalls. The hike is about 5 hours so we should be back by nightfall. There are a couple of nice grassy spots on the banks of Ewaso Nyiro where will camp for the night.

Day Two : Drive back on Sunday and stop over for lunch at Magadi for the world famous "chapo na madondo". Plan is to be back in Nairobi by late afternoon.

Costs : Fuel - As always those car pooling will be expected to contribute towards fuel costs. Should be about KShs. 1000 - 1500 depending on the number of occupants and type of car. Conservation fees : Approximately KShs 200 per person.

Required : Sun Screen, Food, Water purification tablets, Camping equipment, Four Wheel Drive car.

Please RSVP before Wednesday 3rd November 2010, mianonjoka@gmail.com