I would like to ask your advice on hiking in Kenya. I will be visiting Kenya at the end of November and am trying to find out what my options would be. I am looking for about a 4-6 day hike, which hikes would you recommend? (Mount Kenya? Nogorongoro? ). I would not be with a group since I would already be there for business (are there groups that one could join). I will also have to go for a budget option. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I’m afraid I’m basically only going to be there for two weeks. I would be there from the 23rd November but only on holiday from the 28th, then staying until about the end of that week. Thank you for the invite to your trips, but it seems you do not have anything planned for then yet, I will keep checking !
I am reasonably fit, but I come from Cape Town, so acclimatizing is probably a good idea. How long would one need to acclimatize?

Regarding hiking Mt. Kenya - I would suppose from your correspondence with Will, your fitness level is good! True acclimatisation would be an issue, but it all dependant on what you want to do and how much time you have. For instance, you could hike Longonot (a day trip up and down) to get the feel of altitude. Longonot is about 2777meters and a good way to get set for hiking Mt. Kenya, and about an hour out of Nairobi.

Additionally the guide we use is trained in observing individual behaviour while hiking to ensure any problems are dealt. The 4-5 day is ample time to hike up and back down at a very slow pace and you very well may do the hike in less time - all depending on your condition while hiking.

At the moment there aren't others that I know going up Mt. Kenya during your preferred time. We would however announce it at the weekly club night (every Tuesday) if you confirm you're coming, to attract others?

As for Ngorongoro, I don't think they allow hiking as it's a park? You will need to check that with TANAPA in Tanzania.

I hope this information helps and don't hesitate to get back to us if you need more information.

I am also interested in climbing Mt Kenya, preferrably in the time end of November. Last year I hiked in Nepal and did the Base Camp trek up to an altitude of 5300 meters.
My experience is that you need to acclimatize above 3000 meters with a rate of app 300 meters a day to avoid headache the morniing after.
I guess the Mt Kenya climb is not technical, do you need crampoons, harness and rope?
best regards, Lennart B, Sweden

Point Lenana is not technical. No ropes etc.

The two higher peaks are. I'm not a climber so all I can do is quote the guide on this website:

The easiest routes to the highest peaks, Batian and Nelion, are IV (UIAA grading). Few parties reach Batian summit and descend before nightfall. There are more than 25 routes to the main summits of which 8 are ice routes concentrated on the south and west sides. There is little scope for new routes. 90% of visiting climbers underestimate Mt. Kenya and it is unlikely that more than one route to the summits will be made in any one visit to the mountain. There are good shorter climbs on outlying smaller peaks. The only locally based guiding organisations capable of leading routes on Batian and Nelion are Naro Moru River Lodge, Tropical Ice, Executive Wilderness Programmes, East African Mountain Guides, KG Mountain Expeditions (see below), and a few private guides.

Climbers particularly should take special note of changes to climbing routes due to the shrinking glacier cover. Some climbs have seriously changed.