What equipment does Adventure Alternative provide for the mountain?

We will provide you with your tents and cooking equipment (stove, pots & gas) but all personal clothing, sleeping bags and rucksacks should be provided by yourself. A full equipment list is in the Team Brief which can be downloaded from our website at the following link -

Should I be worried about altitude sickness on Mt Kenya?

For the majority of you this will be your first time trekking to 4985 metres, but the pace is at a speed that ensures we approach the climb in the best possible way to acclimatise. Some people will experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache or a disturbed nights sleep) but this is nothing to fear and the guides and staff will be on hand for support and advice.

What sort of training will help on Mt Kenya?

Mt Kenya is a five day climb at high altitude. It is essential that you put the preparation in before going to Kenya to ensure that your climb is enjoyable. The best way to train for this is to practice walking with a full pack in local hills, this will greatly help with your stamina and you should be getting in to your hills as frequently as possible. If you do not have access to local hills then a good alternative is to improve your general fitness with plenty of walking (with a rucksack on), jogging, and working out in the gym, especially on machines which promote stamina eg step machine.

How much do we carry ? What do we carry!

Normally everybody carries a rucksack of about 15-18 kgs, which includes all your personal belongings, your stove and food, and your fuel (gas cylinders for the EPIGAS stoves we use). You need a rucksack of about 75 litres to cope with all this and we recommend a rainproof cover.

The porters are employed to carry the tents and also to help you out if you run into problems. We do this for safety but the idea is that you carry your own equipment and are responsible for yourselves on the mountain.

What about training in things like camping and cooking?

During the project part of the trip we will be providing pre-mountain information and training. We'll show you all the equipment and check you have everything you need. We'll also talk about teamwork and tent-sharing, so that by the time you arrive at the bottom of Mt Kenya you will be ready for the challenge and you will have all the knowledge you need.

What happens if I need to go down the mountain or I get sick?

We have staff at the bottom of the mountain as well as on the mountain with each group, so if you need to go down then you will always be accompanied and there will be transport at the Park Gate and you will go to the local rural hotel we use as base where there are lots of facilities. If you hurt yourself then we work with the Mt Kenya Park Rangers who are very, very good at assisting with a rescue and getting people to good medical attention. This has never happened in a single Africamp (since 1991).

We carry first aid kits on the mountain and we can deal with all minor complaints quite easily. But prevention is the best cure, so we will be teaching you to use a high degree of common sense and teamwork to make sure that you don't get ill.

I'm doing this for Gold Duke of Edinburgh, what do I need to do?

You need to get this expedition accepted by your local operating authority as an OAP. This means telling them about it well in advance and filling out a form which they will have. All the information you need for this OAP application form can be found on our LOA Pack. Importantly you need to do a training trek for this expedition to count towards your Gold Award and you must organise this well in advance of your trip.

Should I be worried about climbing a mountain when I've never done it before and I'm not really fit or experienced?

No. But you can help yourself a lot by learning about Mount Kenya, and by training in advance. We will provide the expertise and look after your safety and guide you up the mountain; but you will provide the determination, the teamwork, the common sense and the character to stand on the summit. That is your challenge, so don't worry about falling off, or not knowing how to put up a tent. You will be taught everything in advance, and there's no place to fall off!