Sirimon Gate to Old Moses Hut. Forest track gives way to moorland as the trail climbs from 2,600 m to 3,200 m. The pace is deliberately slow — Day 1 is acclimatization, not distance.
The Race · 2–5 March 2027
The Race
Four days. 25 athletes. One mountain summit. One triathlon — all to fund critical health care in the most remote regions of Northern Kenya.
RegisterThe race in numbers.
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DAYS
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MOUNT KENYA
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ATHLETES
36.5 km
TRIATHLON
The traverse
Day-by-day.
Four days on the mountain.
Old Moses Hut to Shipton Camp. Open moorland through Mackinder's Valley. Thinner air, slower legs. The summit ridge becomes visible by mid-afternoon.
03:00 start from Shipton Camp by headlamp. 06:30 sunrise summit at Point Lenana, 4,985 m. Descend to Lake Ellis tarn for the Day 4 triathlon staging camp.
Kayak 1.5 km on Lake Ellis at 3,455 m, then run 10 km down to the Bandas, then bike 25 km through the Chogoria forest to the gate. Single format for the 2027 edition. Full detail below.
Day 4 · Triathlon
The race.
One format. Kayak, run, bike — from Lake Ellis at 3,455 m through Mount Kenya's indigenous forest to Chogoria Gate.
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KAYAK1.5 kmLake Ellis (3,455 m)
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RUN10 kmLake Ellis → the Bandas
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BIKE25 kmChogoria forest descent
TOTAL
36.5 km
Kayak · 1.5 km on Lake Ellis
Launch at first light from the tarn shore. Lake Ellis is a glacial lake in Mount Kenya's Chogoria zone, ringed by tussock moorland and giant lobelia. Three laps of the calm water at 3,455 m — the altitude turns a warm-up into a lung-opener. Kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and wetsuits are provided. Water temperature holds around 5 °C.
Run · 10 km · Lake Ellis down to the Bandas
Straight off the water into a 10 km descent along the moorland track down to the Bandas. Rolling gradient, tussock grass underfoot, expansive views of the summit ridge to the west and the plains rolling east. Aid and water stations at fixed intervals along the route.
Bike · 25 km · Chogoria forest descent
Drop off the moorland into Mount Kenya's indigenous forest belt on a mixed dirt-and-fireroad descent toward the Chogoria Gate. Bikes and helmets provided. The route runs through elephant, bongo, and Colobus monkey territory — see wildlife & support below.
Wildlife & support
You are never alone on the course.
- Kenya Wildlife Service rangers patrol the run and bike corridors for the full race day. KWS handles all wildlife management inside Mount Kenya National Park.
- Two motorcycle sweeps — one front, one rear — ride the course end-to-end, clear the trail, and keep the group together.
- Aid and water stations at fixed intervals along both the run and the bike, staffed by our on-mountain team.
- Medic on standby at the finish, with rescue.co helicopter evacuation on call for the full four days.
The route
Sirimon to Chogoria, west to east.
Aubergine line traces the 4-day hike (Sirimon Gate → Point Lenana → Lake Ellis). Lilac dashed line is the Day 4 triathlon route from Lake Ellis down through the Chogoria forest to the gate.
WILDLIFE
The mountain we share.
Sirimon's and Chogoria's forests on Mount Kenya give way to alpine moorland. Bongo, elephant, rock hyraxes, zebra, and countless others live below the snowline.
Mountain Bongo
Critically endangered. Mount Kenya is one of the few places left in the wild.
African Elephant
Herds graze the forests and the plains on the Sirimon and Chogoria sides of Mount Kenya.
Grevy's Zebra
The northern slopes meet Samburu — where the zebras of two species mix.
Rock Hyrax
The mountain's closest relative to the elephant — found on the rocks above Shipton Camp.
Golden-breasted Starling
One of East Africa's most colourful birds, found on the lower slopes.
Malachite Sunbird
Iridescent green at altitude — feeds on the giant lobelia that lines the trails.
Safety + logistics
How the mountain is run.
- Aid stations. Every 5 km on Day 4. Water only.
- No cutoffs. No leg cutoff. No summit turnaround. No triathlon time cap.
- Kayak safety. Life jackets mandatory. Diver and safety boat on the water. Water temperature ~5 °C. No swim required.
- Bail-out. Helicopter extraction available via rescue.co supplemental insurance. Team descends together.
- Staff ratio. Approximately 3 staff (porters, guides, medic) per participant.
- Licensing. All guides KWS- and KMGA-licensed.
What to bring
Gear, in short.
A full packing list ships in the post-signup briefing. The headlines:
- Boots. Broken-in. Waterproof. Above the ankle.
- Layers. Base + mid + insulated + shell. Temperature swings 5 °C to 25 °C on the same day.
- Sleeping bag. Rated to −10 °C comfort for Shipton (4,236 m) and Lake Ellis tents.
- Headlamp. Plus spare batteries. The 03:00 summit start is in the dark.
- Sun protection. Glacier-rated sunglasses, SPF 50, brimmed hat.
Rentals available on request — boots, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, trekking poles. Full kit list in the post-signup briefing.
THE 2025 PILOT
Twelve climbed. Twelve summited.
The first edition raised €37,208 and put twelve athletes on top of Point Lenana. Every photo below is from November 2025.
The mountain ahead
Mount Kenya from the approach.
First view of the peaks
The route reveals itself.
On the trek
Working up through the lower slopes.
Mid-race
Deep into the multi-discipline section.
Pushing through
Every leg counted.
Before the start
Twelve athletes, one mountain.
The finish
Pilot edition, November 2025.
Ready?
25 spots. 2–5 March 2027.
Sign-up closes 1 September 2026. €1,250 secures your place. Soft fundraising goal: €1,000 and one new partner for Health Yetu.
Register