MT.KENYA NATIONAL PARK
Mt. Kenya is an imposing extinct volcano dominating
the landscape of the Kenyan Highlands, East of the Rift. Mt. Kenya lies
about 140 km North, North-East of Nairobi with its Northern flanks across
the Equator. The mountain has two main peaks - Batian (5200m) and Nelion
(5188m). The mountains slopes are cloaked in forest, bamboo, scrub and
moorland giving way on the high central peaks to rock, ice and snow. Mt.
Kenya is an important water catchment area, supplying the Tana and Northern
Ewaso Ngiro systems.
The park includes a variety of habitats ranging from higher forest, bamboo,
alpine moorlands, glaciers, tarns and glacial morains.
The park, which was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 and
is also a Biosphere Reserve, covers 715 km2, and includes the Pe
aks
consisting of all the ground above 3200m with two small salients extending
lower down to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks. Surrounding the
park is Mount Kenya National Reserve with an area of approximately 2095 km2.
Climate:
Climate, flora and fauna on Mt. Kenya varies with altitude.
