Explore The Mount Kenya South Eastern Route Embu County And Create Unforgettable Memories

Climbing Mount Kenya from Embu County! The Mt. Kenya South Eastern Route.

Mount Kenya National Park and Reserve is a complex ecosystem designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978 and as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Mount Kenya South Eastern climbing route is the most scenic of all routes. The route is easy to climb and therefore attracts the elderly and the young ones. The route is accessed from Embu town via a 24 km tarmac road running through Manyatta town junction and Kianjokoma, proceeding on a 6km – a stretch of an all-weather road up to the boundary of the community and the Irangi forest. Tourism activities carried out along the route include hiking and trekking, camping, helicopter drives, and rock climbing. Hiking and trekking is the major activity along the Mount Kenya South Eastern climbing route. More fun activities especially for those not necessarily interested in climbing up to the peak would make the route even more

attractive. It is for this purpose that the county government wishes to invest in cable cars at the most scenic site, the Carr’s lake from which point, adventure lovers can be picked and taken on a scenic view of the peak of the snowcapped mountain.

Scenic Sites along the South Eastern Route

Elephant Bathroom

This is an expansive area that has no trees and is used by elephants for purposes of mud bathing, feeding, and a watering point. The site is ideal for viewing elephants as they congregate there in large numbers. The plates below show captions of the site.

Eco-Lodge/ Hotel Site/ Thabana Cabins

The location of this site is ideal. It’s on a higher ground with a clear view of the moorland, three peaks of Mt Kenya, and fantastic vegetation gradients towards Embu. The site has short-growing vegetation, is surrounded by expansive bamboo plantations, and is close to two tributaries of the Thabana River. The neighborhood is frequented by elephants and large herds of buffaloes and bushbucks. The plates below show the proposed Thabana Cabins.

Proposed Thabana cabins and the clear view of the mountain peaks

Tarns (Riambogo, Nyange 1 and 2, Minyange)

These are spectacular sites of water with vegetation growing round them. They attract wildlife and are the only permanent sites with green vegetation all year round. They act as sites for wildlife viewing including various species of avifauna. The heath zone also known as the Ericaceous zone with giant heaths or bushes and tussock grass but the beauty of the zone is the great U shaped called Hobley valley. This is dominated by three linear lakes namely Carr’s lake which is the source of the Rupingazi river, Enchanted lake which is a feeder to Carr’s lake and Thompson lake at the far end. The lakes were named after Ernest Carr, the person who discovered these spectacular sites of water with vegetation growing round them.

Mau Mau caves

The Mau Mau caves are one of the most significant sites in Kenyan history. ‘Mau Mau’ name was the name given to the freedom fighters against the British colonial rule in Kenya. This group was made up of the Kikuyu tribe being the majority and a few other ethnic groups such as Meru, Embu, and Mbeere. They are therefore a reminder of the struggle for independence in Kenya. The caves provided a hideouts for the freedom fighters from 1952 to 1960. They were also a shelter and a meeting place where the group held their meetings so as to execute their plans.

Icongi cave is much larger than Mutuanjiri cave and could accommodate more people. The caves are located in the midst of trees and shrubs in the montane subtropical forest. Icongi cave is adjacent to the fast-flowing river Rubingazi which gives it superb scenery whereas Mutuanjiri caves occur along the Thabana River.