Mount Kenya used to be for the native population a kind of Olympus. Mogai, father of the universe, created the mountain as a final resting-place for people, proving his power to perform miracles. He named it Kere Nyaga. Until the beginning of the 20th century Masai lived on the plateau between Mount Kenya and the Alberdares, where they worshipped, surrounded by rocks, Ngai, goddess of rain and good weather. They named the mountain Ol-Donyo-Eibor, which means "white mountain". The Meru, who live in the north-eastern part of the mountain, believe humans came into being on the mountain. From the location the Samburu live the mountain looks like a big black rock; they call it Lorgenia, which means "black stone". The current name of the mountain is derived from Kere-Nyaga, the name given by the Kikuyu to the mountain and the country. Later on this became Ke-e-nya-a, nowadays Kenya. Mount Kenya is the highest mountain of Kenya. With a height of 5199 meters it is the second highest mountain of Africa; only the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is less than 700 meters higher. The base diameter of the mountain is about 120 kilometres. In the beginning the mountain was probably more than 6000 meters high. Powerful eroding by mainly ice has resulted in a number of peaks, U-shapes valleys and small mountain lakes.

Mount Kenya was created by enormous volcanic eruptions about 3 million years ago. Many of the valleys contain rocks and stones indicating that during the ice-age there must have been enormous glaciers. About 150 000 years ago they started melting due to a changing climate. Since 1893, when they started to watch the mountain, seven glaciers have already been dissolved and only eleven remained. With the continuing increase of temperature – due to the greenhouse effect – it is expected that within 25 years all glaciers will be gone. The volcanic ground and the many rivers have created a fertile soil, especially at the southern and eastern side of the mountain, where most of the rain falls. Up to 1900 meters there are many agricultural areas as well as rain forest. Higher up the mountain you will find a marvellous, nearly impenetrable wilderness with many unique botanical species like gigantic camphor, climbers, fern, orchids and other beautiful species. At the northern and eastern side of the mountain the rain forest is less grown over, due to a dryer climate. On the southern and western slopes, the rain forest gradually changes into a bamboo forest with heights of up to 12 meters and next into woodland. Going closer to the top you will come across moorland with heath growing in tight groups with heights up to 4 meters. The following zone - up to approximately 4500 meters – consists of more open moorland. The many small flowering plants and heath make it a colourful scenery. The higher you go, the lesser the vegetation. Above the snowline you will only find moss. Besides a beautiful flora the rainforest offers a large variety of animals. You can see elephants, buffaloes, diverse antelopes and monkeys. Also rhinos and lions live here but they are seldom seen. In the open woodland and moorland, you will mainly find antelopes like the diver, elk and zebra. Also leopards are seen even at height of 4500 meters. Interested in climbing Mount Kenya? Read more about the possibilities in Mountain climbing.