Reaching New Heights: Year 8 Conquers Mount Kenya

Alongside the pupils were the parents, porters, teaching staff and team from Savage Wilderness. It was quite a crew, but the weather was on their side – clear skies, crisp air, and sunshine – as they followed the Chogoria Route up the mountain. 

Of course a mountain climb is never just about the views. It’s about resilience, teamwork, and pushing past limits. The Chogoria Route up Mount Kenya is a breathtaking ascent through lush forests, alpine meadows, and dramatic valleys, culminating in the otherworldly beauty of the high-altitude peaks. The trail winds past cascading waterfalls, the turquoise waters of Lake Michaelson, and sheer cliffs that drop into the vast Gorges Valley, making it the most scenic path to Point Lenana (4,985m). As the sun rises over Africa, casting golden light across the jagged peaks, the journey feels less like a climb and more like a passage through a lost world of untamed wilderness.

There were tired legs, cold mornings, and moments where the summit felt a long way off – but there was also laughter, encouragement, and an incredible sense of camaraderie. The pupils got together and formed the Mt K Choir and sang every step of the way except on the last day near the summit. This is the kind of team spirit, resilience, bravery, and friendship that we are so proud of, and even Savage Wilderness said is rare to find. 

Along with the children, we had 28 parents on the expedition, and many of them really enjoyed the challenge, but also the down time. Without phone signal, there were hours in the afternoon where everyone could just enjoy time chatting, reflecting, looking at the views and completely disconnecting from the day to day. 

Fortunately, we also had help from 116 porters who carried the food, tents, and bags for everyone – an incredible team of unbelievably strong and good-natured people who kept the whole show on the road as it were! 

Reaching the top was, of course, the ultimate reward. Unfortunately 3 of our pupils didn’t quite make it to Point Lenana but they got as far as Mintos, and succumbed to altitude sickness, which meant they needed to descend. In and of itself, Mintos is an incredible achievement at over 4,200 metres! For all our children, the sense of accomplishment was written across their faces as they stood at the summit, knowing they had earned every bit of that breathtaking view.

The Mount Kenya climb isn’t just a school trip; it’s a rite of passage. It teaches lessons that can’t be learned in a classroom – about perseverance, self-belief, and the joy of overcoming challenges. And, as our Year 8s and their parents discovered, it’s also an adventure they’ll never forget.