Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya, rising to 5,199 metres and giving its name to a national park.
The mountain is an extinct stratovolcano in central Kenya, located near the equator. Its highest point is Batian, while Nelion is a slightly lower summit connected by a ridge. Point Lenana, lower than both technical summits, is the usual trekking destination and can be reached without the rock-climbing skills required for Batian or Nelion.
Mount Kenya National Park and the surrounding forest reserve protect ecosystems that change with altitude, from cultivated lower slopes through montane forest and bamboo to alpine vegetation. Small remaining glaciers occur around the upper peaks, although they have retreated markedly over time.
The mountain’s name comes from local languages and has been linked to meanings involving brightness or whiteness. Mount Kenya is sometimes confused with Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, which lies across the border in Tanzania. Kenya’s peak is lower but has a more complex volcanic summit.