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Mount
Kenya, Africa's second
highest peak, has long
been regarded as the realm
of Ngai, the god of the
local Kikuyu people. Traditionally,
all Kikuyu homes were
built to face this sacred
peak. The Kikiyu name
for this jagged peak is
Kirinyaga, meaning "place
of light." The mountain
is an awe-inspiring sight,
its ragged peaks crowned
with snow and its slopes
thick with forest. The
mountain is best seen
at dawn, when the morning
sun backlights its impressive
summit high above the
surrounding plains.
While the 17,058 feet
(5,199 meter) summit is
a difficult technical
climb, a fit trekker can
easily reach the lesser
peak of Point Lenana (at
16,350 feet, or 4,985
meters). The trek takes
between 3 and 5 days and
passes through a fascinating
world of forests, wildlife,
and unique montane vegetation,
including podocarpus and
grounsel. But the climax
is surely the summit,
where one can luxuriate
in one of the world's
rarest sights, equatorial
snow.
For
non-climbers, a visit
to Mount Kenya is still
worthwhile. The cool highlands
that surround its base,
crossed by babbling brooks,
are well worth a visit.
The forests are ideal
for game viewing, and
the crystal clear streams
at the foot of the mountain
abound with trout.
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