The Chogoria route is the most scenic approach to Mount Kenya, climbing the eastern side of the mountain from the village of Chogoria, an hour south of Meru. The path rises through dense bamboo forest, then montane heath and the bizarre giant lobelias and groundsels of the afroalpine zone, before emerging above the treeline into a landscape of tarns, cliffs, and the great walls of the central peaks.
The approach takes you past the Hall Tarns and the dramatic Gorges Valley, generally agreed to be the most beautiful single stretch of any of the Mount Kenya routes. The crater walls drop more than 300 metres into the valley, and the Mintos Hut at 4,300 metres has a memorable view straight down it. This is high, exposed country, and the weather can turn quickly even when the lowlands are baking.
Most trekkers tackle the mountain as a four- or five-day traverse — up the Chogoria route, across to the summit area around Point Lenana, and out via the Sirimon or Naro Moru route on the western side. The Chogoria path is rougher and far less crowded than the western approaches, with fewer huts and less infrastructure, which is part of its appeal.
Local guides in Chogoria village can arrange porters, transport to the forest gate, and route advice. Even if you are not climbing, Chogoria is worth the short trip from Meru for the views west into the Mount Kenya foothills.