Overview
At 6,400 feet altitude, Nyahururu is located on the Eastern side of the Great Rift Valley and is the ideal location for building a base or staying in shape. Running is a way of life here, with dirt trails free of traffic and Kenyan runners everywhere.For athletes of other sports looking to build their cardio-fitness in anticipation of a strong fall season, the high altitude enhances the cross training opportunity. In addition to the dirt roads, the town has a well-groomed 400m track. Strive participants will do some workouts with aspiring teenage Kenyan athletes as well as likely meet and watch aspiring and current world record holders as they train.
Strive students stay in an old colonial lodge, where sleeping rooms are heated by wood fires. Nestled atop the famous Thomson's water falls, the lodge provides hot water 24 hours a day and all meals are buffets served in the two old dining rooms. The beautiful grounds offer ample space for sitting outside or tossing a frisbee during free time. In case of rainy weather, the two indoor lounges include large tvs and big fireplaces.
Within walking distance is the highest altitude hippo pool in Kenya. Each evening the hippos can be seen emerging from the water for their nightly foraging.
Deforestation is a serious problem in Kenya, where many locals rely on firewood for cooking and heating. With a growing population, the remaining forests are under severe pressure. Strive participants will partner with a community forestry project and the Kenyan forest department to help replant the forests around Nyahururu. Tending to seedlings in the nursery and planting them in the forest under the directions from the forest department are crucial steps for sustaining Kenya's future. In addition, students will visit a local orphanage to meet the kids and learn about the efforts underway.Combine these local experiences with two day-trip safaris and, for Program 1, an ascent of Mt. Kenya, inscribed in 1997 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and "one of the most impressive landscapes in Eastern Africa with its rugged glacier-clad summits, Afro-alpine moorlands and diverse forests that illustrate outstanding ecological processes". Either of the Nyahururu programs will be a truly unforgettable trip.
General Itinerary - running/training schedules are approximations and will change depending on personal goals and fitness
Day 1 - Depart for Nairobi, via Europe or Dubai
Day 2 - Arrive Nairobi, be greeted by STRIVE group leaders and transported to the Gracia Gardens hotel in Nairobi
Day 3 - Travel by private van to Nyahururu. Stop along the route for your first safari in Aberdare National Park, a highland forest known for its scenic views, waterfalls and the rare Bongo in addition to other wildlife such as Elephant, Leopard and Buffalo. After a boxed lunch in the park, continue on to Thomson's Fall Lodge, where you'll have time to relax and possibly go for a short run as you begin to orient yourself to your new surroundings
Day 4 - Walk to Nyaharuru and possibly visit the local track or reforestation headquarters. Continue with acclimatization, taking the running slowly and learning the local routes.
Days 5 to 7 - 6:30 am run, midday community service , pm workout, and/or run
Day 8 - 6:30 am long run, pm community service or visit to local schools
Day 9 - Training rest day: 8am departure for Lake Nakuru safari, pm return
Days 10 to 13 - 6:30 am run, midday community service, pm run and/or workout
Day 14 - 6:30 am long run, pm visit the Hippo pool, another local site, or enjoy a round of golf
Days 15 to 17 - 6:30 am run, midday community service, pm run, workout and/or swim
Day 18 - 6:30 am long run, pm community service, celebratory 'final night' dinner
Day 19 - For Nyahururu program 1 you have time for an early morning run before departing for Mt. Kenya, to meet your guide, collect any rental gear, and begin your ascent via Sirimon gate (8,700 ft).From the gate, the trek is up through magnificent montane forest, bamboo and a giant heather zone before reaching the high altitude moorland and the first hut (Old Moses camp, 10,800 ft) for dinner and overnight.
For Nyahururu program 2, day 19 is the final day in Kenya. After a morning run and final goodbyes, you'll travel by private van back to Nairobi's international airport in time for your evening flights.
Day 20 - For Program 1, today will begin your second day of trekking Mt. Kenya. The hike involves crossing the Ontulili River before continuing through the Moorland and uphill to Mackinders Valley from where there are panoramic views up the valley towards the Shipton Camp (13,800 ft), where you'll have dinner and stay for the night.
For Program 2 on day 20 you will land back in the USA or your home country
Day 21 - Spend the day hiking around the Shipton Camp area as you continue to acclimatize before heading for the summit. This camp is in a surreal setting below towering peaks and a glacier, and has a resident population is of Rock hyrax and sunbirds.
Day 22 - Kick off at around 3am to reach Pt Lenana (16,000 ft) in time for the African sunrise. The climb starts on frozen scree and continues on a rocky track with some very minor scrambling. With a good Moon you barely need a light. Without a Moon, the pollution- free sky provides you with as good a view of the stars as almost anywhere on Earth. The climb takes 3 -4 hrs and to add to the exhilaration, Mt. Kilimanjaro is also visible from the horizon. Descend back to Shipton camp for full breakfast. After a short rest descend further to Old Moses Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 23 - After early morning breakfast, descend for 3 hours from Old Moses Hut to the park gate and transfer to the town of Nanyuki for lunch. From here it's straight to Nairobi by private van where day rooms (and hot showers) will be available at the Gracia Gardens before your transfer to the airport for your evening flights home.
Day 24 - At some point on this day, you'll land in the USA or your home country, having finished an exhilarating summer adventure.
- This itinerary is subject to change at any time
Dates
Program 1: June 25 - July 18
Program 2: July 18 - Aug. 6
Maximum Group size: 15 students
Student/staff ratio: No greater than 6:1
Community Service Hours: 30 - 45 Tuition: Program 1 - $4250; Program 2 - $3250
The greeting window for flights to Nairobi is between 6pm and 11pm. Departing flights on the final day of the program cannot be scheduled to leave before 6pm.
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**It is possible to join Iten Program 1 and Nyahururu (on the opposite side of the Rift Valley) for Program 2, or visa versa**
Please email if you have questions about doing this
Tuition includes: All lodging, meals, beverage with meals, coaching, domestic airfare and other ground transportation, excursion entry fees, training facility entry fees, community service activities and supplies, emergency medical and political instability evacuation insurance, group tips for in country assistance.
Tuition does not include: International airfare, Visa fees, overweight luggage fees, snacks and beverages outside of meals, personal spending, massages and sports therapy services, internet or cell phone access fees, tips for additional assistance (e.g.massage).
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Lodging
Nairobi: Student athletes will spend only one night in Nairobi, immediately following their arrival in Kenya. All students will be met at Jomo Kenyatta International airport outside the luggage retrieval area and driven to the Gracia Gardens, a secure, comfortable Nairobi hotel where they will have the choice to rest, or have something to eat. All student athletes will all be asked to communicate their safe arrival via a phone call home from here. Students will be in double or triple rooms.
Nyahururu: Thomson Falls Lodge faces the picturesque waterfall at the base of the Aberdare Mountain range. It is located in southeast of the town of Nyahururu overlooking the Ole Ngare Naro River. The lodge was originally built in the 1930’s by English settlers, adopting the brick cottage architectural styles they enjoyed. The beautiful lawns are vast and well maintained, the perfect place for reading, stretching or relaxing. On cooler days, the fireplaces in the indoor lounges are lit to keep visitors warm and cozy as they play games or enjoy evening activities. The grounds are private, with an entry gate and 24 hour security.
Nearby is the local golf course, which can be used for running or, on a free day, for a round of golf, as well as miles of dirt roads and trails.
The rooms are comfortable and clean, with private bathrooms and showers. Strive participants will be in double or triple rooms during their stay.
Mt. Kenya: Ascending from the Sirimon Gate to Point Lenana takes you through several distinct ecosystems. The hike begins in thick forest. Along this stretch of the route, you may be able to see elephants grazing on the hillsides. Old Moses Hut sits just above the tree line, offering panoramic views of the meandering hike that lies ahead. Vegetation slowly changes with the altitude, eventually offering an assortment of unusual plants such as ostrich lobelia and giant lobelia. With the new vegetation comes a variety of colorful bird life and small mammals such as hyrax and mountain mice. The 15 km hike from Old Moses Hut to Shipton's Hut winds through a series of valleys, offering a very gradual acquisition of altitude. Shipton's Hut nestles below the various peaks of Mt. Kenya with gentle, open space for relaxing or light activity such as Frisbee. The challenging climb to Point Lenana starts with a steep, rocky ascent which then turns to twist through rock outcrops and along short ridges. From the peak you can see Kenya spread out in all directions, and on a clear day, even Tanzania and Mt. Kilimanjaro. After enjoying the surise over Africa, you will head back down to the hut for breakfast before continuing back to Old Moses Hut for your last night on the mountain. The final morning is a short and easy walk back down to the gate.
Both huts provide simple but comfortable accommodations. You will have a sleeping bag to use with the bunkbeds and pillows provided. Each hut has flush toilets and a sink with running water for washing hands and face. The communal dining space allows STRIVE participants to get to know other hikers on the mountain and enjoy the camaraderie of the community. There are electric lights in the dining area and bunk rooms for evening use, though a flashlight is a good idea for personal use. On the mountain most of your clothing and supplies will be carried by porters, while you carry only a light daypack with your water bottle, lunch and camera. Our cook will look after your nutritional needs, providing bountiful hot meals and plenty of snacks along the way. The hike will be led by an experienced Kenyan guide trained specifically for Mt. Kenya.
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