Climbing at Dragon's Teeth - Aberdare National Park

It should almost be called Dragon’s Spines as teeth don’t sufficiently describe the jutting lava columns that puncture the moorlands. Like a great sleeping Spinosaurus, the fins appear to pierce the soil to reveal a resting monster below.

We hiked from the parking area for 2 hours to camp and climb for the weekend at Dragon’s teeth and what a superb weekend adventure it was. As a few of the members of our local Braeburn School Climbing Club are training for a Nelion (second highest peak on Mt Kenya) attempt, it was time to try some multi-pitch climbs at altitude. We needed to get some height and we also needed to feels some briskness. Dragon’s teeth did not disappoint.

The teeth are the most obvious and proximate choice for some high altitude climbing, being only a few hours from Nanyuki. The stunning beauty of the spires at the top of the Aberdares is an added bonus, worth the trip for even the non climbers. In fact Dragon’s teeth is the kind of special place that one might be tempted to keep on the ‘down low’, a place you might not mention too much in public so you can keep it to yourself like a fisherman might for his secret fishing grounds. While the temptation is great, the northern circuit of the Aberdares needs more attention and visitors so that we can conserve it properly. Traditionally because this side of the park is not connected to the southern road system, very few visitors would visit and so attention to park rules became lax. Wildlife on the northern side was less than in the south suggesting that either illegal grazing or else poaching pushed the wildlife elsewhere. Today with the development of the lovely Cedar Retreat, visitors are starting to visit the northern side in greater numbers and with the increased attention we hope we will see better wildlife numbers and conservation. The hike to Satima from the northern side is becoming more popular and a new well used track now even passes right through Dragon’s Teeth. While we were sad to see a few people had thrown tissue paper on the side of the trail (we buried most) we were thrilled that more and more people are getting out and into the lovely northern moorlands.

Here below are some pictures from the weekend . It is the kind of fun that the whole family can enjoy. Contact us to put together a fun affordable trip of your own.