Mt. Kenya stands 5,199 meters above sea level. The different elevations / altitude variations on the mountain give rise to a diverse plant life in the different vegetation of mount Kenya influenced by rainfall patterns, climatic zones and temperatures.
MAIN VEGETATION ZONES ON MOUNTAIN KENYA
The Lowlands
These surround the base of the mountain characterized by more warm temperatures, fertile soils and low altitudes. Often inhabited by local communities who cultivate the land.
The vegetation at this altitude consists of scattered trees like acacia trees, candelabra trees and baobab trees, shrubs and lush grasslands.
Bamboo zone
Characterized by dense bamboo thickets / forests in an enchanting environment. Lichens, Podocarpus, Mosses and Ferns are some of the other species that are found in the bamboo vegetation zone.
The bamboo zone experiences cooler temperatures than the lowlands and also inhabits some animal species. The bamboo is more prominent on the wetter slopes of the mountain like the Sout Eastern slopes, western and South Western slopes and sparse on the Northern slopes.
Timberline Forest
Characterized by stunted shrubs and trees that have adapted to the harsh mountain conditions with rise in altitude as the zone is a transition between the bamboo and heathland zone. It represents the limit of the growth of trees on Mt. Kenya.
Notable plant species in this zone include the evergreen juniper trees, African rosewood, the olive trees, flowers like the red-hot poker and giant lobelias.
Heathland and Moorland Zone
A transition zone between the alpine areas of the mountain and the forested zones of the mountain. It is characterized by heathland plants and low-lying shrubs.
The vegetation in this zone is made up of heath, mosses, lobelias, lichens, flowering plants like proteas, erica arborea, tussock grasses among others. A few resident animals and birds inhabit this vegetation zone.
Afro-Alpine Zone
Giant lobelias, tussock grasses, cushion plants and giant groundsel are the dominant vegetation in this mountain vegetation zone and also hundreds of wildflowers like the buttercups, everlastings, sunbursts among others. Several bird species call the alpine zone home. You can spot alpine chats, wagtails, red tufted sunbirds, eagle owl, buzzard, verreaux’s eagle plus some small and large animals.
Nival Zone
The area above 4,500 meters, very inhospitable and characterized by ice fields and snow. This zone is the coldest of all the zones on the mountain with its temperatures always below the freezing point. Vegetation growth is very scare in this zone as a result of its harsh conditions.
The highlight in this zone is the Mt. Kenya peaks of Batian, Nelion and Point Lenana.
Each zone on Mt. Kenya presents its own ecological importance.
