3,200 - 4,000 m (11,000 - 14,000ft)
 |
Open tussock grassland continues from the end of the giant heather right up to the snowline, with the plants decreasing in size and density as the altitude increases and the climate gets drier and colder. The equatorial afro-alpine zone of Mt. Kenya is renowned for its unusual megaphytic flora which result from a unique climate. |
Plants growing in this tropic-alpine environment have acquired fascinating adaptive mechanisms for survival with many having adopted a large and rosette form. The most spectacular are characterized by dense leaf rosettes resembling cabbages or artichokes. In East Africa there are three kinds: Carduus, Senecio and Lobelia. Different plants have evolved their own unique protective systems against the weather. In some, thick leaves surround the central bud providing, it seems, some insulation for the tissues within the bud; this protection is heightened at night by the leaves closing around it.
Other keep the growing point from freezing through the secretion of fluid within the plant. Lobelia keniensis produces a type of anti freeze produced by the plant. Whereas a fluffy white tomentum on the underside of Senecos brassica, the cabbage groundsel, helps to capture warm air.
 |
Giant groundsels (Dendro-Senecio) are found only on East African mountains. On Mt. Kenya there are two tree groundsels: Senecio keniodendron which grows as tall as 6m. and Senecio battiscombei. In addition to the arborescent giant groundsels there are numerous herbaceous species of Dendro-Senecio. |
Mt. Kenya is the home of three alpine giant lobelias. In all giant lobelias each rosette grows for many decades, then produces one large inflorescence and dies. The Ostrich plume lobelia teleki flowers every 40 - 70 years. There also occurs Lobelia aberdarica and dekenii keniensis.
Another special plant growth form on Mount Kenya is the giant grass tussock. In wetter sites Festuca pilgeri forms extensive dense waist high grassland that is misery to walk through. There is Deschampia and Pentaschistist. In damp places small tussocks of the sedge Carex monostachya occur with grass.
Solifluction is another phenemonon caused by the extreme day and night temperature fluctuation. Nightly freezes produce needle ice in the soil which pushes up the surface dirt. The morning sun thaws the ice, allowing the soil to fall back down. This daily churning of the soil uproots seedlings, leaving the ground bare in "Solifluction deserts". To survive in these areas, several lichens have abandoned rooted life and float above the tumult. Mossballs roll with every days upheavals.
There are over 100 species of wildflowers on Mt. Kenya, so you will see some in flower whenever you visit the mountain. These include everlastings, buttercups, the sunburst, Haplicarpa, and the red African gladiolus.
 |
The birds in this zone are amazing in variety and include the Jackson's francolin, slender-billed chestnut-wing starling, African snipe, tacazze sunbird, scarlet tufted malachite sunbird, streaky seed eater, mountain chat, alpine swift, pied wagtail, Augur buzzard, Verreaux's eagle, and Mackinder's eagle owl. |  |
Wildlife: the Mt. Kenya Rock Hyrax is the most conspicuous mammal in this alpine zone. A relatively social animal (please do not attempt to touch or feed it), it lives in colonies in natural burrows in the numerous glacial moraines and collapsed cliffs. Grimm's Duiker is a small buck resident above treeline. Eland may be seen throughout dry areas and regular alpine visitors can also include Buffalo and Elephant. Leopard, the only large but shy carnivore common in the high alpine, will feast on the Groove-tooth rat and the rock hyrax.
There are several small mammals, with cute names, found in this zone such as the Groove-tooth Rat (frequently seen scurrying around during the day). Then there are the furry tailed African Dormouse, the Pigmy Shrew, the Mole Rat, the Striped Tree Mouse, the Harsh-Furred Mouse and the Four Striped Grass Mouse!
