Determinants of Recreational Use of Naromoru, Chogoria and Sirimon Routes of Mount Kenya National Park

Abstract

Mountain destinations worldwide are experiencing rapid growth in visitation and recreational use, yet empirical evidence on recreation patterns in many mountain regions remains limited. This study examined recreational use along the Chogoria, Naromoru, and Sirimon routes of Mount Kenya National Park, with a specific focus on user demographics, recreation patterns, and visitor satisfaction with available resources and services. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed to capture the prevailing recreation dynamics across the three routes. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules from a target population comprising tourists, guides, porters, and wardens from the Kenya Wildlife Service. The study was conducted with 243 tourists. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were generated using SPSS version 20, while Chi-square tests and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings indicated that most visitors were Kenyan nationals (56.6%), predominantly aged 20–29 years, with graduate-level education, and largely from the working class. Results revealed a significant difference in satisfaction with campsites among the routes, F (2, 240) = 5.202, p < 0.05.   Recreational use patterns showed that most visitors stayed for four days and travelled in small groups of one to four individuals. Inferential analysis revealed significant associations between recreation routes and selected demographic variables, notably age and occupation, while no significant associations were found for gender, origin, or education level. Significant differences were also observed in recreation use patterns (length of stay and group size) and in visitor satisfaction with recreational resources and services across the routes. Overall, the study provides valuable baseline data to support evidence-based decision-making by park managers, tour operators, and visitors, and contributes to understanding recreation trends in Kenya’s mountain tourism sector.