Discovering the beauty of Mt Kenya

Tourists take a rest next to their mountain bikes at Old Moses Camp on Mount Kenya.

Let me show you a discovery,” Patrick Ngari announced, stopping the trekking party in the middle of the walk. The 45-year-old with a backpack, a jungle-green safari hat and light sneakers, energetically leaped on top of the embankment and pulled a small branch from a shrub.

“This (plant) is called St John’s Wort... It relieves stress, and can help do away with any form of swelling,” he said, looking at each of us intently. We listened keenly as he faced the winding path uphill. He talked in a low tone but with authority. “We have tried it ourselves here and it actually works,” he said.