Follow Sebastián Álvarez and Dani Román for the first ever wingsuit flight over Kenya’s highest peak
Mount Kenya, an iconic extinct stratovolcano and Africa’s second-highest peak, recently played backdrop to a tranquil flight by wingsuiters Sebastián Álvarez and Dani Román. More than just an aerial escapade, this flight took them over the patchwork of ecosystems and landmarks, revealing a Mount Kenya not often seen.
Mount Kenya, referred to as “Kirinyaga” in the Kikuyu language — which translates to ‘mountain of whiteness’ — stands as a prominent and iconic peak situated about 150 kilometres north-northeast of Nairobi, the capital.
Its three summits, Batian, Nelion, and Lenana – with Batian reigning supreme at an elevation of 5,199 meters above sea level – as well as the valleys below present unique geological features and remarkable biodiversity.
From a bird’s-eye view, Álvarez and Román captured the mountain’s kaleidoscopic slopes, gliding above alpine meadows, bamboo zones, heathlands, moorlands and once-snowy rocky peaks. During their journey, the duo also soared past iconic landmarks such as the Template’s Gates, offering a fresh perspective on the serene beauty of Lake Michaelson nestled within the national park.
While this flight was a personal pursuit for Álvarez and Román, it also served a higher purpose — bringing greater attention to the cultural and symbolic prominence of Mount Kenya, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, and gently reminding of the global significance of conservation and the need for responsible adventure tourism. Several indigenous communities, including the Kikuyu people, revere the region as the dwelling place of Ngai, the Supreme Being, making it an exceptionally sacred site.
Román acknowledged the importance of Mount Kenya: “It’s a special location for Kenyan people. It’s the highest peak and it’s a national park. This made it super hard to fly there. We were actually the first ones to fly over the national park, and that made it really special.” (Red Bull Content Pool)