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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Arusha-Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Arusha-Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Hiking Time:6-7 hours
Total Distance:8.2 km
Starting Altitude: 1829m (6,000ft)
Final Altitude:3030m (9,950ft)
Environment: Montane (rain) Forest
Depart Machame Gate and trek upwards through the montane rainforest, characterized by dense vegetation, a muddy trail and short sections of steep climbs where you may hear the calls of many exotic birds and if we are lucky we may see blue monkeys on the forest canopy and hear the grunting calls of the magnificent black colobus monkeys with their long ‘cape’ of white hair and a flowing white tail.
Our first campsite, Machame Camp, is right after the dense tree cover in an area with lower but still thick bush where Podocarpus (African yellow-wood), Hagenia and Hypericum (St John’s Wort) dominate. In the evening you may hear the unmistakable shrieking call of the tree hyrax.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Hiking Time:7-8 hours
Total Distance:5 km
Starting Altitude: 3030m (9,950ft)
Final Altitude:3840m (12,600ft)
Environment: Moorland
Today we continue through increasingly sparse trees and bushes into moorlands. Picturesque hanging mosses often cover trees offering an ethereal quality to the landscape. The day finishes with Shira Camp, which is on a small plateau in the high moorlands, and features views of Kibo in the northwest and Mount Meru towards the east. White necked ravens can be seen throughout the day and around our campsite.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3

Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp

Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp

Hiking Time:6-7 hours
Total Distance:7 km
Starting Altitude: 3840m (12600ft)
Final Altitude:4642m (15230ft)
Environment: Semi-Alpine Desert
Today we turn east and continue to climb “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) through increasingly rocky and desolate terrain.
We take lunch at Lava Tower (4630m) and for those who feel up to it you can undertake an optional rock scramble (non-technical) to the top of Lava Tower where you will have spectacular panoramic vistas of the Karanga Valley below, Shira Plateau and the spectacular Western Breach above.
From Lava Tower, we descend steeply for 2 hours down more than 600m into the Great Barranco Valley. This descent affords fantastic views and some great photo opportunities of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. You will also feel the clear benefits of this acclimatization day as we lose altitude down to the camp.
This is definitely the toughest day so far, but incredibly beautiful.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4

Baranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp

Baranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp

Hiking Time:3-4 hours
Total Distance:5 km
Starting Altitude: 3978m (13054ft)
Final Altitude:4026m (13277ft)
Environment: Alpine Desert
Today we undertake the Great Barranco Wall – an imposing face above Barranco camp. A steady climb up the eastern wall takes us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some breathtaking views of the Heim Glacier and Mt. Kilimanjaro depending upon the weather and any cloud cover. Our trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, where we finish this second acclimatization day at Karanga Camp at 4046m.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5

Baranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Baranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Hiking Time:2-3 hours
Total Distance:4 km
Starting Altitude: 4039m (13250ft)
Final Altitude:4600m (15200ft)
Environment: Alpine Desert
Our trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley. Here the temperature will grow colder as we follow the trail climbing through this barren and dry landscape up to the Barafu camp.
Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice”, and the camping area is on a ridge in a narrow and exposed flat area. Here there are ever-present powerful winds blowing down from the mountain peaks.
Our campsite at 4600m offers spectacular views of the nearby peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. In preparation for your final ascent tonight, you will familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark, and prepare your equipment and thermal clothing for the summit attempt. Sleep will be difficult, though you will to retire to your tents after dinner to rest for the 1385m final ascent to the roof of Africa.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mellenium Camp

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mellenium Camp

Hiking Time:7 hrs to summit, 7-8hrs descent
Total Distance:7km to summit, 23km descent
Starting Altitude: 4682m
Summit Altitude:5895m – Uhuru Peak
Final Altitude:3819m (12,530ft)
Environment: Stone Scree, ice capped summit, Alpine desert
We will leave the camp at around 12 am for the most difficult though most rewarding day of the trek – your hike to the roof of Africa. After approximately 6 hours of slow but strenuous hiking, you will reach the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5685m.
At this point we stop to rest, eat lunch and take in the views over the clouds. From Stella Point the trail is normally snow covered, and every step of the 2-hour final ascent to Uhuru peak is challenging. The roof of Africa is within your grasp. We start back down the same trail and descend to Barafu camp. This is a life changing day that will stay with you forever, as you conquered the heights of Kilimanjaro.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7

Mellenium Camp to Mweka Gate then to Arusha

Mellenium Camp to Mweka Gate then to Arusha

Hiking Time:5-6 hours
Total Distance:13.5 km
Starting Altitude: 3819m (15530ft)
Final Altitude:1652m (5420ft)
Environment: Montane (rain) Forest
Today your legs will be further tested as the trail descends steeply through the lush Mweka rain forest. The trail is steep in places and the going slippery if wet.
The route follows the crest of a broad ridge separating two river valleys until it meets with a road that leads us for the last 40 mins to the Mweka Park Gates where we stop for a well-deserved picnic lunch where successful hikers will receive their summit certificates (gold for Uhuru Peale, Green for Stella point) from the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority.

Main Destination:
Arusha (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.
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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Biko Adventures Tours Tanzania , not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.