Airport pick up and transfer to the lodge in Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania, your driver is waiting for you. Pick up at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to the lodge by private car.
If you have time you can visit Arusha town (clock tower, local market etc.) or relax at the lodge with garden and swimming pool. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- Arusha Planet Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Machame Gate (1490m) To Machame Camp (2980m)
Hiking Time: Approx Seven Hours
Distance: Approximately Eighteen Kilometers
Habitat: Mountain Forest
After breakfast your guides will come to collect you and you will drive to Machame village/gate. After registering at the gate you will begin by entering the rain forest. Living up to its name, there is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience.
You will have a welcome packed lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. The crew will set everything out at your campsite and all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the great outdoors.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Machame Camp (2980m) To Shira Camp (3840m)
Hiking Time: Approximately Six Hours
Distance: Approximately Nine Kilometers
Habitat: Moorland
After an early breakfast you will climb for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you will continue up a rocky ridge onto the stunning Shira plateau, due west of Kibo, from which you will be able to see the breathtaking glaciers. After a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3,840m. The climbing crew will provide you with a tasty meal and you will then have plenty of time to sit back and relax.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Shira (At 3840m) To Lava Tower (At 4630m) To Barranco Camp (At 3950m)
Hiking Time: Approximately Seven Hours
Distance: Approximately Fifteen Kilometers
Habitat: Semi-Desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. After lunch you will climb a rocky scree path to the Lava Tower (4630m). This five hour walk will probably be your hardest day so far and some climbers may begin to feel the altitude. However our experienced team will coach you through the symptoms and provide you with all the advice and support you need.
After lunch you descend again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area, whilst it may seem illogical to be going down at this point, you will quickly appreciate its true acclimatisation benefit. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Barranco Camp (3950m) To Karanga Camp (4099m)
Hiking Time: Approximatly Seven Hours
Distance: Approximately Thirteen Kilometres
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Your day begins by tackling the awesome obstacle of the Great Barranco Wall. Whilst initially an imposing site, its climb is invariably easier than anticipated. You will quickly appreciate how beautiful the mighty Kilimanjaro is when you reach the bottom of the Heim Glacier. You will then head down to the Karanga Valley. This is a short walking day, but we recommend doing a short acclimatisation hike to the scree below the glaciers in the afternoon.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Karanga Camp (4099m) To Barafu Camp (4550m)
Hiking Time: Approximately Seven Hours
Distance: Approximately Thirteen Kilometers
Habitat: Alpine Desert
This next day is similarly a short hike (approx. 3-4hrs). You will make your way over the ridges and valleys, and join up with the Mweka route. After another hour or so, you reach Barafu (Swahili for Ice) Hut. This camp gives you a real experience of the icy elements. The camp is exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony ridge. You will appreciate your warm and cosy sleeping bags on this night! The summit is now only a further 1,345m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. The team will help you to prepare your equipment and clothing for your summit attempt. You will go to bed at about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Summit Attempt - Barafu Camp (4550m) To Uhuru Peak (5895m) To Mweka (3100m)
Hiking Time: Approximately 8 Hours To Reach Uhuru Peak And Another 7-8 Hours To Descend To Mweka
Distance: Approximately Seven Kilometers Ascent – And A Further Twenty Three Kilometers Descent
Habitat: Stone Scree And Ice-Capped Summit
At 23 you will be awoken with tea and biscuits and will make a move into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. At Stella Point (5,685m) your efforts will be rewarded with a short rest and the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa and achievement you will remember for the rest of your life.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have short rest before heading down to Mweka hut. The route is not difficult and will take you down into the moorland and into the forest.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Mweka Camp (3100m) To Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking Time: Approximately Three Hours
Distance: Approximately Fifteen Kilometers
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate where you will receive your certificates; those climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive gold certificates. You will be picked up and brought back to lodge for a warm welcome, a cold celebratory drink and a hearty meal.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Arusha Planet Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Transfer to the airport
Program: After breakfast if you have time you can go to town for shopping with your driver and experience a local lunch (not included in the price). Later transfer to Kilimanjaro airport and flight back home or to Zanzibar for beach holidays.
We can also organize a safari extension after the Kilimanjaro trekking.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: