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Arrival Day:
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You
will be met at the Airport and transferred to the hotel
in Arusha/Moshi for your overnight and briefing by our
mountain guide.
Day 1: Arusha/Moshi to Nale Muru to Simba Camp
Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Elevation(ft): 4,921/3,000 ft to 6,400 ft to 9,020 ft
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Your day starts early with breakfast and a briefing.
Transfer by Land Rover through many villages and coffee
plantations for 4-6 hours to the attractive wooden
village of Nale Muru (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing
in and preparing the porters, you begin the hike on a
wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes,
then enter pine forest. You then start to climb gently
but consistently through attractive forest that shelters
a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin and
Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) is near the “First Cave” at
the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over
the Kenyan plains.
Day 2: Simba Camp to Second Cave
Elevation(m): 2,750 m to 3,450 m
Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,320 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Your morning walk is a steady ascent up to the Second
Cave. En route, you will enjoy superb views of Kibo and
the eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
Day 3: Second Cave to Third Cave
Elevation(m): 3,450m to 3,870m
Elevation(ft): 11,320ft to 12700 ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert
Your continuing steady ascent takes you up to the Third
Cave. Closer now, the eastern ice fields on the crater
rim continue to draw you upwards. On this day, be
careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.
Day 4: Third Cave to Kibo Huts
Elevation(m): 3,870 m to 4,695 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400ft to 12,700ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Today, you hike up to the Kibo Huts at the bottom of the
Kibo crater wall, and this is where you join the popular
Marangu Route. Plan on doing your hike early in the day,
then resting in preparation for your final ascent.
Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit
climb, then turn in early.
Day 5: Summit Day! Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak to Horombo
Huts
Elevation(m ): 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400 ft to 19,340 ft to 12,100 ft
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for
your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so
that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise.
Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly
snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at
5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the
fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours
of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows
takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9
AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have
to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to
find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken
at the summit to show your friends. After your summit
stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest,
collect your things, and re cross the saddle to the
Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved
sleep! You do the beginning of this climb in the dark
with headlamps flashlights. It will be very cold until
you start descending, so you will need all of your warm
layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the
trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic
attitude will get you there!
Day 6: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate to Arusha/Moshi
Elevation(m): 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387/890 m
Elevation(ft): 12,100 ft to 6,000 ft to 4,921/2,920 ft
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Wake as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to
the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your
triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the
park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM.
Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since
you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you
back to the Hotel in Arusha/Moshi, where it is
definitely time for celebration!
Arusha/Moshi:
Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania
or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good
way to recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced
trips and safaris to the Tanzania Nothern Parks such as
trips to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater,
Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and
to Arusha National Park. Also we can arrange trips to
Southern Circuit such as trips to Selous game reserve,
Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park.
7-day Itinerary:
You can add a day to this trek by taking a longer route
that swings east to the Mawenzi Tarn, then crosses the
saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to rejoin the route at
the Kibo Huts. This itinerary greatly helps you
acclimatization, and increases you chances of success.
Day 1: Arusha/Moshi to Nale Muru to Simba Camp
Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Elevation(ft): 4,921/3,000 ft to 6,400 ft to 9,020 ft
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Your day starts early with breakfast and a briefing.
Transfer by Land Rover through many villages and coffee
plantations for 4-6 hours to the attractive wooden
village of Nale Muru (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing
in and preparing the porters, you begin the hike on a
wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes,
then enter pine forest. You then start to climb gently
but consistently through attractive forest that shelters
a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin and
Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) is near the “First Cave” at
the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over
the Kenyan plains.
Day 2: Simba Camp To Kikelewa Camp
Elevation(m): 2,750 m to 3,600 m
Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,810 ft
Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
You make a steady ascent to the Second Cave where you
have lunch. You leave the direct trail at the Second
Cave, and strike out across the moorland on a smaller
path toward Mawenzi’s jagged peaks. After another 10 km,
you reach the Kikelewa Camp in a sheltered valley with
giant Senecios nearby. The Kikelewa Cave is also nearby.
Day 3: Kikelewa Camp To Mawenzi Tarn
Elevation(m): 3,600 m to 4,330 m
Elevation(ft): 14,205 ft to 14,205 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi Desert
you do a short, steep climb up grassy slopes rewarded by
superb all-round views and a tangible sense of
wilderness. Shortly after you leave the vegetation
behind, you reach the Mawenzi Tarn, which is situated in
a spectacular cirque directly beneath the towering
spires of Mawenzi. After this short hike, you can spend
the afternoon exploring this exciting area.
Day 4: Rest at Mawenzi Tarn
Is your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend
two nights at Mawenzi Tarn. You can hike up toward
Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike.
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Huts
Elevation(m): 4,330m to 4,695 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400 ft to 14,200ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
You cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Mawenzi
and Kibo to reach the Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s
crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day
resting and preparing for your summit climb.
Day 6: Summit Day! Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak to Horombo
Huts
Elevation(m ): 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400 ft to 19,340 ft to 12,100 ft
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for
your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so
that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise.
Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly
snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at
5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the
fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours
of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows
takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9
AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have
to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to
find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken
at the summit to show your friends. After your summit
stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest,
collect your things, and re cross the saddle to the
Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved
sleep! You do the beginning of this climb in the dark
with headlamps flashlights. It will be very cold until
you start descending, so you will need all of your warm
layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the
trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an
optimistic attitude will get you there!
Day 7: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate to Arusha/Moshi
Elevation(m): 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387/890 m
Elevation(ft): 12,100 ft to 6,000 ft to 4,921/2,920 ft
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Wake as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to
the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your
triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the
park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM.
Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since
you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you
back to the Hotel in Arusha/Moshi, where it is
definitely time for celebration!
Arusha/Moshi:
Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania
or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good
way to recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced
trips and safaris to the Tanzania Nothern Parks such as
trips to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater,
Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and
to Arusha National Park. Also we can arrange trips to
Southern Circuit such as trips to Selous game reserve,
Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park.
Note that if you skip the rest day, you can visit
Mawenzi Tarn on a 6-day itinerary.
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