Tanzania & Zanzibar|Safaris in Tazania
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
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Fast Facts
Travelling to:
Moshi and Mount Kilimanjaro
duration:
10 Days - 9 Nights
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Imagine a trek through lush forests, across gorse covered mountainsides and across a landscape where almost no plant or animal life lives. Imagine emerging from your tent to a bright blue sky dominated by the dome of the tallest freestanding mountain in Africa, and thinking to yourself ‘I’m going to climb that!’.
Imagine camping below the shattered peak of Kilimanjaro’s second summit next to an ice-covered lake. Imagine standing at Uhuru Peak 5895m above sea-level, the highest point in Africa and 500m higher than Everest Base Camp!
Climbing Kilimanjaro is more of a personal challenge than a physical one, if you believe that you can do it you’re already halfway there, the rest is polé polé (slowly slowly) as the local guides say.
Highlights
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Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is world famous. At 5896m it is the highest freestanding mountain in the world and Africa’s tallest peak. Whether climbing or just experiencing its presence, visitors will all agree on the awesome majesty it commands.
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1 - Overnight Travel
Depart London Heathrow for your overnight flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Day 2 - Moshi
Staying at: Hotel Aishi Machame
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transfer to your hotel. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening, there will be a briefing with by the climb representatives, who will share various information or you upcoming climb and ensure you are ready to embark on your adventure
Day 3 - Mount Kilimanjaro
Staying at: Simba Camp
TREKKING FROM NALEMURU GATE TO SIMBA CAMP
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020m).
After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, thegroup will start trekking up to Simba Camp (2,625 m).
Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through coniferous forest up Kilimanjaro's northern slope. Remember not to hurry and always keep a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook dinner for you.
Day 4 - Mount Kilimanjaro
Staying at: Kikelewa Camp
TREKKING FROM SIMBA CAMP TO KIKILEWA CAMP
Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart from Simba Camp to start trekking towards your second high altitude camp: Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m) where you can see Kibo Volcano at its finest (barring cloudy weather).This trekking is more physically demanding than the previous one, so once you are in the camp, full rest is recommended.
Day 5 - Mount Kilimanjaro
Staying at: Mawenzi Tarn Camp
TREKKING FROM KIKILEWA CAMP TO MAWENZI TARN CAMP
Early wake up, breakfast and the start of trekking to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which is situated at the foot of Mawenzi Volcano, Kilimanjaro's second summit. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and a two-hour rest, after which there will be an acclimatization hike towards Mawenzi Volcano with a 200-meter gain in altitude, followed by a hike back down to Mawenzi Tarn Camp, where you will have dinner in the evening.
Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness. Trekking from Kikilewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn
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Day 6 - Mount Kilimanjaro
Staying at: School Hut/Outward Bound Camp
TREKKING FROM MAWENZI TARN CAMP TO SCHOOL HUT CAMP
This day will be spent trekking towards School Hut Camp (4,715 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semi desert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
Day 7 - Mount Kilimanjaro
Staying at: Horombo Huts
TREKKING TO UHURU PEAK AND DESCENT TO HOROMBO CAMP
Night departure from School Hut Camp (4,715 m) and the start of your trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit: Uhuru peak (5,895 m). The trekking will be moderate from a physical standpoint, but the altitude presents a much more serious problem. For the entire length of the trekking each pair of climbers will be accompanied by their own guide, who will be monitoring your stamina and mental resolve. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Kibo Camp and after a two-hour rest continue your descent to Horombo Camp (3,720 m).
Note: Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including all broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.
Day 8 - Moshi
Staying at: Hotel Aishi Machame
DESCENT FROM HOROMBO CAMP TO MARANGU GATE
You will be offered a warm breakfast in the morning, after which we will head for the Kilimanjaro National Park's exit: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will have the chance to share your opinions on the trip in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates and provide you a transfer back to the hotel.
Day 9 - Departure
A transfer is provided to the airport for your flight to London