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Tanzania
DAY 1:
Kilimanjaro International Airport – Hotel
Distance – 50 km
You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Arusha. After a short briefing, you will have time to prepare and rest before the trek.
or
Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (Nairobi) – Hotel in Arusha
Distance – 300 km
We can organize shuttle bus from JKIA to your hotel in Arusha. After a short briefing, you will have time to prepare and rest before the trek.
DAY 2:
Lemosho Gate (2,375m/7,838 ft.) – Mti Mkubwa Camp/ Big Tree Camp (2,750m/9,075 ft.)
Habitat – Mountain forest, hiking time – 3 – 4hours, distance – 6km
It is 3 to 4 hours’ drive to Lemosho entry gate, this is one of mount Kilimanjaro national park entry gates, here you will be registered and grouping porters weight to make sure porters are not overweighed and other formalities in good weather; in rain most parts of the road become muddy and impassable, requiring you to start your walk 2 km before the starting point at 2375m where we usually having lunch and finish at Mti Mkubwa for dinner and overnight.
Despite the fact that the distance is a short one, it can be difficult because of its steep sections and muddy conditions.
DAY 3:
Mti Mkubwa Camp/ Big Tree Camp (2,750 m/9,022ft) – Shira Camp 1 (3,480 m/11,417ft)
Habitat – moorland, hiking time – 6 hours, distance – 6, 5 km
Going to the top of the forest, the trail gradually steepens and enters the huge heather moorland zone. The west face of Kibo volcano looms above Shira Camp. The wildflowers and large shrubs dominate the landscape. You can keep going to the top of the Shira Ridge where the Shira Cathedral and Machame Route can be seen. Then a short descent will bring you to Shira 1 Camp for a hot lunch and rest before afternoon tea and acclimatization walk.
For the fit one can summit to Shira Peak (Johnsell Point at 3952m) then back to camp for dinner and overnight. You can choose to spend an extra day that will give you chance to visit Shira Cathedral and stay overnight at Shira 2 Hut (3850 m) where most climbers from Machame route come for their acclimatization walk.
DAY 4:
Shira 1 Camp (3,480 m/11,417ft) –Moyr hut at (4,155 m/13,632ft)
Habitat -Moorland, hiking time -4-6 hours, distance – 8 km
Leaving Shira 1 camp heading up to Moyr hut for hot lunch , after lunch we will take you up Lent group rock at approximately 4,400m for your acclimatization, this is where the northern circuit route starts then joins Rongai route for summit and after joining normal southern circuit for descending , then back to camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5:
Moyr hut (4,155m/ 13,632ft) – Barranco Camp (3,895m/13,150ft)
Habitat – Moorland, hiking time – 5-6 hours, distance – 9km
This day we continue towards the east into the rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower (4630m) it is a 5-hour climb to the top where we’ll have lunch. Shortly after the Tower, we pass a junction leading to Arrow Glacier Camp, and start a steep descent into the Great Barranco Valley. After 2 hours, we reach Barranco Camp. After a short rest, you’ll have afternoon tea and time to take in the great Barranco Valley where the last glaciations took place. Then back for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6:
Barranco Camp (3,895m/13,150ft) – Barafu Hut (4,600m/15,180ft)
Habitat – Alpine desert , hiking time – 5-6 hours, distance – 9km
After breakfast we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge past the Barranco wall nick- named “breakfast wall” where summit is 4200m. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intertwining ridges and valleys and then up to Barafu Hut after (2-3hrs). There we’ll make camp, have an early dinner, and rest in anticipation the for night ascent. Karanga camp will be our lunch stop.
DAY 7:
Barafu Hut (4,600m/15,180ft) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,453ft) – Mweka Camp (3,100m / 10,230ft)Habitat – heather,
Habitat – stone screed and ice – capped summit
Hiking time – 8-9 hours to Uhuru Peak, 6-8 hours to descent to Mweka Hut
Distance – 9km to Uhuru Peak, 8 km descent to Mweka Hut
We wake up at 23h00(11:00pm) or as your guide decide, and after tea and snacks, we start the ascent to the rim of Kibo Crater. After a 6 hour climb, we reach Stella Point at 5752m where we stop for a short rest. From here it is an additional 1-1h30 leads to Uhuru Peak 5895m – the highest point in Africa, weather will determine how long you can stay there, temperature are usually decrease to below freezing point (-18C). We then descend back to Barafu Hut, resting for brunch before continuing down to Mweka Camp at 3100m for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8:
Mweka Camp (3,100m / 10,230ft) – Mweka Gate (1,600m / 5,280ft)
Habitat – Montana rain forest , hiking time – 2:30-4 hours, distance – 8km
This day we’ll have a short descent through beautiful forest to the Park Gate. At Mweka Gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. Then drive back to your hotel in Arusha for rest, dinner and splendid celebrations while having your pre safari briefing from your professional safari guide then time to rest and personal preparation.
