DAY 1 - ARRIVAL
A Serengeti Experience Driver will pick you up from the Airport and transfer you to your hotel. On arrival the hotel staff will help you get settled in and relax after your flight. Later on, you will be met by your guide and the Climbs Manager from Serengeti Experience who will brief you thoroughly on what to expect while on the mountain and will also conduct a kit check to make sure you have everything you need for the trip.
DAY 2 – MACHAME CAMP
START – 5,906FT / 1800M END – 9,302FT / 2835M DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM TIME – 5-7 HRS CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you start hiking from Machame Gate. Today's hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is taken on trail during the hike before reaching Machame Camp for the night.
DAY 3 – SHIRA
START – 9,302FT / 2835M END – 12,304FT / 3750M DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM TIME – 4-6 HRS CLIMATE ZONES – AFROMONTANE FOREST / HEATH
From Machame Camp you hike to Shira Camp. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly but you will still make it to your next camp in time for a hot lunch. The zone you pass into today is known as the heath zone where attractive heliochrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.
DAY 4 – BARRANCO CAMP
START – 12,304FT / 3750M END – 12,796FT / 3900M DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM TIME – 6-8 HRS CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Today is a “walk high sleep low” day. You ascend into alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is in two days time at base camp – a great acclimatisation day!
DAY 5 – KARANGA CAMP
START – 12,796FT / 3900M END – 13,108FT / 3995M DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM TIME – 4-5 HRS CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
From Barranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels (Senecio species), you ascend the Barranco Wall and hike glacial valleys to Karanga Camp. Today is a relatively short day’s hike and lunch is taken at Karanga camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising. In the evening a practice walk for the summit is taken to make sure you are completely comfortable with the kit you are going to summit in.
DAY 6 – BARAFU CAMP
START – 13,108 / 3,995M END – 15,332FT / 4673M DISTANCE – 2.5 MILES / 4KM TIME – 4-5 HRS CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and, at times, strong winds rip over this camp; yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the rest of the evening.
DAY 7 – KILIMANJARO SUMMIT / MWEKA CAMP
START – 15,332FT / 4673M END – 10,171FT / 3100M DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM TIME – 14-16 HRS CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC, HEATH
Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m) and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point (Alt: 18,865ft, 5750m) affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down however. The first stage is to get back to our base camp for a quick change of clothes and refuel before the long hike downhill to Mweka Camp. The downhill is hard on the knees and walking poles at this stage are highly recommended. You should reach Mweka Camp before dusk for your final night on the mountain.
DAY 8 – ARUSHA
START – 10,171FT / 3100M END – 5,381FT / 1640M DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM TIME – 3-4 HRS CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you descend once again through afromontane forest and around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Serengeti Experience Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
DAY 9 – DEPART
After one last breakfast, your driver will collect you from the lodge at a previously arranged time in order to take you to the airport in time for your return flight or onward travel arrangements.
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