Kilimanjaro Trek - Itinerary
Day 1 London - Nairobi, Kenya
Day 2 Nairobi - Marangu, Tanzania
Arrive Nairobi 0630 and connect to our one-hour flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. Upon arrival we will be met by our guides and have a short 1-2hr transfer to our overnight hotel. The afternoon will be spent relaxing and preparing for the challenge ahead. Dinner will be served in the hotel.
Day 3 Naremoru Gate 1950m - Simba Camp 2650m
Early start, and drive round the mountain to Rongai - 3- 4-hour drive part of the way on a bumpy track. Upon arrival we will meet our guides and porters, and complete the park formalities. Our ascent begins from Naremoru Gate (1950m), and after a short while we will stop for lunch. We trek through farmer's fields and into the forest zone. It is a 3-4 hour trek and 700m climb through the forest. We camp overnight at 2650m, near the end of the forest line. There is a good chance to see the colourful Colobus monkeys on route; and if the weather is clear, we should get our good late afternoon views across Tsavo in Kenya. Overnight camp.
Day 4 Simba Camp 2650m - Kikelewa Camp 3678m
After an early breakfast, we leave Simba Camp and climb mostly on a narrow path through the moorland, with some fine views over Kenya to the north. As we climb, the trees become sparser and later disappear; even the Heather starts to shrink at higher altitudes. However, there is still plenty of interest of wild flowers such as the elegant Scarlet and Prickly Thistle. We trek up approx 3hrs to second cave (a lava tube) where we break for lunch. After lunch a 3 hour traverse to Kikelewa Cave - a pretty campsite just over 3600m on the edge of the lobelia zone. Approx 8-9 hours trekking, 1000m+ climb.
Day 5 Kikelewa Camp 3678m - Mawenzi Tarn 4295m
A steeper trek to Mawenzi tarn Hut at 4295m, 4-5 hours, 600m climb arriving for lunch. It's a pretty campsite, set in moraines in a glaciated valley with good views of the jagged peaks of Mawenzi above us. In the afternoon we will have a short acclimatisation walk to a higher altitude and then back down to camp.
Day 6 Mawenzi Tarn 4295m - Kibo 4700m
Early start 7am and a 5 hour trek to either school Hut or Kibo hut (camping nearby) at 4700m. It's a slow 5 -6 hour trek across "the Saddle" - an alpine desert between the volcanic peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Upon arrival at 4700m, we will rest and prepare for the summit day.
Day 7 Kibo 4700m - Gilman's Point 5680m - Uhuru Peak 5985 - Kibo 4700m - Horombo Camp 3700m
This is an extremely long and challenging day, walking up to 16 hrs. We get up shortly after midnight and climb Kibo for about 6 hrs to Gilman's point (5680m) on the rim of the volcanic crater for sunrise. If the day is clear there are spectacular views over the savannah plains with the possibility of seeing Mt Kenya some 360km away.
We then continue across the snow around the rim for a further 2 hrs for the final push to Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Africa's highest point. It is a hard hike, but is well worth it to see the glaciers and have your photo taken with a sign confirming your achievement. If you reach Uhuru you will have walked about 4 km for about 7 - 81/2 hours and ascended 1200m.
We go down the way we came back to Gillman's then onto Kibo and then continue our descent on the Marangu route all the way back to Horombo Huts where we will spend the night in tents at 3700m. This will be another 4km, which will take 4 1/2 to 7 hrs and will have descended 2200m.
Day 8 Horombo 3700m - Marangu Park Gates 1900m
We descend from Horombo through the moorland and forest to the gate at Marangu, arriving at around 3pm. From here we will transfer to the Kibo or Impala Hotel in Moshi for a celebration dinner.
Day 9 Depart for London
Morning free to relax. After lunch in Arusha we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Nairobi and then connect to our late overnight flight back to the UK.