Duration: 12 Days     Country: Tanzania    Altitude: (5,895 mmt)
Accommodations: Hotel / Tent.   Price: $00 REQUEST PRICE 

Best Season: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec   Group: Min. 2 PAX

Grade: Demanding    Activity: Trekking/ Easy Climbing Trekking hours: 4 to 9 hrs per day

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Tackle an iconic seven summit and climb one of the most famous mountains in the world during this 12 day expedition to Kilimanjaro.  After the tough high altitude adventure, you will rest and relax in the company of elephants, zebra, and hippos during an incredible safari experience!

Rising above the plains of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro is unrivaled in its spectacular natural beauty. This dormant volcano of 5,895m/19,341ft last erupted hundreds of thousands of years ago, was first summited by Europeans in 1889, and today is a classic of the seven summits.  Mt. Kilimanjaro is the perfect test for any aspiring climber who sets out to achieve this difficult, yet incredibly fulfilling, personal goal: to stand on the highest point of Africa.

We will follow the Machame route during the 7 day climb.  We prefer this route because there is plenty of time to acclimatize along the way.  Also, we typically try to camp at some of the less popular spots on the mountain.  During the trek, we will pass through the mountain’s 5 distinct ecosystems, and it is truly fascinating to see how the vegetation and landscape change with the altitude.  A day-by-day outline of the route is included below, so you can review the path we will take and the campsites we will use.

If you’d like to mo maximize your time while you’re already in Africa, we will head to the plains for a magical safari extension (optional) after the climb.  The safari will combine interesting cultural experiences with the unsurpassed big game wildlife of Tanzania. You will have a chance to see elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, hippos, and more as we explore Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. 

While this is not a technical climb and does not require previous mountaineering experience, a high level of physical fitness is critical to the safety and success of your climb.  It is important to keep in mind that trekking at extremely high altitudesis significantly more difficult than trekking at lower altitudes. We recommend that you train for at least 3-4 months and follow a training plan that includes cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and mobility work, along with trekking up hills (or stairs if you are training indoors) with daypacks of up to 25 lbs. 

 

ITINERARY DETAIL

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Day 1: International flight to Tanzania

Depart your home country for Kilimanjaro International Airport (Airport Code: JRO)

 

Day 2: Arrival in Tanzania

When your international flight arrives, we will meet you at the airport for your transfer to the hotel in Arusha.

Day 3: Orientation

We will welcome everyone to Tanzania and go over the upcoming days’ program during a detailed briefing. We then conduct gear check and, if you’re interested, will take you on a walking tour of Arusha.

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Day 4: Machame Hut

Today the trek begins! Vehicle transfer to the trailhead at Machame Gate, where we greet our porters. Our porters come from the Chagga Tribe, an ethnic group that lives on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. We will have ample opportunity to get to know them and their unique culture and traditions during the upcoming days.

We begin our trek at an elevation of 1,830m/5,800ft. We hike through the edge of a rainforest until we reach Machame Hut (3,000m/9,900ft), where we stop for the night.

Distance: 10km

Elevation gain: 1,200m/3,900ft

 

Day 5: Shira Camp

We pass through a short valley and then begin to climb.  As we trek, we can observe the landscape change from health forest to moor land. We eventually reach the Shira Plateau, and not long after we arrive at Shira Camp (3,800m/12,500ft), where we spend the night.

Distance: 8km

Elevation gain: 800m/2,600ft

 

Day 6: Barranco Hut

Today takes us to our highest elevation yet at 14,800ft. We will enjoy incredible panoramas over the landscape below.  We then descend down to Barranco Hut (12,800ft) for the night.

Distance: 10km

Elevation gain: 2,100ft/640m

Elevation loss: 520m/1,700ft

 

Day 7: Karanga River Camp

Today we have another opportunity to acclimatize as we reach an elevation of 14,500ft during our climb over the Great Barranco. From there, we descend to the Karanga River Camp for the night.  The route takes us beneath the Breach Wall, a landmark of the mountain.

Distance: 5km

Elevation gain: 400m/1,300ft

Elevation loss: 300m/1,000ft

 

Day 8: High Camp (Kosovo Camp)

We enter the high desert plateau with today’s ascent.  You will notice the volcanic boulders that are strewn across the path. Once we reach our high camp at Kosovo, we rest before our late night/early morning (12-2am) summit attack.

Distance: 5km

Elevation gain: 700m/2,300ft

 

Day 9: SUMMIT DAY

Finally, the moment for our summit attack has arrived! We hopefully feel rested for the long day ahead.

We climb in the dark of night until dawn, traversing a ridge until we reach the edge of the crater. From there, we follow the crater’s rim until we reach the summit of Uhuru Peak at a breathtaking 5,896m/19,344 ft. We take a moment to celebrate our achievement as we observe the impressive panorama that surrounds us.

We then must begin our descent.  We stop at High Camp for a quick bite, and continue to our final camp on the mountain, Millennium Camp. 

Distance -High camp and summit: 7km, High Camp to Millennium Camp: 5.6km

Elevation gain/loss: High Camp to summit: 1,080m/3,544ft; High camp to Millennium Camp: 1,028m/3,550ft

 

Day 10: Return to Arusha

We wake up early and head out by 7am. Yesterday’s achievement will really sink in as we see the impressive summit looming behind us.

We follow the Mweka route on the way down, crossing a thick jungle filled with gigantic ferns.  We enjoy a final celebration at Mweka gate, as well as a delicious hot buffet lunch.

We return to Arusha (2 hr vehicle transfer) and spend the night in the Hotel.

 

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (Airport Code: JRO) for your flight back to your home country.

 

Day 12: Arrive home

Arrive back home.