Suggested Itineraries – these are sample and vary with different groups.

 

 

7 day Machame Route

 

Day 1 – Arrival at JRO Kilimanjaro International – collection from the airport – 1 hour transfer.  Overnight at the designated hotel – dinner bed and continental breakfast – sharing twin rooms.

 

Day 2 –Park gate (1800m) – Machame Camp (2800m)

Be ready at 07h30 for collection from the hotel. Drive to the park gate where you will meet up with your guide and porters.  The usual process of signing into the park and preparing for the hike should take about an hour. The first few hours of the day will be spent on a vehicle track that winds its way through the dense indigenous forest The track will eventually thin out and will become a muddy path for the rest of the way to the camp. Machame camp is situated on the edge of the forest. 1850m to 2800m. (7 hours trekking).

Day 3 – Machame Camp (1800m) –  Shira 1 Camp (3800m)

This is the easiest of the days, and will offer you your first views of Kibo in the morning. We head up a ridge for the first 3 hours and have brunch on a small plateau, offering excellent views of Meru and Kibo. After lunch we climb slightly onto the Shira Plateau, where camp will be set up.  3800m. (5 hours of trekking).

Day 4 – Shira 1 Camp (3800m) – Barranco Camp (3800m) via lava Tower (4600m)

This is the acclimatisation day and it will take us up to the Lava tower, a huge volcanic boot shaped pile of rocks, and then down into the Great Barranco Valley. We will camp at the base of the Barranco Wall. Up to 4500m and then down to sleep at 3800m.  (7 hours of trekking).

Day 5 –  Barranco Camp (3800m) – Karanga Camp (4200m)

We head up the Barranco wall for the first hour, and then skirt around to the Karanga Valley where we will be camping overnight.    4200m.  (5 hours of trekking).

Day 6 – Karanga Camp (4200m) – Summit (5895m) and on to Mweka Camp (3000m) 

After breakfast we head up a ridge to Barafu, where we will camp and prepare for our summit ascent.  We get our first view of Mawenzi from this camp. 4750m.  (4 hours of trekking).

Day 7 – The trail to the summit lies directly behind Barafu.  It is normal to start this day’s climb at 1 am or earlier.  (The reason for this are to see the sun rise over Mawenzi from the top of Kibo, the loose stone scree is frozen -making it easier to climb, and you can get back into good time ).  The first part is up a fairly steep rocky section which then flattens out for a short while before heading up the proper scree slope. We reach the crater rim at Stella point and continue along the rim to Uhuru Peak.

As you descend the scree from the rim back to Barafu, it is tempting to run fast, but this can result in clouds of irritant dust and even unpleasant falls.  After a short rest at Barafu we continue down the Mweka Route to Mweka Camp, where we spend the night.  Up to 5895 m and back down to 3700m. (14 hours of trekking).

Day 8 – Mweka Camp (3000m) – Park Gate (1800m)

This day takes us back into the forest before we head down a steep muddy path to the park gate. From here we will be collected and driven back to Moshi for the night. (6 hours of trekking).

Night back at the hotel – dinner bed and continental breakfast sharing room.

Day 9 – Transfer and departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

 

 

7 day Lemosho Route – Camping experience

 

Day 1 – Arrival at JRO Kilimanjaro International – collection from the airport – 1 hour transfer.  Overnight at the designated hotel – dinner bed and continental breakfast – sharing twin rooms.

 

Day 2 – Lemosho Glades (2,100m) – Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree Camp) (2750m)

The drive from Moshi to Lemosho Glades via Londorossi Park Gate (2,250m) takes about three hours with a 4×4 vehicle.  At the Londorossi gate (2250m) you will acquire your climbing permit and need to fill in your particulars in the park’s register.

To reach Lemosho Glades the vehicle follows a narrow trail leading through corn and potato plantations.  On arrival at this departure point, your assigned guide will sort out all baggage and food that needs to be carried up the mountain.  You will receive a lunch pack and head into the forest towards the first camp, Mti Mkubwa (2750m).

This is the only route on Kilimanjaro where you walk through a series of valleys, resulting in the frequent gain and loss of altitude.  The route is one of a few where on the first day an armed ranger may accompany you because the Lemosh Glades has buffalo, elephants and other big game.  Collobus and blue monkeys are often seen skimming the tree tops on the first two days.  Tents are pitched at the camp while water is collected and meals prepared for supper.  Overnight temperatures can reach freezing levels, so frost can be expected in the morning. (6 hours of trekking).

Day 3 – Mti Mkubwa (2750m) – Shira 2 (3850m)

After breakfast you’ll receive a lunch pack and follow the trail heading into the Giant Heather Moorland Zone.  The path crosses through valleys and a few streams before ascending the Shira Ridge, gaining altitude to about 3600m.  From this point you will see the Londorossi Camp and Road that ends on the Shira Plateau.

After reaching the top of Shira Ridge, the trail gradually descends to camp 2, Shira 1 (3500m).  Stronger hikers pass this camp and head straight for Shira 2 (3850m).  When making this choice, look forward to a long and strenuous day.  The Shira Cathedral and Shira Needle are now in full view along the route. Porters will pitch tents while drinking water and meals are prepared.  If you don’t decide to wander around the area, rest is the order of the day.  Expect frost in the morning, with temperatures dropping below freezing overnight Expect frost in the morning, with temperatures dropping below freezing overnight. (8 hours of trekking).

Day 4 – Shira 2 (3,850m) – Barranco (3985m)

This is the acclimatisation day and it will take us up to the Lava tower, a huge volcanic boot shaped pile of rocks, and then down into the Great Barranco Valley. We will camp at the base of the Barranco Wall. (7 hours of trekking).

Day 5 – Barranco (3800m) – Karanga Camp (4040m)

We head up the Barranco Wall for the first hour, and then skirt around to the Karanga Valley where we will take advantage of a fairly short day and take the opportunity to relax and acclimatise before a heavy day tomorrow. (5 hours of trekking).

Day 6 – Karanga Camp (4040m) – Barafu High Camp (4681m)

Breakfast, after which we head up a ridge to Barafu, where we will camp and prepare for our summit ascent. We  get our first view of Mawenzi from this camp – take this day slowly . . . tomorrow is going to be a long day. (4 hours of trekking).

Day 7 –  Barafu High Camp (4 681m) – SUMMIT (5 895m) – descent to Mweka Camp (3,090m)

The trail to the summit lies directly behind Barafu.  It is normal to start this day’s climb at 1 am or earlier.  The reasons for this are  to see the sun rise over Mawenzi from the top of Kibo, the loose stone scree is frozen -making it easier to climb.  The first part is up a fairly steep rocky section.

As you descend the scree from the rim back to Barafu,  it is tempting to run fast, but this can result in clouds of irritant dust and even unpleasant falls.  After a short rest at Barafu we continue down the Mweka Route to Mweka Camp, where we spend the night. (12 hours of trekking).

Day 8  – Mweka Camp (3,090m) – Mweka Gate (1,641m)

This day takes us back into the forest before we head down a steep muddy path to the Park Gate. From here we will be collected and driven back to Moshi for the night.  Overnight at Hotel. (6 hours of trekking).

Day 9 – Transfer and departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

7 day Rongai Route – Camping experience

 

Day 1 – Arrival at JRO Kilimanjaro International – collection from the airport – 1 hour transfer.  Overnight at the designated hotel – dinner bed and continental breakfast – sharing twin rooms.

Day 2 – Rongai Gate (1950m) – 1st Caves Camp (2600m)

Breakfast, 8am departure and transfer to start of route.  Registeration at Marangu park gate and transfer to the Rongai trailhead (3 hour bus drive). Begin hiking from the village of  Nale Moru. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, then climbs gently through a forest sheltering a variety of wildlife, including the Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. Our campsite is on the edge of the moorland zone with expansive views of the Kenyan plains. (3 – 4 hour trek).

Day 3 – 1st Caves Camp (2600m) – Kikelewa Caves (3450m)

Challenging ascent to the “Second Cave” where you will relax and have lunch with superb views of Kibo and the ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch proceed towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, where we camp in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves. (7 – 8 hour trek).

Day 4 –  Kikelewa Cave (3450m)) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4335m)
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes offers superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before we reach our next camp at Mawenzi Tarn spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. Spend the afternoon acclimatising. (3 hour trek).

Day 5  –  Acclimatisation day at Mawenzi Tarn (2 hour acclimatisation walk to 4500m)

 

Day 6 – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4335m) – Kibo Hut (4750m)
We cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Campsite.  The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent.  ( 5 – 6 hour trek).

Day 7 – Kibo High Camp (4 750m) – SUMMIT (5 895m) – descent to Horombo Camp (3720m)

A very early start (midnight) for the final challenge to reach Uhuru Peak (5 895m). Push up further for the short haul up to Uhuru Peak.       Remember to take in your day pack energy bars – biltong is also very good, and munch along the way.    Hike slowly on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree.   Rest for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi.   Continue to Uhuru Peak passing close to spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs in the summit area. Descend to Kibo and a rest then continue down the Marangu Route to Horombo Camp.  (14 hour trek).

 

Day 8 –  Horombo Hut (3720m) – Park Gate (1900m) 
Descend steadily through the moorland, past Mandara Hut and through a lush rain forest to the Marangu Park Gate where transport will be waiting  to drive you back to Moshe.  Overnight at the hotel, and time for a well-deserved hot shower, dinner and relaxation. (5 – 6 hour trek).

Day 9 – Transfer and departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport.