Tour Highlights
7 days ascent to the roof of Africa. Starting at Lemosho on the Western side and traversing across the most spectacular parts of the mountain. It joins the Machame route above Shira Camp on Day 4. Then from Barafu Camp, ascends to the summit via Stella Point. Descent is via the Mweka route.
Day 01:Kilimanjaro Forest
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today’s hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.
Day 02:Shira 2
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper Forest and break out on to the heath zone and the extensive Shira Plateau. It is a long day with some serious altitude gained so your guide will set the easy, slow pace to ensure you acclimatise as best you can. Lunch is taken on trail at Shira 1 Camp before trekking across the plateau to Shira 2 Camp.
Day 03: Barranco Camp
From Shira 2 we traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone. 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 at base camp – a great acclimatisation day!
Day 04: Karanga Camp
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 05: Barafu Camp
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 remainder of the evening.
Day 06: Kilimanjaro Summit / Mweka Camp
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 07: Arusha
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!
Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative of Tambarare Safaris to congratulate you and answer any other questions you may have.
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