Arrival
This day is the day that you will meet us after plane landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Tanzania, Or directly Moshi town where you will spend your first night at your choice hotel/lodge in the home town of Kilimanjaro mountain. When in town if early arrived and no cloud barrier, you may see the beautiful mountain snow caped “that is Kilimanjaro Mountain”.
Day 01 : – Moshi town to Machame Camp.
Early in the morning after breakfast at your lodge/hotel, you will be picked up by our driver and transferred to Machamme Gate lying at 1,815 mt/ 5,950 ft. You will go through the registration formalities as the porters assigned the luggage amongst themselves for you start on your first day of trekking. This day sight of a lot of exotic birds will be seen, and the Sykes monkeys as well as the black and white colubus monkeys on the canopies of the trees as they go on their daily life. In about 6 – 7 hours you will be at the camp for the first mountain night, the Machame Camp that sits at just above the forests zone aprrox 9,850 feet. This day’s trek is a long one but gentle. Your porters surprisingly will be much ahead of you and on your arrival you will most probably find them having pitched tents and coffee is ready for you.
Day 02: Machame Camp to Shira Camp,
After breakfast in the morning through the savannah grasses we will pass across the beautiful heather land and alpine moorland all the way with wonderful views of the Kilimanjaro Peak one of the rewards of this route is that it filled with views . As we go the ascent begins to steepen and we scramble around some boulders as we enter this moor land zone which is typically marked with presence rocks draped by lichen beards which apparently protect the wild alpine flowers from growing at their bases. This day’s night will be spent at Shira Camp that lies at 12,600 feet. We will have walked about 4-5.5 hours today and fatigue is gripping in slowly. After meals we will rest to our tents for overnight.
Day 03: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
Having slept early the previous night we wake up early this day and after breakfast off we are on our way up and as we get closer to the lava tower the peak is drawn even nearer. More sensible the trekking becomes this day but this day is treated as the acclimatization day. The lava tower is a 300 ft tall volcanic plug that marks an exposed pass at 1500ft. After having reached at the Lava tower we start descending down the steep track into the Valley of Barranco where we shall camp for the night. The Barranco camp lies at 12950 feet and is set on a flat area that is enclosed by steep valley walls and the Kibo massif. Stunning view of hanging glacier.
Day 04: Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
Hoping to have now acclimatized enough we start our day by ascending into the gorge before we descend its eastern wall enjoying views of Kilimanjaro’ since field that seem to defy the norms of the equatorials. We will continue ascending this day is steeper but we walk for fewer hours about 4-5 hours until we reach Karanga Valley Camp our home for the day. The camp stands at apprx 13,900 feet.
Day 05: – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
This day we shall trek up Karanga Valley, as the trail turns steadily uphill, and following the lava ridge we proceed towards the Barafu camp. As we approach the Barafu Camp the temperatures are now colder that this night will use your most warming gears. The Camp is on a ridge, small exposed flat area, at 15,200 feet, that will act as a base camp from where we shall attempt to summit later on at midnight. This day we shall have walked 6-7 hours.
Day 06: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
After having had enough rest we wake up just after midnight and start our last but challenging trek attempt the summiting. At around 12:30 to 1.00am we embark on our way up passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers and over to the rim at Stella Point. Temperatures are now below freezing point and as it dawns we’ll summit at the Uhuru Peak, which is the highest peak in Africa standing at 5895 m /19,340 feet, The excitement and satisfaction is just an amazing feeling up the rooftop of Africa. Jubilation rules the air and after a session of photos you will begin your way down 3-4 hours to Mweka Camp lies at 9,840 feet where you will spend the night. You will have stopped at Barafu briefly to take your breakfast.
Day 07: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate
Approximately 3 hours after breakfast you will descend down from Mweka camp to the Mweka Gate where you will sing out and bid farewell to your crew who accompany you to made it. Persons who have made it to the Gillman’s point receive Green Certificates and the conquerors of Uhuru Peak 5895 m /19,340 feet will get a Gold Certificate. You will have a waiting vehicle which will take you back to hotel in Moshi or Arusha depends on your plan. This day is also a recommendation day.
