Mt. Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and for centuries most mountaineers’ dream climb. On this 9-day expedition (including acclimatization days) you and a group of up to 10 people will be led by professional guides and support staff on a spectacular journey to the summit (5,895m).
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania
Day 2: To Machame Camp
Day 3: To Shira Camp
Day 4: To Barranco Camp
Day 5: Acclimatization day – Karanga Camp
Day 6: To Barafu Camp
Day 7: Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro
Day 8: Descent and return to Arusha
Day 9: End of tour or tour
Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania!
Your tour starts at Planet Lodge in Arusha, located a 45-minute drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Should you require an airport transfer today, please let your Travel Consultant at Paradise Adventure Vacations know as this can be arranged for you at an extra cost. Should you have some free time after your arrival there are several activities that the lodge can help arrange for you.
In the evening you will meet your expedition guides for a briefing of your upcoming adventure. Together with the guides you will check all equipment needed for the trek. Should you have forgotten anything important you can hire extra items from the guides. Take the time here to ask any questions you may have about the next 8 days in the mountains.
Journey Time 45 minutes
Accommodation Planet Lodge
Meal Plan No meals included today
Day 2: To Machame Camp
After an early breakfast at the lodge you will depart for Machame Gate at 07:30 AM with the rest of the group and your guides. Machame Gate is located on the western side of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Around 10 AM, after some paperwork at the gate, you are ready to hit the trails.
As you make your way up the foothills you will hike through tropical rainforest where you are likely to spot some black and white colobus monkeys as well as plenty of tropical bird species. A steady 5-hour climb will lead you to Machame Camp where your tent will already be pitched and ready for you.
Dinner is served in the mess tent. Every evening you will start your meal with a hot bowl of soup and energy packed food. Before you retire your tired legs, you will have a briefing for the coming day. Your oxygen level and heart rate will be measured to make sure you are healthy and prepared for tomorrow’s climb.
Level of difficulty Average
Altitude gain Machame gate at 1800m to Machame Camp at 3000m
Meal Plan Breakfast, Local Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: To Shira Camp
After a hot breakfast it is time to climb through the last part of the rainforest of the Kilimanjaro slopes. Once you pass the treeline the landscape changes to moorland where a lot of endemic plants and tree species are found. Today you will need to remember to go “pole pole” (slowly slowly) as this part of the hike involves a 3-4 hour steep climb. After a break at lunch you will continue on the final 1,5 hours of moderate ascending and descending trail until you arrive at Shira Camp.
The views from Shira Camp are considered one of the most impressive of the Machame route, offering glimpses of the summits of both Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro. If you still have a bit of energy left in you, you can explore Shira cave, which is located only 15 minutes from the camp. Be prepared for a cold night tonight, as temperatures frequently drop below 0 degrees Celsius at these elevations.
Level of difficulty Semi-difficult to Average
Altitude gain Machame camp at 3000m to Shira Camp at 3900m
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: To Barranco camp
Today you will need your energy for a long and tough day. To start you will ascend steadily from the moorlands to Alpine desert landscape. Since the vegetation is low to the ground in this part, there are many stones on the trail and it can get quite dusty. The challenge today is both the long distance that you are covering, and the ascent to a higher altitude. At this stage you may experience some altitude sickness symptoms like severe headache, nausea and/or dizziness. Your first goal of the day is to reach the Lava Tower at 4630 meters. This stretch will take between 4 to 5 hours.
On arrival you will need to take at least half an hour to rest and let your body acclimatize to the high altitude. After acclimatization and some lunch, you will hike for another 2-3 hours to Barranco Camp at 3840 meters. Since you are descending to lower altitudes, any potential symptoms of altitude sickness will now fade.
Level of difficulty Difficult to Semi-difficult
Altitude gain Shira Camp at 3900m via Lava Tower to Barranco Camp at 3840m
Meal Plan
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Acclimatization day – Karanga Camp
After a good night’s rest, you will feel ready to conquer the great Barranco Wall! This steep 260-meter-high wall may look a bit terrifying, but making your way over the wall with your hands and feet is quite fun, and the view at the top over Karanga Valley is more than worth the effort. The acclimatization process of climbing the Barranco Wall at 4100 meters is an important factor in succeeding in completing the Kilimanjaro expedition. After only 1.5 hours you will reach Karanga Camp where the guides have already pitched your tent so you can spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
Level of difficulty Semi-difficult to average
Altitude gain Barranco Camp at 3840m to Karanga camp at 3995m
Meal Plan
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: To Barafu Camp
From Karanga Camp it is a 3 hour steady hike to Barafu Camp, your last stretch before summit day! Today is all about resting up for the big day tomorrow. Dinner will be served at 5:30 PM and you should get some sleep after this. Around midnight you will be woken up to hike to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Level of difficulty Semi-difficult to average
Altitude gain
Karanga Camp at 3995m to Barafu Camp at 4550m
Meal Plan Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: To the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro!
You will be woken up just before mid-night and after some tea and biscuits you will set of on your summit bid of Mt. Kilimanjaro. For the best chance of reaching the summit today, you will need to hike very slowly and steadily. After 6-7 hours on a steep ascending trail you will reach Stella Point at 5685 meters, just in time for the sun to rise slowly over Mawenzi peak. Another hour of hiking over a glacier and caldera you will reach Uhuru Peak which is the highest point of Africa at 5895 meters above sea level. Sit and enjoy the views for a while and congratulate yourself on a job well done. You will soon descend on a 3-4 hour hike back to Barafu Camp for a well-deserved lunch and rest.
You will continue on for another 3-4 hours today, following the Mweka route to the last camp on your Kilimanjaro expedition; Mweka Camp at 3100 meters. After this unique and highly memorable day you will have a nice hot meal and some well-deserved sleep!
Level of difficulty Very difficult to Semi-difficult to average
Altitude gain
Barafu Camp at 4550m, via the summit 5895m to Mweka camp 3100m
Meal Plan
Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: To Arusha
Your last day on the trails will be very enjoyable and relaxed, through lush tropical rainforest. After 3 hours of descent you will reach Mweka Gate where you will have your final meal with your expedition crew and fellow hikers. After a well-earned tip for the crew (information about tipping can be found in practical information sheet that your Travel Consultant will share with you) you will return to Arusha.
After a week on the mountains a hot shower awaits you at Planet Lodge. From the comfort of the lodge, you can relax and reminisce about the impressive climb you just completed to the roof of Africa!
Level of difficulty Very difficult to Semi-difficult to average
Altitude gain
Mweka camp 3100m to Mweka gate at 1800m
Meal Plan
Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: End of tour or extension!
Depending on the time your flight departs today, there may be some time to enjoy the pool, have a massage or take a yoga class. All activities you plan for today are at your own expense.
If you need an airport transfer please let your Travel Consultant know at the time of your booking so this can be arranged for you at an additional cost. We hope you have enjoyed your journey to the Roof of Africa with us!
Journey Time 1 hour to the airport
Accommodation Not included
Meal Plan Breakfast
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