Overview
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano with three volcanic cones, Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. Its the highest mountain in Africa (5,895m) and the highest free standing mountain in the world which means not part of a mountain range. Its snow caaped peaks rise above the savannah of the Kilimanjaro National Park. Hiking routes: There are seven main routes which lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak. The mountain has diverse vegetation zones that vary with altitude changes: montane forest, alpine and moorland,alpine desert, below the snow capped peak. Hiking Kilimanjaro takes between five to nine days to summit and descend to the finish point. Because mountaneering gear and experience is not needed to reach the peak, every year tens of thousands of hikers ascend the mountain. The risk of altitude sickness is there especially for hiker who ascend quickly because the body may need to acclimatize to such high altitudes.
Routes
Machame Route
Overview
Machame route (also known as Whiskey Route) is the most scenic route up in Kilimanjaro offering the hikers a diverse scenery such as the Lava Tower (A 300ft tall rock formation formed from lava), Shira Plateau and a series of valleys and ridges. Machame route allows you more acclimatization than other routes by taking you high to Lava Tower and bringing you down 700m in altitude to Barranco Camp on the third day.This route can be completed in 5 days where on the third day you go straight to Kibo with an overnight at Arrow Glacier Camp summiting on day 4. This can be physically demanding and is only suited for the most fit hikers. Camping is allowed in Machame route, which means hikers will be sleeping on tents all the up.Itinerary
Day 1: ArrivalArrival on Kilimanjaro Airport. Get ready for the next day start at KilimanjaroDay 2 - MACHAME GATE (1,490m) 7hrs , 18kmDay kicks off with a 45m drive from Moshi to Machame Village. You will receive your lunch park the rest of your cargo is submitted to the porters. Take a 1 hour walk from Machame village to the main gate - if the route is not muddy you will be driven. Register at the main gate and start your hike immediately by venturing into the montane forest. Normally theres a high possibillity of rain that transforms the path into muddy trail. Have lunch at halfway the route and reach Machame camping area in the afternoon. You will find the camps ready and dinner is prepared by the cooks. Stay overnight at the camp - note temperatures can drop below freezing point at night even at this point.Day 3 - MACHAME (2,980m ) to Shira Camp (3840m) 6hrs 9kmRise up early, take breakfast. After hiking for about an hour leave the forest and enter the more gradual moorland zone. After lunch continue your hike up the rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau where you can also view the Western Bleachs stunning glaciers. Arrive at Shira Camp at 3,840n. An overnight stay in this camp will be even colder than Machame Camp
Shira camp -Day 4 - Shira Camp to Lava Tower(4630m) -Down to Barranco Camp (3950m) 7hrs 15kmContinue with your hike on the 4th day into the rocky bare landscape and reach an altitude of 4630m after a 5hr trek. Lunch will be served on the way before ascending to Lava tower. At this point its normal to experience shortness of breath and headaches associated to Altitude sickness. After a short break descend about 680m to Barranco Camp for about 2hrs. During this descent you will view the beautiful view of the Western Breach and Breach wall.
View of the western breachDay 5 - Barranco to Barafu Camp(4550m) 7hrs 13kmAftern spending the night at the Barranco Camp (with the beautiful sight of Barranco Wall) make your way up the wall and head down to Karanga Valley and then join with Mweka Route which is normally the preffered way down the summit. Go left stop for the last water stop at Karranga Valley since there is no water at Barafu(Swahili for Snow) Camp which you will arrive at about an hour or so. Barafu Camp is rather a narrow exposed rocky ground where the tents will be erected that that has hostile condtions. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the area before dark to avoid bad incidents. You will be briefed on how to prepare to summit on the same night. Youre supposed to prepare your thermal clothing, ski sticks and replacements for your head lamps also carry your water in a thermal flask to avoid freezing. Sleep early at about 1900hrs since you will be up in about 5hrs.
Barafu campDay 6 -Summit, Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak(5895m) down to Mweka(3100m) 8hrs + 7hrs descent 30kmBegin your trek at 2330hrs, step into the night with your headtorches, well prepared for the harsh cold conditions head to Stella Point via what is most likely going to the most challenging part of your hike. On reaching Stella Point and feel the experience the beautiful sunrise and some warmth on your freezing body if the weather permits. From this point trek through the snow to Uhuru peak for about 2hrs. Spend a short time at the Peak to avoid freezing. Celebrate the challenging accomplishment and head down to Barafu summit (3hrs). Take a short rest at this Camp, collect the rest of your gear and head down to Mweka hut (3,100m).
Stella point - kilimanjaro glacierDay 7 - Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate(1900m) 3hrs 15kmTrek down this scencic forest back to the Park Gate. Continue back to Mweka Village via a muddy 3km walk / drive if not muddy. Drive back to Moshi for dinner and celebrations
Mweka gateLemosho Route
Overview
Lemosho Route is a remote, quieter route up Mt. Kilimanjaro. In this route the hikers may have to be accompanied by forest rangers on the first day due to high chances of encountering wild animals such as buffalos, elephant around the Lemosho Glades. This route is often considered most beautiful, it crosses the entire shira plateau from the west to east in a pleasant relatively flat hike. Ceowds are low until the route joins the Machame Route near Lava Tower.Itinerary
Day 1: ArrivalArrival on Kilimanjaro Airport. Get ready for the next day start at KilimanjaroDay 2 - LONDOROSSI GATE (2,100m) - MTI MKUBWA (2750m) 3hrs , 18kmThis day starts early with breakfast and a drive to Londorossi Park Gate. The hiking will begin at Lemosho trail head if its not too muddy and the vehicle can make it there. Hike up the forest, occassionaly you will get a chance to spot colobus monkeys and other wild animals and reach Mti Mkubwa camp in 3hrs. Stay overnight at the camp where you will find the camp already set up. Note the temperatures can already drop below freezing point at this campDay 3 - MTI MKUBWA CAMP(2,750m ) to Shira 2 Camp (3840m) 6.5hrs 9kmRise up early, take breakfast. After hiking for about an hour leave the forest and enter the more gradual heather moorland zone. After crossing several rivers cross the plateau that leads to Shira 2 camp on the Shira plateau. The camp is located on a moorland zone on the northwestern part of Kilimanjaro.
Tents set up on Shira 2 camp -Day 4 - Shira Camp to Lava Tower(4630m) -Down to Barranco Camp (3950m) 7hrs 15kmContinue with your hike on the 4th day into the rocky semi desert landscape and reach an altitude of 4630m after a 5hr trek. Lunch will be served on the way before ascending to Lava tower. At this point its normal to experience shortness of breath and headaches associated to Altitude sickness. After a short break descend about 680m to Barranco Camp for about 2hrs. During this descent you will view the beautiful view of the Western Breach and Breach wall.View of the western breachDay 5 - Barranco to Barafu Camp(4550m) 7hrs 13kmAftern spending the night at the Barranco Camp (with the beautiful sight of Barranco Wall) make your way up the wall and head down to Karanga Valley and then join with Mweka Route which is normally the preffered way down the summit. Go left stop for the last water stop at Karranga Valley since there is no water at Barafu(Swahili for Snow) Camp which you will arrive at about an hour or so. Barafu Camp is rather a narrow exposed rocky ground where the tents will be erected that that has hostile condtions. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the area before dark to avoid bad incidents. You will be briefed on how to prepare to summit on the same night. Youre supposed to prepare your thermal clothing, ski sticks and replacements for your head lamps also carry your water in a thermal flask to avoid freezing. Sleep early at about 1900hrs since you will be up in about 5hrs.Barafu campDay 6 -Summit, Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak(5895m) down to Mweka(3100m) 8hrs + 7hrs descent 30kmBegin your trek at 2330hrs, step into the night with your headtorches, well prepared for the harsh cold conditions head to Stella Point via what is most likely going to the most challenging part of your hike. On reaching Stella Point and feel the experience the beautiful sunrise and some warmth on your freezing body if the weather permits. From this point trek through the snow to Uhuru peak for about 2hrs. Spend a short time at the Peak to avoid freezing. Celebrate the challenging accomplishment and head down to Barafu summit (3hrs). Take a short rest at this Camp, collect the rest of your gear and head down to Mweka hut (3,100m).Stella point - kilimanjaro glacierDay 7 - Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate(1900m) 3hrs 15kmTrek down this scencic forest back to the Park Gate. Continue back to Mweka Village via a muddy 3km walk / drive if not muddy. Drive back to Moshi for dinner and celebrationsMweka gateDay 8 - DepartureTransfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home/ continue with your safari.