Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
Day Itinerary
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, after clearing customs and immigration formalities, you will be met and transferred to Arusha.
Overnight: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha The Arusha Hotel
The Arusha Hotel is located in the beautiful city of Arusha, Tanzania. The hotel offers 106 stylish rooms that feature Wi-Fi access, a television and a sitting area. Guests can enjoy a delicious meal at the onsite restaurant as well as unwind with a refreshing drink at the bar. The hotel also offers an outdoor swimming pool, a gym and a terrace that overlooks a tropical garden.
Basis
Half Board – Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Machame Camp
Day Itinerary
The climb starts from Machame Gate (1,800 m.) after a short walk through the attractive banana and coffee farms of Machame village. The path follows a ridge through dense mountain forest.
This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and also the zone from where 96 % of the water on Kilimanjaro originates. On sunny days, and especially in the dry season, this section is very lush and beautiful; it can also be a very muddy experience, particularly if it has rained recently!
We have lunch at ‘Halfway Clearing’, a small opening in the trees, and continue climbing steadily. The gradient becomes gentler as the forest slowly merges into giant heather close to the next camp near the ruins of Machame Hut (3,000 m.). We may get our first closer look at the glacial dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit. [6-8 hours walking]
Overnight: Machame Camp
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Shira Cave Camp
Day Itinerary
A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here, and it is a good rest point too!
The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau. We camp near Shira Cave Camp (3,720 m.) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro; close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of Shira Plateau, and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds. [4-6 hours walking]
Overnight: Shira Cave Camp
Shira Cave Camp is one of the camp sites found on the Shira Plateau on the second leg of the trip up Mount Kilimajaro. This camp is set at the eastern edge where climbers get to view more scenery such as the view of Uhuru Peak.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Barranco Camp
Day Itinerary
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,500 m.)
we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below. Barranco Camp [5-7 hours walking]
Overnight: Barranco Camp
Barranco Camp is the third pitstop along the Machame Route climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro. This area of the mountain is semi-desert and the camp is set in a valley close to the Great Barranco Wall.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Karanga Camp
Day Itinerary
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga, the last water point, in a steep valley.
Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp [3 – 5 hours walking]
Overnight: Karanga Camp
On day 4 of the route up Mount Kilimanjaro, climbers would reach the Karanga Camp. The journey would take about 5 hours and climbers get to experience the alpine desert landscape of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Barafu Camp
Day Itinerary
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga, the last water point, in a steep valley.
After lunch, the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu Camp (4,600 m.) by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [6-8 hours walking]
Overnight: Barafu Camp
Mount Kilimanjaro climbers would approach Barafu camp at about the 5th day of the journey. The word ‘barafu’ is the Swahili word for ‘ice’, which refers to the cold climate at this altitude.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: Mweka Camp
Day Itinerary
We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzag and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m.), in about five or six hours.
We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hours round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.
The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,800 m.) at the edge of Mweka Forest. Mweka Camp [ 11– 15 hours walking]
Overnight: Mweka Camp
Mweka Camp is the final campsite on the journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbers would arrive here after a 7-hour hike from Summit Uhuru Peak.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Mweka gate – Arusha
Day Itinerary
The day is spent descending through open moorlands and the glades of forest and straight down through the rain forest to the Park Gate. Packed lunch on way down. After clearing all the paperwork at the gate, you will be transferred to Airport Planet Lodge for dinner and overnight
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight: Airport Planet Lodge
Airport Planet Lodge is a quick 5 miles from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Ideally located mid way between Moshi and Arusha, we pride ourselves for having one of the best panoramic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru. The Lodge is in a safe compound with tropical gardens, fruit trees, plants, flowers and wild birds for nature lovers to enjoy.
Lodge amenities include a grand swimming pool, a restaurant that offers local and international cuisine, bars, a spa, fitness center, Tanzanite and souvenirs shopping. For those looking to kill time between flights, the Lodge offers quick meals like pizza, burgers, snacks and excellent shower facilities ideal for those arriving or departing through the nearby Kilimanjaro Airport.
Day 9: End of Itinerary
Day Itinerary
Transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight back home
Basis
Bed and Breakfast
