TWENZETU KILELENI SEASON

You will be met (arrival details to be shared to us for easy transfers) later transferred to the hotels of
our choice (base on the comfort ability/budget)

16:00 PM there will be a briefing/equipment checking done by our guides/respective appointees,
time for questions and answers)

After breakfast at 07:30a.m you will be transferred to Machame Gate. The registration formalities and lunch will be taking place at the gate. 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 theMountain, 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]

A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular 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]

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]

A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the southeastern 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]

After breakfast, the terrain changes to scree, and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu Camp (4,600 m.) short rest, and thereafter we proceed to Kosovo Camp (4850 m), arriving for lunch 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]

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-hour roundtrip 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 Kibo (4,700 m.) is surprisingly fast, and, after some refreshment, we continue the descent to reach our final campsite at Horombo (3,720 m.). [11 – 15 hours walking]

A steady descent takes us down through the moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700m.), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. We then continue descending through a lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m.). [5-6 hours walking]. It is easier to go down than up. Hot lunch at the Gate to bid fairly well to all the participants and later transferred to the
hotel for a shower and overnight

Depart after breakfast