Day 1: Arrive at KIA and transfer to Arusha City
After you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met by Maasai Wanderlust representative and be transferred to Arusha City. In the evening there will be a briefing with our chief guide, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.
Day 2: Machame Gate- Machame Camp(1640m- 2850m)
A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's entrance: Machame Gate (1,800 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Machame Camp (3,010 m). The trekking route includes passage through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes, but also your raincoats.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness. This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:-
Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp 2 (2850m- 3810m)
The day starts with a short ascent of an hour to where the forest end, then you will emerge from the rainforest and for the first time be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you. The walk continues through moorland for about 2 hours to arocky bluff where you stop for lunch. Physically speaking, the trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp 2 you will be served a hot dinner.
Acclimatization hike:
Day 4: Shira Camp 2- Lava Tower- Barranco Camp(3810m- 4630m- 3976)
Today you will hike Pole, pole (slowly, slowly) to the key point of the route: Lava Tower (4,630 m). This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over 4,630 meters. It might be difficult, and you may feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here, so this is where lunch will be. Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3,976m). Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! Next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail.
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Barafu camp (3976m- 4673m)
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano. Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours you will have to complete ascend to Barafu Camp (4,673m) where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting.
Day 6: Barafu Camp- Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp (4673m- 5895m- 3,068m)
Wake up around midnight and have breakfast before you start hiking up into the night on the steepest and demanding part of the Kilimanjaro. If you are lucky enough, the moonlight will light your steps up on the northwest through the most challenging heavy loose scree and boulders trails all the way to Stella point. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. At Stella point, you will have a short rest and welcome a new dawn with amazing and stunning sunrise. Then continue to Uhuru Summit, the highest point in Africa and the world’s highest freestanding peak where you create memories of lifetime. Take time to celebrate with your fellow trekkers, and snap once-in-a-lifetime photos before descending to Barafu camp. At the camp, pack your belongings then descend to Mweka through empty rocky landscapes, moorland and lush forest. At the camp, you will celebrate the successful summit by grabbing some soft drinks or couple of beers and spend your last precious sleep on the cool mountain weather.
Day 7: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate (3,068m- 1,640m) – Zanzibar
Wake up and have an early breakfast as usual, then pack your belonging and descent to Mandara hut. At Mandara, you will have lunch before you continue descending through the most beautiful cloudy, foggy and lush moorland forests to Marangu Gate. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates. After tipping and saying welfare to your mountain crew, you will be transferred back to Arusha City. You will be dropped off at the Airstrip and fly to Zanzibar. Upon landing in Zanzibar,you will be transferred to Nungwi and check in at the hotel and have time to relax.
