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.
Please Note
Day 2: Umbwe Gate -Umbwe Cave Camp (1,600m- 2,940m)
To do on this route, a 50-minute drive to Machame Gate where registration formalities will be completed. You will then transfer through villages and coffee and banana plantations to Umbwe Gate. The trail ascends sharply on a forestry track that winds up the dense rainforest. The path narrows and steepens as we climb the ridge between two rivers surrounded by huge trees. Umbwe Camp is perched between trees and thick undergrowth.
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:Umbwe Cave Camp - Barranco Camp (2,940m- 3,976m)
The second day of the trek follows rockier terrain with sparse undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. As you gain elevation, glimpses of Kilimanjaro can be seen. The path flattens as we approach Barranco Valley. From Umbwe Ridge, the route descends to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Valley Camp (3,976m- 3,995m)
This walk takes you along the southern circuit, evading the base of Kibo peak by hiking toward the eastern side of the valley and cross the stream up a steep ridge to the Great Barranco wall. Even though huge and steep as it looks, turn out to be easier than an obstacle. 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 an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 300-meter gain in altitude, and then descent back down to the camp.
Acclimatization hike:
Day 5: Karanga Valley Camp- Barafu Camp (3,995m- 4,673m)
This day will be spent trekking towards School Hut. The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semidesert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro's summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
Acclimatization hike:
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, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Kibo Camp and after a two-hour rest continue your descent to Horombo Camp (3,720 m).
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.
