Accomodation: Lodges
or Luxury Tented Camps
Transportation: Open
Roof Safari Cruisers
Duration 13 Nights
- 14 Days
Departs: Alternate
Days
Price:
Day
1: Mandara Hut
After breakfast and briefing, drive
to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate
(45 minutes), register and commence
the climb. Walk through the rainforest
to the Mandara encampment located
at 9000 ft / 2740 m. A side trip to
Maundi Crater is a good way to see
the surroundings including Northern
Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest,
look for towering Eucalyptus trees,
bird life, and Colubus monkeys
Day
2: To Horombo Camp
After about 1 hour, you will leave
the glades of the rainforest and follow
an ascending path on the open moorlands
to the Horombo encampment. Views of
Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are
amazing. Look for giant lobelias and
grounsels. You will start to feel
the affects of the altitude.
If you wish to extend you trek, here
you can spend an extra day resting
at Horombo or climbing the small peak
of Mawenzi.
Day
3: To Kibo Camp
Ascending, we now pass the last watering
point, walking onto the saddle of
Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo
and Mawenzi.
Vegetation begins with upper heathland
but then disappears into "moonscape".
Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit
climb
Day
4: To Summit and Horombo
Very early in the morning (midnight
to 2am), commence the climb to the
summit on steep and heavy scree or
snow up to Gilman's point located
on the crater rim at 18640 ft / 5861
m (4-7 hours). Continuing, we now
ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the
highest point in Africa: 19340 ft
/ 5895 m (1-2 hours). Unbelievable
views at every turn. Get your picture
taken at the summit to show your friends.
From here, we now descend, stopping
for lunch and a rest at Kibo before
continuing on to the Horombo encampment
for dinner and a tired but happy overnight
(1-2 hours).
This beginning of this climb is done
in the dark and requires headlamps
or flashlights. It will be very cold
until you start descending, so you
will need all of your warm layers.
This is, by far, the most difficult
part of the trek with many switchbacks.
"Pole pole" and an optimistic
attitude will get you there!
Day
5: To Arusha
After breakfast, A steady descent
takes us down through moorland to
Mandara Hut (2,700m.), the first stopping
place at the Marangu route.
Continue descending through lovely
lush forest on a good path to the
National Park gate at Marangu (1,830
m.). At lower elevations, it can be
wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking
poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts
will probably be plenty to wear (keep
rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will meet you at Marangu
village to drive you back to the Impala
Hotel in Arusha. Don't forget to tip
your guides and porters it is time
for celebration!
Zanzibar Beach Holi
Day
8: Arusha to Zanzibar
By Flight (Precision Air) departs
Arusha at 1100hrs and arrive in Zanzibar
at 1215hrs, meet & greet at the
airport and transfer to your chosen
hotel in town for overnight.
Day
9: Excursion in Zanzibar
After breakfast, pickup from your
hotel for any two tours mentioned
(Spice, Historical stone town, Jozani
forest, Prison Island or Sunset cruise),
Dolphin tour on request.
Day
10: R&R (rest
& relax)
At leisure and overnight at your hotel
in town.
Day
11: Stone Town to
East Coast
After breakfast transfers you to hotels
at the East Coast for overnight.
Day
12/13: R&R
At leisure and overnight at your hotel.
Day
14: Zanzibar to Dar
or Arusha or Nairobi to Home
Pickup from your East Coast hotel
and transfer to Zanzibar airport for
your flight to Dar-Es-Salaam or Arusha
(Kilimanjaro Airport or Nairobi
(Jomo Kenyatta Airport) in connection
to your departure flight back home.
