12 Days 11 Nights Mt.Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar

Moshi to Machame Gat

Moshi (915m/ 3000ft) to Machame Gate (1490m/ 4,890 ft) to Machame (2,980 m/9,780 ft) – 18km, 5 -7 hours Montane Forest your day starts early with briefing, thereafter drive from Arusha after breakfast Moshi to the Machame village (1,490m / 4,890 ft) where your guides and porters prepare and pack your equipment and supplies. You will receive a lunch pack, if the road is very muddy, it may be impossible to drive from the village to the Machame gate and in this case, it will take you an hour to complete the muddy 3 km walk to the gate. After registering at the office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest immediately, Remember , this side of the mountain experience the heavy rain that alters the trail into a soggy, slippery experience. This is why you are always recommended to use the good footgear, trekking poles and gaiters for hike. Before reaching at the Machame camping area in the late afternoon you would stop half way for the lunch. Your porter will arrive prior to you at the campsite and erect camp for you before your arrival . In the evening you would have the boiled drinking water for your drinking and washing of your hands. Beaware , the temperature in the night at the camp can fall to the freezing level. .

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Machame Camp (2,980m / 9,780 ft) to Shira Camp (3,840 m /12,600 ft) 9 km, 4 – 6 hours – Moorland Moorland . After your breakfast climb for an hour to the top of the forest, from the Machame camp and then take a 2 hours journey through gentle moorland. After a short break for the lunch and rest you would proceed to the Shira Plateau where you can see Kilimanjaro’s great Western Breach with its stunning glaciers.Now you would find yourself in the west of Kibo on the opposite side of the mountain from Marangu route. After a short hike west, you reach the Shira Campsite. The porters will boil drinking water and washing water before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

Shira Camp to Lave Tower

Shira Camp (3,840 m/12,600 ft) to Lave Tower (4630m /15,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950 m / 12,960 ft) 15 km, 7 hours – Semi desert After breakfast, you will hike east up steepening path above the highest vegetation towards Kilimanjaro’s looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630m / 15,190ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the western breach and breach wall to Barranco camp at 3,950m / 12,960ft. You would have plent of photo opportunities during your hike especially while hiking through the ice packed walls . While waiting for your dinner the sunset in the Barranco Camp that lies in a valley below the Breach and great Barranco Walls would give you an ever memorable experience. Be careful you may feel the signs of high altitude sickness on this day.

Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

Barranco Camp (3,950 m / 12,960 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,550 m / 14,930 ft) 13 km, 8 hours – Alpine Desert after spending a night under the imposing Great Barranco Wall, you climb this awesome obstacle, which turns out to be easier that it looks. While walking just below the Heim Glacier, you must appreciate the grand beauty of the Kilimanjaro. The route then heads down through Karanga Valley and goes over intervening ridges and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your decent route. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angels. For now, all eyes are still on the summit, so turn left and hike up the ridge for another hour to the Barafu Hut. The last water on the route is in Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Hut, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice”. You would observe the snows of Kilimanjaro far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Be aware that your tent would be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind – swept ridge, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the terrain before it gets dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and to prevent freezing, consider carrying your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed by 19:00hrs, and try to get a few hours of precious sleep.

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

Summit Day Barafu Camp (4,550 m / 14,930 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft ) 7 km up, 23 km down, 8 hours up 7 -8 hours down scree and seasonal snow you will rise around 23:30hrs, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You have to take a northwest hike for 6 hours in which you would pass through the heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella point on the crater rim and this would be the most challenging part of your hike. At (5,685m / 18,650ft): Stella Point you would have a chance for a short rest and to enjoy the vast beauty of the supreme sanguine sunrise. This is where you would join with the top part of the Marangu route. From here it would be extremely difficult to take a start for the excessive cold and tiredness. If you are in the right season, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit , you would have a dazzling photo session to memorize your victory for the rest of the life. You may not stay here for a long time due to the extreme cold. Now it is the time to take 3 hours descent to reach at the Barafu Camp, where you would have the short rest. Collect our gear and then hike down through a rocky and scree path into the moorland which would take you to the Mweka Camp (3,100m / 10,170ft). In this upper forest camp you can expect the mist or the rain in the afternoon. You would be given the dinner and the washing water and if you want you can purchase the drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates and beer form the camp office

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Mweka Camp (3,100m / 10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1980 m / 6500 ft) to Moshi (890m / 2,290 ft) 15 km, 3 hours – to reach at the park gate. After the breakfast you have to take a short hike through the scenic route for a short while, 3 hours, to reach at the park gate. Remember to tip your crew at the gate and don’t tip your porters until your gears reach at the gate safely. At Mweka gate the hikers are required to write the details such as their names and address and this is where successful climbers receive their summit certificate. Climbers who reached Stella point are issued green certificate and those who reached Uhuru peak receive gold certificate. From the Mweka gate, you will continue down to the Mweka village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch After which you are driven back to Safari Lodge or Similar. Overnight in hotel Safari lodge or similar or prepare and pack for your flight to Zanzibar

After breakfast transfer to Arusha airport for your flight to Zanzibar arrive meet our professional guide drive to Amaan Beach Bungalow and Overnight. Meal Plan: Bead and breakfast Room category: Front Sea View rooms. Flight: Arusha/Zanzibar Transfer: Hotel/Airport/Hotel *Option Zanzibar excursion

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak

After Breakfast you have a full day relaxation. Meal Plan: Bead and breakfast Room category: Front Sea View rooms *Option Zanzibar excursion

DEPARTURE: BEACH HOTEL-AIRPORT

Departure to Airport back home at 1545Hours with ET. TRANSFER: HOTEL-AIRPORT