Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why.
Our Kilimanjaro trek is designed to give the very best chance of reaching the summit, without sacrificing time to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife. You will also gain an insight into the natural history and cultures of the environments and peoples we meet along the way.
Our African guides and staff are all experts on the mountains and we enjoy an excellent relationship with them. In line with our business values, we only work with operators whose practices are based on ethical business principles to ensure that significant benefits from our visits remain with local people. Our operator in Tanzania works on a fair-traded policy employing only qualified local staff, to which they pay above average rates. In addition, there is no compromise on vehicles, park fees, equipment and services.
Trekkers arriving from low level to climb Kilimanjaro often suffer from altitude sickness if they do not acclimatise properly (lack of fitness is rarely a big problem). For this reason, we use the Machame Route. It’s longer than the Marangu ascent and therefore means 2 more days on the mountain, however it’s less crowded, a less taxing climb, much more scenic and, based on our records of the last 5 years, you have a better than 96% chance of making the summit.
Of course extra time means it’s a little more expensive, but we think it’s worth it. Why would you go all this way to suffer altitude sickness and not summit?
Transfer from airport to hotel.
Overnight in hotel
Dinner included
Relaxation day in Arusha. Take a dala dala (taxi) or shuttle to Grand Central Station, check out the open air markets, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Don’t miss the Masai Market and get your bargaining skills ready!
Overnight in hotel
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Hike: 8.2 km | 1840m-3022m | 5-6 hours
From Arusha drive to the Machame Park gate, then a gentle climb up through the original montane forest, carpeted with unique “busy lizzie” flowers, begonias and ferns. First camp amongst the giant heather at 3,000m. Ascent of 1,182m and 5-6 hours walking.
Overnight at MACHAME CAMP
Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 5 km | 3022m-3830m | 5-6 hours
Emerge from the giant heather zone and hike through fine open moorland to camp by the Shira Cave at 3,840m. There may be herds of eland up here (& occasional lion!) and there are fascinating geological features in the old volcanic caldera which can be viewed during a half hour optional walk in the afternoon. Ascent 808m and 5-6 hours walking.
Overnight at SHIRA CAMP
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 10.4 km | 3830m-3900m | 7-8 hours
From Shira, climb towards the main peak Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders. Skirting around its base and under the imposing Western Breach, descend into the sheltered Barranco Valley for mid-way camp at 3,900m. 7-8 hours walking and only 70m total ascent – but having climbed higher and dropping back down assists acclimatisation.
Overnight at BARRANCO CAMP
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 5.1km | 3900m-4100m | 3-4 hours
Up the steep Barranco Wall with some sections of very easy scrambling and drop down again to the Karanga Valley. This is a short walking day, around 3 hours, and again you climb about 300m but drop back down again to around 4,100m. There’s an optional further acclimatisation hike in afternoon up onto the scree below the glaciers.
Overnight at KARANGA VALLEY CAMP
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 3.5km | 4100m-4330m | 3-4 hours
Up to a new camp about 100m above Barafu Hut perched high on a rocky bluff at 4,330m. Fantastic views across to Mawenzi peak, and a bit less to climb tomorrow morning! This is another short walking day, about 4 hours with a 230m height gain, and time for a good rest in the afternoon immediately before the hard summit day.
Overnight at BARAFU CAMP
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 17.4 km | 4330m-5895m-3075m | 13-15 hours
A bracing 1am start to climb the steep frozen scree. This is unavoidable on any route but we aim to reach Stella Point on the crater rim for sunrise – another 40 mins and you’re at the highest point on the continent, usually in warm sunshine. We return on the Mweka descent route. Walking time 7 hours and 1,300m ascent to the summit, 6-8 hours and 2,800m descent to our camp in a clearing amongst the giant heather at Mweka. This is a long and hard day – you’ll feel tired but absolutely ecstatic after you’ve done it.
Overnight at MWEKA CAMP
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Hike: 8.8km | 3075m-1645m | 3-4 hours A 4-5 hours descent through the forest to Mweka Gate to collect our certificates and meet our vehicle. Return to Arusha, arriving early to mid afternoon.
Overnight in hotel
Breakfast and Lunch Included
We transfer into Lake Manyara for morning game drive and lunch, a classic safari pic-nic, and enjoy our final glimpse of the great wilds of the Northern Tanzania. Lake Manyara offers an insight into the Great Rift Valley system and the adaptation of many herd animals and magnificent bird life. We continue Esilalei Maasai Village to explore the area and our school project. In the late afternoon, we zig zag our way up the Rift Valley Escarpment and onto the crater highlands for overnight.
Overnight in tented camp
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Short drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro is collapsed volca-no – an incredible natural amphitheatre, 25 km across and teeming with all of the African big game. Early morning descent into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Tonight we are staying on the crater rim, it is quite common for zebra, buffalo and even elephant to be grazing right outside the lodge.
Overnight in tented camp
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
We depart after breakfast to the endless plains of the Serengeti, via exploration of the Ndutu area. Upon entering the Serengeti, we are able to game drive all the way to our special camp area. The camp option is recommended to suit the sea-son of travel.
Overnight in migration tented camp
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
We enjoy further exploration of the endless plains. The habitats are natural and we can game drive with a picnic lunch to explore further afield. There are resident cats and herd animals for us to observe.
Overnight in migration tented camp
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
We depart after breakfast to the airstrip for our flight back to Arusha.
Overnight in hotel
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Transfer to airport for departure
Breakfast Included
NOTE: During the trip; weather, local politics, transport or a multitude of other factors, that are beyond our control can result in a change of itinerary. It is, however, very unlikely that the itinerary would be substantially altered; if alterations are necessary the leader will decide what is the best alternative, taking into consideration the best interests of the whole group. Where a change does occur, we do everything we can to minimise its effect, but we cannot be responsible for the results of changes or delays.
Thank you to Getaway trekking for providing the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. The whole trip was brilliantly organized from the start and at no time did I ever question my decision of booking this trip with Getaway Trekking.
Rose Bay, TAS