Hannah's Story

The Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up from Airport | Pre-Trek Briefing
We will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will have a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.

Day 2: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Londorossi Gate, Hike to Mt Mkubwa Camp
After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (about a 2.5-hour drive). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mt Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.
-- Elevation: 2385m to 2780m -- Distance: 6km/4mi -- Hiking Time: 2 - 3 hours -- Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Mt Mkubwa Camp

Day 3: Hike Mt Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed, we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.
-- Elevation: 2780m to 3500m -- Distance: 16km/10mi -- Hiking Time: 7 - 8 hours -- Habitat: Moorland
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

Day 4: Hike Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.
-- Elevation: 3500m to 3900m -- Distance: 8km/5mi -- Walking Time: 5 - 6 hours -- Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

Day 5: Hike Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the Southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth" (elevation 4640m). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp.
Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
-- Elevation: 3900m to 3960m -- Distance: 5km/3mi -- Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours -- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Barranco Camp

Day 6: Hike Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
-- Elevation: 3960m to 4035m -- Distance: 4km/2mi -- Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours -- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Accommodation: Karanga Valley Camp

Day 7: Hike Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
-- Elevation: 4035m to 4640m -- Down to 3050m Mweka camp -- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down -- Hiking Time: 5 - 7 hours up / 5 - 6 hours down -- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Day 8: Hike Barafu Camp to Summit, down to Mweka Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1- hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
-- Elevation: 4640m to 5895m -- Down to 3050m Mweka camp (or) High camp – Millenium camp 3825m -- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down -- Hiking Time: 6 - 7 hours up / 3 hours down -- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Accommodation: Mweka Camp

Day 9: Hike Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. 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). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Don't forget to tip your guides and porters.
-- Elevation: 3050m to 1680m -- Distance: 10km/6mi -- Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours -- Habitat: Forest
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
End of Kilimanjaro climbing Lemosho Route.

Day 10: Pick Up from hotel | Pre-Safari Briefing
Before embarking on your Tarangire safari adventure, it is important to be well- informed and prepared for what awaits you. In this pre-safari briefing, Your Safari driver Guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to make the most out of your trip to Tarangire National Park.

Your Full day tour begins with your hotel pickup in the morning and heading south to stunning Tarangire National Park. Arrive at the Tarangire National Park for game viewing. In the afternoon you will stop for a picnic lunch. Your afternoon game-drive will reveal all the wonders of Tarangire, a National Park often referred to as the 'Elephant Playground'. Herds of up to 300 of these mighty mammals are sometimes seen in the park.
Serengeti may be better known, but Tarangire in the dry season easily rivals it for animal densities. As well as the herds of elephant Tarangire is home to buffalo, lion, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle while gerenuk and fringe-eared Oryx are 'local specialties'. Lake Burungi's marshy shores are the lure for these mammals and the waters attract many beautiful bird species, too. Look out for giant kingfishers, hoopoes and the delightfully named white-bellied go-away bird. Tarangire is noted for its splendid baobab trees, rolling savannah and acacia woodland. At the end of an inspiring afternoon amongst the wildlife, drive back to your hotel in Moshi for overnight.

Day 11: Check-out hotel | Goodbye Kilimanjaro

You will leave moshi for your onward transfer to Kilimanjaro airport. You will need to book a flight that departs during this day. Otherwise, we can arrange an additional night at a hotel in Moshi. If you would like to travel to another destination, we can give you some of our own recommendations.