Kilimanjaro Climbing

Join a Small Group on Scheduled Departure Dates - Maximum 12 

Climb & Safari: From $5000

Climb Only:       From $4522

Next Group Departure: Arrive Tanzania June 26, 2023 - Summit July 4, 2023

Northern Route - Our Preferred Route

Optional  - 2 day Wildlife Safari (Arrive 3 days earlier)

Optional- Private Tailor Made Climbs (choose your own dates) 

Premium Quality Outfitting - Competitive Pricing

REQUEST INFO - for More Information or Additional Departure Dates

Special Features:  Full Moon - Summit on USA Independence day. 

The beautiful Northern route is a scenic wonder.  From the less traveled  northern slopes, you can see across the border to Kenya’s endless savannah sweeping over the horizon. The route is best for altitude adjustment, essential for a safe and successful climb. On Kilimanjaro,  the summit stretch starts shortly after midnight, thus the advantage of a full moon ascent. Why rely on a headlamp when the heavens will illuminate your way. Our team has decades of mountaineering experience. Our gear and equipment is first class and our team keeps up to date with the best of training.  

THE TREK

Day 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Most international arrivals are in the evening so we will transfer to nearby Planet lodge for the night. We will start for Kilimanjaro in the morning.  

Day :2: LONDROSSI GATE – MTI MKUBWA CAMP: 4.8k /3mi | 3-4 hrs | Rainforest

Elevation: 2389m/7838ft to 2785m/9137ft

Altitude gained: 396m/1300ft

Transfer  to Londrossi gate to begin your Kilimanjaro trek. At the gate there is  a lot of energy as porters load up and weigh their packs and the park officials process the paperwork. Whether you are a first-time climber or seasoned, the air is always full of excitement as a new climb begins. It’s a good time to fuel up on a snack and start hydrating while you watch the show. Once all is settled the trek begins through the verdant rainforest and along the winding trails as your guide interprets flora fauna and wildlife.  Stop for lunch along the way, take breaks as the elevation gains, and arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp. (Big Tree Camp) As the name suggests, this is still in the forest, but tomorrow you will leave the tree line behind. 

Day 3: MTI MKUBWA CAMP - SHIRA I CAMP: 7.9km/5mi | 4-6hrs | Moorland

Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft

Altitude gained: 719m/2359

After breakfast, resume the hike at a leisurely pace. In the coming days, you will hear “pole pole” (pronounced po-lay po-lay). It means “slowly slowly.” You will hear it from the guide, you will hear it from porters, and from the cook. Soon you will be saying it yourself: pole pole/slowly slowly. It’s the secret of survival—the secret of success. Midmorning you will emerge from the rain forest into the wide-open spaces and big wide sky of the moorland zone. The land is covered with heathers and grasses, but no trees. Watch out for sunburn—there is no shade in the moorland. Soon we’ll arrive at a ridge that is the remnant of a collapsed volcano, cross over the ridge and find an inviting downhill trek to the Shira plateau where you will find your camp pitched and waiting.  If the sky is clear the stars will amaze. 

Day 4: SHIRA I CAMP –SHIRA II CAMP : 6.9km/4mi | 3-4hrs | Low Alpine

Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft

Altitude gained: 391m/1283

Today, we will cross the rolling Shira plateau, still in the Moorlands. The vegetation is getting more compact and hardier as you climb. These are plants that can survive intense temperature swings, blazing sun in the day and freezing cold at night.  We’ll take a breather at Shira II Camp for the night. It is now a good idea to start an altitude adjustment technique known as climb-high-sleep-low. After settling in, we’ll summon up some extra energy and hike a bit higher up the plateau to enjoy the amazing view across the valley below and to the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above. At this altitude it starts getting cold at night. No worries, you will be snug and comfortable in your sturdy mountain tent and down sleeping bag. 

Day 5: SHIRA II CAMP- LAVA TOWER - MOIR: 17.7km/11.1mi | 5-7hrs | High Alpine

Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft

Altitude gained: 391m/1283ft 

Today is where the climb-high-sleep-low technique really kicks in. You will end the day at near the same elevation where you began.  But midway during today’s hike you are going to swing up toward the Shark’s Tooth lava tower at an impressive elevation of 4650m/15,250ft. From there it will feel very good indeed to descend to your next campsite, Moir Camp, a relatively comfortable 3986m/13,077ft. 

Day6: MOIR CAMP - BUFFALO CAMP: 9.2km/5.7mi | 5-7hrs | High Alpine Zone

Elevation: 4155m/13,632ft to 4033m/13,232ft

Altitude lost: 122m/400ft

Today you are in the Alpine Desert Zone, a rocky landscape where only a few stunted plants, sparse grasses and lichens survive. Temperatures are wild with intense sun in the day and a deep freeze in the night.  Begin with a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley as the trail swings away to the sunny Northern side of the Mountain. If you can summon the energy, it is good to take a slight detour here up to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375m/14,354 ft before returning to the trail. This will boost you with more of the climb-high-sleep-low magic. The route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp. Spectacular views of the plains north of Kilimanjaro that stretch as far as the eye can see to the Tanzania/Kenya border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch, time to rest, and a few more high-climb/low-sleep opportunities. Note that tonight you sleep a bit lower than you did last night. That’s good because you were undulating high and low all during the day, recalibrating your inner altimeter. 

Day 7: BUFFALO CAMP – RONGAI 3RD CAVE: 6.8km /4.3mi | 5-7hrs | Alpine Desert

Elevation: 4033m/13,232ft to 3936m/12,193ft

Altitude lost: 97m/318ft

Today a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down to a resting point for lunch. This seldom traveled side of the mountain has the most amazing views that Kilimanjaro has to offer.  To the left you have an endless vista sweeping over Kenya’s famous Amboseli National Park. To the right you have the high ridges sweeping up to Kilimanjaro’s smoldering crater. After lunch continue East around the Northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave. Today’s climb is shorter than the day before and you once again sleep slightly lower than where you started, although you climbed higher along the way.  At this point people often are surprised at how well they feel given the altitude where they find themselves.  This is the only route on the mountain that is amenable to this high and low adjustment.  Arrive at the Third Cave Camp around mid-afternoon.

Day 8: RONGAI 3RD CAVE – SCHOOL HUT: 4.8km /3mi | 5-7hrs | Glacial Zone

Elevation: 3936m/12,913ft to 4750m/15,585 ft

Altitude gained: 781m/2562ft

Today is a slow and steady ascent up to the saddle which sits between the Kilimanjaro’s Kibo peak and the impressive rocky crag to the East known as Mawenzi Peak. We’ll continue through the saddle and upward to School Hut. School Hut is a weather beaten old barracks. It was built around 1952 by Outward Bound Kenya and was used by that organization at least through the 1960s.  Your camp will be near the hut, and you will be served an early dinner, followed by a much-needed rest as the final ascent begins just before dawn.

Day9: SCHOOL HUT – SUMMIT: 5.9km /3.7mi | 6-8hrs | - MWEKA CAMP: 13km /8mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit

Elevation: 4717m/15,476ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Ascent Altitude gained: 1178m/3864 ft.

Descent Altitude Lost: 2789m/9150ft

Morning comes early between midnight and 2am The earlier the better. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

There is a long steep scramble ahead, in the dark which might be frightening, but for the reassuring presence of your companions, two highly skilled mountain guides and a crew of porters, all of whom have done this upwards to a hundred times. Continue the summit, step by step, between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Your guide will lead the way—their assistant guide will be behind. With winding and switch-backing endlessly upward through steep heavy scree at last you reach Stella Point on the crater rim. Your first reward may be the  sunrise as you catch your breath as best you can. If you are moving faster than most, view the sunrise from the summit. Either way you have another hour along the crater rim with its ice and snow. As you edge along you can peer down into the eerie ice world down in the crater. 

Finally, one step at a time you have reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the entire continent of Africa!

It is always howling cold at this point and after photos, celebrations and a moment of relief, finally it is downhill all the way.  Begin the steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu camp for lunch and a breather.  A well-earned rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

Day 10: MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE – MOSHI: 9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft

Altitude lost: 1473m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew it’s time to say goodbye. Continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificate. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha (about 2 hrs). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations! 

THE SAFARI

Day 1:  ARRIVE KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Most international flights arrive in the evening. The staff from Kia Airport Lodge will meet you at the airport. It is only 5 minutes to the lodge. Although the lodge is on the airport property, it is hidden away in a secluded area and has the look and feel of the African bush.  Dinner and overnight at the lodge. 

Day 2:   In the morning  your safari guide will meet you at the lodge. It's a two-hour drive to Kampi ya Tembo on the West side of Kilimanjaro. As with any exertion, it is best to warm up to climbing Kilimanjaro, and ours is an eye popping wildlife safari in a well-stocked safari truck, along with some light bushwalking to stretch the limbs. As soon as your arrive at Kampi ya Tembo you can begin enjoying the wildlife. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, primates and tropical birds are in abundance. This is a relaxing and enjoyable way to rest up from the long flight and ready yourself for Kilimanjaro. Overnight at Kambi ya Tembo.

Day 3:  Wake up to fresh air and tropical birds, and a view of Mt. Kilimanjaro looming to the East. Kambi ya Tembo (Elephant Camp) is surrounded by wilderness, the only camp in the Sinya Wildlife reserve where giraffes, buffalo and amazingly large elephants roam free. The nomadic Maasai have scattered encampments around the reserve, and you will interact with them as this is their home. This is a day to relax. There is delicious food and refreshing beverages aplenty. There are also exciting activities to choose from such as viewing elephants and other big animals from a 4WD in the morning and then going for an afternoon hike in the afternoon. You can also drop by for a visit with one of the Maasai communities in the area. Get a good night of rest, for tomorrow we start the climb up Kilimanjaro.

Every climb is audited to ensure crew members are provided proper salaries, tips, food, equipment and sleeping conditions. 

Number of Days: 10 + International Travel

Country: Tanzania

Next Arrival Date From Kilimanjaro Airport : June 28, 2023

Extension  Safari at Sinya Conservation Area June 26 - 28

Cost of Climb and Safari Package $

Group Trip: 12 person maximum

INCLUDED IN TREKKING PACKAGE:

• Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
• Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide
• Proper Ratio of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)
• Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)
• Airport Transfers
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Drinking water and Full Board meals
• All National Park & Camping Fees, Crew Permits and VAT
• Rescue Fees and Emergency Evacuation Coverage with Arusha Medivac
• Gamow Bag
• Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages
• Gate Transfers
• Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder
• Portable Private Toilet and Porter
• Pre-departure materials: maps, packing list, training tips, etc.
• Quality Imported Equipment

EXCLUDED FROM TREKKING PACKAGE:

• Flights
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance (Required)
• Medication
• Tips for porters and mountain crew (20% Industry Standard Recommended)
• Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
• Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
• Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
• Additional lodge nights if early descent from the mountain $150 per room

TREKKING COSTS: 

******

TYPICAL SUPPORT CREW FOR 2 TREKKERS:

1 Lead guide

1 Assistance guide

1 Cook

1 Waiter

1 Toilet porter

 1 Tent crew

10 Regular porters

Prices quoted may be changed at any and depend  current Government Regulated Park Fees which could change at any time

Extension Option - 2 - 3 days in the Zanzibar Islands (Pemba, Mafia, Fanjove) - sea kayaking, hiking, and snorkeling.

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