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Day 1: Moshi to Londorossi GateDrive to Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate, Hike to Mandara Hut: Moshi to Londorossi Gate
After breakfast a briefing at your hotel will be given by your chief Guide followed by a drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2,250m / 7,380ft, 2.5 hours). After park rules and regulations the trail commencing takes us to the forest with our 4WD vehicle towards Lemosho Glades (2,390m 7,830ft, 11km, 45 minutes) and Walk along the forest trails to Mti Mkubwa campsite thereafter dinner and overnight at Mti Mkubwa camp site.
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Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) to Shira Camp
The trail slowly becoming very steep and enters the moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600 m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp one located by a stream on the Shira Plateau. Early morning after breakfast continue as the trail gradually steeping and enters the giant heather moorland zone Several streams are crossed then it gains the Shira ridge at about 3600m / 11,810ft and drops gently down to Shira one camp site located near by the streams on the Shira Plateau. Dinner and overnight at Shira one campsite.
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Day 3: Shira Camp (1) 3,500 m/11,485 ft to Shira Cam
Today you will have very moderate walk across the plateau which leads you to Shira Camp two on moorland meadows by a stream. Although variety walks are available on the plateau just to make this an excellent acclimatization day.
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Day 4: Shira Camp 2 – 3,840 m/12,600 ft – to Lava Tower
You will have breakfast and precede hiking east u p to a steeping path above the vegetation toward Kilimanjaro looming mass. After several hours of walking now commerce you’re a walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft.
This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro 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 3,950 m/12,960 ft. There are plentiful photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful to become aware of any signs of altitude sickness.
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Day 5: Barranco Camp – 3,900 m/12,800 ft – to Karanga Camp
After breakfast we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, and then you climb this magnificent obstacle which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo glaciers soaring over head you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi into the African sky. After a hot lunch at the camp your afternoon is spent at leisure for resting or exploring. After two long days please note this short day is very important for your acclimatization, since your summit push is about to start a while to come.
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Day 6: Karanga Camp – 4,200 m/13,780 ft to Barafu Camp
This morning you will hike east over intervening ridges and valley to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to Barafu Hut where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water point on this route is Karanga Valley as there is no water at Barafu Cam. Even though Barafu is the Swahili word for ice. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and drink a lot of fluids. After an early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of valued sleep.
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Day 7: Summit Day! Barafu Camp
You will be up around 11:30 PM, and after some hot tea and biscuits you will drag your feet off into the night. 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point 5,685 m/18,650 ft you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise.
At Stella Point you join the top part of Marangu Route but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and exhaustion. Depending on the time of year and current storms you may stumble upon snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-deserved but short rest collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and sooner or later into the forest to Mweka Camp 3,100 m/10,170 ft This camp is in the upper forest, so you can anticipate mist or rain in the late afternoon., Dinner and washing water will be prepared and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beers. .
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Day 8: Mweka Camp -3,100 m/10,170 ft to Mweka Gate
After a well deserved breakfast it is a short scenic 3-hours hike back to the park gate, please note no tips is given on the way until all your gears and the rest of the crew have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate, At Mweka Gate you will sign your name and add details in a register.
This is also where successful climbers normally receive their summit certificates and can be followed by a bottle of Champen. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From Mweka Gate you will continue down to Mweka Village 3 km where you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Arusha for a past due hot shower and comfortable night in a nice hotel in Moshi.
