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Tanzania Mountain Climbing Adventures
Scenic
Kilimanjaro 7 Days
DAY
1: ARUSHA -MARANGU
Transfer to Marangu. Dinner and overnight at a Hotel.
DAY
2: MARANGU - MANDARA HUT (2,744 M)
Distance: 9 kms. Estimated duration: 4 hours.
Depart
from your hotel, drive straight to Marangu National Park gate, where the
climb begins (1860m) on the edge of the mountain forest. Walk through
the semi tropical dense rain forest, with camphor, cedar, juniper, wild
olive and pillar trees festooned with lianas, lichens and Spanish moss. Flowers
of various species delight the eyes, while monkeys shake trees and terraccos
and other colourful forest birds sing in the forest profusion. The
walking takes 4 hours covering 9 km to Mandara Hut, at 2744 m near Maundi
Crater. Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut.
DAY
3: MANDARA HUT - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)Distance: 11kms. Estimated
duration: 5 hours.
Starting
early in the morning towards Horombo Hut you walk 5 hours, to cover the
first 4 km or so, the dense rain forest now gives way to the rolling moorland,
clothed in knee-high grass tussocks dotted here and there with giant heather
trees, some standing upto 9 m high. Here is perhaps the most pleasant
point, where the landscape is decorated with tropical flowers and the
sun is refreshingly warm. From here, both Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks
are magnificently viewed. Some animal species are found here, i.e.
bush duikers etc. The landscape becomes more rugged and rocky, as you
continue to Horombo Hut at 3761 m above sea level. Dinner and overnight
at the Horombo Hut. You should have warm clothes due to strong winds
here.
DAY
4: HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT (4,700 M)
Distance: 10kms. Estimated duration: 5 hours.
After
breakfast, continue to Kibo Hut through the euphorbia trees and here high
altitude causes difficulty in breathing and tiredness is felt. The
path leading you to Kibo Hut passes the water streams and skirts MAWENZI
before opening out into the lunar landscape of the saddle. It forms
a "U" between MAWENZI and KIBO Peaks. You will experience
the winter nights as cold and icy winds encircle the huts accompanied
by frost and snow. Dinner and overnight at KIBO Hut.
DAY
5: UHURU PEAK - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 24kms. Estimated duration: 12-13 hours
Wake
up soon after midnight for the final attempt to the summit. Walk
for about 5 hours, the steepest and most difficult part of the route,
to GILMAN'S POINT at 5681 m above sea level, on the Crater rim. Try
again if your stamina allows, for UHURU Peak, reached in about 2 hours. This
is the highest point in Africa. After signing the visitors book,
descend to Horombo Hut, for dinner and overnight.
DAY
6: HOROMBO HUT - MARANGU HOTEL
Descend to Marangu Gate then transfer to Marangu or Kibo Hotel for dinner
and overnight.
DAY
7: MARANGU - ARUSHA
After breakfast, return to Arusha by company transport.
Kilimanjaro Via Machame Route (8 Days)
Day
1: Nairobi - Arusha/Moshi
Depart for
Arusha/Moshi via the Namanga border town for immigration formalities.
Rest of afternoon, overnight at an Arusha hotel.
Day
2: Arusha/Moshi - Machame
An early
start for Kilimanjaro National Park. Once there proceed directly to Machame
hut campsite in an average hiking time of 6 hours for meals and overnight
stay in tents. The altitude here is 3,100m.
Day
3: Machame - Shira
After breakfast
hike to Shira hut. The trek takes 4 hours approximately via the rain forest
past the valley and a steep rocky ridge ending west at a river gorge.
You will have a rest, dinner and overnight at Shira hut campsite, 3,6558m
above sea level.
Day
4: Shira - Barranco
From Shira
hike to Barranco hut in average hiking time of 6 hours. By-pass the lava
tower and pass the second junction, which brings you to the arrow glacier,
altitude 4,876 m. Descend to Barranco hut campsite for your third overnight
on Kilimanjaro at 3,860m above sea level.
Day
5: Barranco - Barafu
After breakfast
leave Barranco and continue to the Karanga valley and the junction, which
connects with the Mweka trail. Hike to Barafu hut and set up camp after
walking for about 8 hours. Dinner and overnight at the campsite, 4,600m
above sea level with the possibility of seeing both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.
Day
6: Barafu - Mweka via Stella Point and Uhuru Peak.
Rise early
and head for Stella Point, which is 5,745 m above sea level on your way
to the summit, Uhuru Peak that is 5,896m above sea level. This part of
the hike takes about 6 hours. From the summit descend to the Mweka hut
campsite, 3,100m above sea level. This part of the descent takes about
5 hrs. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hut.
Day
7: Mweka - Arusha/Moshi
After breakfast,
descend to the Mweka Park gate in an average hiking time of 4 hrs and
then drive back to Arusha for overnight.
Day
8: Arusha/Moshi - Nairobi
After breakfast,
depart for Nairobi on the morning or afternoon shuttle arriving at 0100
hrs or 1830 hrs.
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