Mountain Climbing

Day 1: Chogoria/Mount Kenya Bandas

Drive from Nairobi to Chogoria, Mount Kenya Bandas (2,900mts). Have lunch en-route at a local restaurant. You will have dinner and camp for overnight at Mt. Kenya Bandas.

Day 2: Mount Kenya Bandas – Lake Ellis

After breakfast leave for Lake Ellis (3,400mts). This hike will take about 5 hrs. Have lunch as you enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Ellis. Dinner and overnight at the camp nearby the lake. Fishing in the afternoon.

Day 3: Lake Ellis – Lake Michaelson

After breakfast, start your hike to Michaelson (4,000mts). The trek takes about 5-6 hrs. On this day you will have the most scenic and spectacular ascent. Picnic lunch served along the way. Beautiful views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley on descent to the picturesque campsite next to Lake Michaelson. Dinner and overnight at the Camp

Day 4: Lake Michaelson – Shiptons Camp

After breakfast embark on the walk up from the lake Michaelson crater to Shiptons Camp (4,200 mts) Lunch at the camp. Dinner and overnight at Shiptons Camp.

Day 5: Shiptons Camp – Mackinders Camp

From Shipton’s camp, we trek towards the Hausberg Col at (4590mts). We will descend into the upper Hausberg valley and rest at the aptly named oblong and Hausberg tarns. Ascending to the crest of a ridge known as Arthur’s seat we see the trail winding along a beautiful series of rock ledges. We will descend to Mackinders Camp (4,300mts). Dinner and overnight at Mackinders Camp.

Day 6: Ascend point Lenena

Pre-dawn start (3am) for the summit attempt. Up steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the summit, Pt Lenana in time for sunrise and have a clear view of the majestic scenery. Kilimanjaro is usually visible on a clear day to the south. After the sunrise, descend down to Mackinders camp for breakfast and later descend down through the moorland and bamboo forest to the gate for pick up.

Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

After breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel and be driven to Machame Gate. We start the ascent from the gate and trek through the rain forest. The trail may be soggy and muddy due to the rains in the forest. The trek to Machame Hut (2,900mts) will take as about 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at the Hut.

Distance 11 Kms

Day 2: Machame Hut – Shira Cave

Have an early breakfast and start your trek to Shira Camp (3,800mts). The trail leads to the top of the rain forest, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge before climbing more gently on the moorland of the Shira platue. Have picnic lunch en-route. The 7 Kms distance for trek will take us about 4 hours before reaching Shira Camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp

An early breakfast before starting the day. 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 South East towards the Lava Tower (4,600mts). After lunch we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley to Barranco Camp (3,900mts). The descent offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.

Distance 11 Kms

Time taken 6-7 hrs.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, (the climb on the wall is not technical) to the Karanga Valley. Have a lunch break at Karanga Valley (4,000mts). Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Camp (4,600mts). Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp.

Distance 10 Kms

Time taken 7-8 hrs.

Day 5: Barafu Camp – Summit

Wake up early at midnight to start the days trek for an attempt to the summit. Take some tea and biscuits to give you some energy. You head in a northwesterly 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 have some rest. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. You will now be on the highest part of Africa, Uhuru Peak (5,895mts). From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp (3,100mts) stopping at Barafu for lunch. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.

Day 6: Mweka Camp – Moshi

After breakfast, descend to Mweka Park Gate. You will receive your certificates of summit completion at the gate. Be transferred to your hotel, Moshi.

Day 1: Nairobi -Met station (3,040mts)

Leave Nairobi at 0800hrs. for a drive to the Naru moru park gate. The drive normally takes 3hrs. Have a picnic lunch at the gate. From the gate, we trek up thro magnificent montane forest, bamboo and giant heather zone before reaching Met Station (3,040mts). The trek takes 3-4 hrs. A short hike will be taken in the afternoon to help acclimatization. Dinner and overnight at the cabins, Met Station.

Day 2: Met Station – Mackinders Camp (4,300mts)

After breakfast, start your 6-7 hours hike to Mackinders Camp. You will emerge on the edge of the forest where from where you hike across the marshy vertical bog of the lower moorlands. The hike offers gentle climb through fascinating vegetation with nice perspective of the back ground. Have a picnic lunch on the way then proceeding to the spectacular Teleki valley dotted with Lobelias arriving at Mackinders Camp (4,300mts) late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Mackinders Camp.

Day 3: Ascend point Lenena

Pre-dawn start (3am) for the summit attempt. Up steep screes and a bare rocky track to reach the summit, Pt Lenana (4,985mts) in time for sunrise and have a clear view of the majestic scenery. Kilimanjaro is usually visible on a clear day to the south. After the sunrise, descend down to Mackinders camp for breakfast and later descend down through the moorland and bamboo forest to the gate for pick up.