Email: Karibu[at]ssa
Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Moshi town, which is commonly known as the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Dinner and overnight at a Base Hotel in Moshi (on Half board basis).
After breakfast and a short briefing by the guide, depart for Marangu gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. (45 -minutes drive)
Upon registering with the Park Authorities, the climb will officially begin with a four-hour walk to the Mandara encampment, passing through a thick rainforest zone, where there is a high chance of rain in the afternoon.
Overnight at Mandara Hut (2,750m), an attractive collection of buildings (Bathrooms with running water available).
Continue ascending through the forest, for a short time, before reaching the heather and moorland zone at roughly 3,000m, which is your next pit stop. (approximately 06 hours' walk)
Enjoy stunning views of the mountain peaks at this altitude.
Overnight at the Horombo Hut (3,720m), which lies in a semi-alpine valley surrounded by giant lobelia and groundsel, flora that are a characteristic of this semi-alpine zone (Bathrooms with running water available)
Trek continues past the final watering point, and ascends onto the saddle of Kilimajaro that is located between the peak of Kibo and Mawenzi.
The vegetation thins out on entrance to the desert- like alpine zone (approximately 4,000m). On crossing the saddle, Kibo peak comes into view.
This seven-hour trek will be taken at a slow pace. Accommodation will be at Kibo Hut (4,703m), a comfortble stone construction (no running water at Kibo Hut).
This semi-desert zone receives an annual rainfall of under 250mm. The ground often freezes at night, but the ground temperature soar to above 30 degrees Celsius by day. Very few plants like lichen and grass survive in these conditions.
Early the next morning or shortly after midnight (previous day), commence climb to the summit of Kilimajaro, as it is easy to climb the steep slope to Gillman's point (5,861m) on the crater rim when it is frozen. An early start for the six-hour climb increases the chance of reaching the peak in time for a sunrise.
From the Gilman's Point, it is a further two-hour round trip along the Crater's edge to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. From the summit, it is downhill all the way to Horombo Hut where last night in the mountain is spent.
Today's descent continues past the Mandara encampment to the bottom of the mountain, where each hiker receives a well-earned certificate.
Transferred to a Base Hotel in Moshi for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, transferred back to Kilimajaro International Airport.
Email: Karibu[at]ssa