Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, tailor made
| country: | Tanzania |
| location: | Kilimanjaro |
| trip type: | High altitude, very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | This trip can be arranged at any time and can be tailored to fit your own unique requirements, interests and budget. Contact us for group departure dates |
| price: | From £895 (8 days) excluding flights, based on 2 people travelling (or £795 based on a group of 4 or £750 based on a group of 6). We can arrange flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Mount Kilimanjaro is famous as the highest peak in Africa and perhaps what makes its snow-capped summit all the more impressive is that it stands alone, towering almost 6,000m above the surrounding plains. We offer you the chance to climb to the peak of Kili following the lesser-used Machame route. This route takes a minimum of 6 days and offers a gradual ascent, a wide range of scenic areas and gives plenty of time to acclimatise.
In order to increase the success of making it to the summit we offer this route also with an extra day on the mountain to rest and acclimatise. This is generally taken in the Karanga Valley. If you have the flexibility in travel dates, it is recommended to have the final ascent coincide with full moon – the extra moonlight will assist you to the top.
In order to increase the success of making it to the summit we offer this route also with an extra day on the mountain to rest and acclimatise. This is generally taken in the Karanga Valley. If you have the flexibility in travel dates, it is recommended to have the final ascent coincide with full moon – the extra moonlight will assist you to the top.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Transfer from either Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport to Colobus Lodge on the edge of Arusha National Park. Colobus is conveniently located between Arusha and Moshi and has beautiful views of Kilimanjaro and Meru, when they are not in clouds ;-) You will spend the afternoon with your mountain guide preparing for your climb with a briefing. Overnight Colobus Lodge (dinner only). |
| Day 2: | Today you will be transferred to Machame Gate to begin your climb. Climb to Machame Hut, depending on the weather conditions this can be a moderate to very demanding climb through forest (5-7 hrs). Overnight camping by Machame Hut (3,000m) (full board). |
| Day 3: | Rising early, you will cross a valley and stream and climb up a steep ridge for 3-4 hours. The path then drops into the river gorge before you climb more gently onto the moorland of the Shira Plateau, one of the most fascinating areas of the mountain. Overnight camping by Shira Hut (3,840m) (full board). |
| Day 4: | Today you will walk for 5-6 hours, enjoying sightings of the typical Kilimanjaro mountain vegetation (Senecios, Lobelia, Helichrysum) and rewarding views of the spectacular Barranco Valley. Overnight camping by Barranco Hut (3,950m) (full board). |
| Day 5: | From the Barranco Hut, walk across scree and ridges to Karanga (4,100m) with breathtaking views of the West Breach and the southern glacier. About 2 hours from Karanga you will come out on the Barafu path (part of the Mweka Trail). It is a further 1-1½ hours to Barafu Hut Overnight camping by Barafu Hut (4,600m) (full board). |
| Day 6: | Just after midnight you begin your climb to the summit by the light of the full moon. You pass between the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers and continue to Uhuru peak (5,896 m), where you can watch the sunrise from the rooftop of Africa! You then descend to the Mweka hut taking about 5 hours. Overnight camping by Mweka hut (3,100m) (Full board). |
| Day 7: | An easy day (!), just a 3 to 4 hours straightforward trekking to the Mweka gate. At the gate you will be presented with your certificate and a bottle of champagne celebrating reaching the ‘top of Africa’. You may now relax, take a hot shower and relax before your final dinner, where you will hopefully celebrate the achievement of conquering Mount Kilimanjaro. Overnight Colobus Lodge (half board). |
| Day 8: | You will be transferred back to either Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your onward travel arrangements. (Breakfast only) |
travellers' tales
The most memorable and exciting part of my holiday was Kilimanjaro - reaching the summit despite the cold! (more)
don't leave it too late!
Please note that due to the nature of tailor-made trips to Sub-Saharan Africa we need at least 14 days between time of booking and departure. This time is essential for you to sort out passport, visa and health requirements and for us to make all the necessary holiday arrangements.how this holiday makes a difference
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Although mountain treks generate necessary jobs and income for local people, Tourism Concern receives regular reports of Kilimanjaro porters being exploited, working for unfair low wages, carrying too heavy loads without proper equipment or being withheld from their basic rights. We operate an 'equal rights and proper working conditions for porters' policy. The company making our Kilimanjaro climbs possible is Shidolya, a Tanzanian owned safari & climbing company employing only local porters, guides & cooks. All food is bought locally and cooked on gas fires.
One of many features that make Mount Kilimanjaro famous, are the glaciers at its summit, which began to form about 11,700 years ago. In 1912, Science reported that these glaciers measured 4.8 square miles - however by the year 2000 they had already shrunk to a meagre 1 square mile. Now the glaciers are melting so quickly that they may be gone altogether by 2020, according to recent research. However, further research is needed to determine to what extent global warming and/or natural climate variability are responsible for the demise of Kilimanjaro's glaciers. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |