Itinerary
Day 1: London - Kilimanjaro Overnight flight from London to Kilimanjaro
Day 2: Moshi On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Moshi. Visit the project this afternoon. A briefing and welcome dinner tonight.
Days 3-5: Moshi Project work at school in Moshi
Day 6: Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut 2,705m (8,875 ft) This morning we drive through the semi-tropical foothills of Kilimanjaro to Marangu Gate, where you enter Kilimanjaro National Park and start your climb. Today’s trek takes 4-5 hours through tropical rainforest to reach Mandara Hut where we stay overnight.
Day 7: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut 3,718m (12,201 ft) Your second day on the mountain starts with a fairly steep climb through the last of the rainforest, up to alpine meadows dotted with giant heather. Further on, the environment changes to open heath with stunted vegetation, before opening out to bleak moorland. Today you will gain approximately 1,000m in altitude, so walk slowly in order to acclimatize properly. It is normally a 6-7 hour hike to reach Horombo Hut.
Day 8: Horombo Hut Spend a day acclimatising to the altitude with short morning and afternoon treks, returning to base for meals and overnight. This time will greatly increase your chances of reaching the summit.
Day 9: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut 4,713m (15,463 ft) The terrain now becomes progressively more rocky and rugged, and giant groundsels and lobelias make their appearance. The trail skirts Mawenzi Peak, before crossing a stark, almost lunar landscape and the famed tundra desert of 'the saddle'. The hike to Kibo Hut takes between 5 to 7 hours and the views from the saddle are breathtaking. Make this an early night – your attempt on Uhuru Peak starts at midnight.
Day 10: Kibo Hut – SUMMIT 5,894m (19,340 ft) – Horombo Hut 3,718m (12,201 ft) Soon after midnight, you will be awakened by your guides to start the zigzag trek up a long scree slope. After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave and from here the gradient gets steeper. Continue your climb for approximately another 3 hours to Gilman’s Point and you will be rewarded by the dramatic sight of the rising sun reflecting off the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi. Walk along the crater rim for another couple of hours to reach your goal – Uhuru Peak, towering at 5,894m (19,340 ft.) After congratulating yourself and your companions on this great achievement, descend to Kibo Hut for rest and refreshment before continuing to Horombo Hut.
Day 11: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate - Moshi After a leisurely breakfast, make your final descent across the alpine meadow, past Manyara Hut and on down through the rainforest to Marangu Gate, where your driver and vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Moshi.
Day 12: Moshi – Kilimanjaro - London Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to London.
Day 13: London Arrive back into London.