Mt Kilimanjaro
Expeditions every year March and September (Machame and Umbwe route)
At 5895m, "Kili" is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. The ice-capped crater is often described as an ‘Elegant African Empress, guarding over the planes of the sweltering Serengeti’. But at the summit the temperature can be 10 degrees below zero. And it’s those extremes that make this climb on the Equator so attractive: through four very-different climatic zones during the weeklong trek to the ‘Roof of Africa’.
Starting in the tropical Rain-forest region, the route enters the Moor and Heath land zone, through the Highland desert and eventually tops out on the glaciered summit pyramid.
It's vital to eat and drink well in order to better acclimatize. You are catered for by the same Tanzanian team Sean went up with on his first ascent in 2004 (local guides Bongo, Kennedy and Stephen). The food is superb and the most you will carry is a light day pack weighing less than 5 kilograms. You fly Tanzanian airlines via Dar es Salaam onto Moshi, starting and ending at the finest hotel in Moshi, the Aishi Protea hotel. Overnights are spent camping in tents, all set up by the accompanying Tanzanian porters.
See the Kilimanjaro documentary in the ‘Freeze Frame’ DVD series.
Itinerary Machame Route
Select a day
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
DAY 1: Depart JHB 13h50 arrive Moshi 20h45. Overnight at Aishi Protea hotel.
DAY 2: Drive to Kilimanjaro national park gate at Machame for the first section of the climb through the Mountain forest to Machame campsite at 10000ft 3000m. Takes 5 to 7 hrs. Overnight Machame camp.
DAY 3: Following the ridge and across heath and moorland to ‘picnic rock’ and the Shira plateau, to Shira campsite at 12500ft/3800m. Takes 5 to 7 hrs. Overnight Shira camp.
DAY 4: Heading towards the volcano Kibo, crossing a broad valley and climbing up to the Lava tower for acclimatization purposes at 4600m. Reach Barranco campsite 13000ft/3900m. Takes 5 to 7 hrs. Overnight Barranco camp.
DAY 5: Cross the floor of the great Barranco valley, up the Barranco wall to the Karanga River. A steep climb over rocky surface to Karangu campsite at 15500ft/4600m. Takes 8 hrs. Overnight Karangu camp.
DAY 6: Have a good breakfast and take a slow trek up to Barafu camp at 4900m. Rest, eat and drink loads. Depart at midnight for the summit.
DAY 7: Uhuru peak the highest point in Africa 5895m. Descend via Barafu campsite through the forest to Mweka campsite at 10000ft/3000m. Takes 5 to 7 hrs.
Overnight Mweka camp.
DAY 8: Descend through the forest to the park gate taking 3 to 4 hrs and transfers to Aishi Protea hotel. For hotel dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 9: Depart 08H00 for Johannesburg arrive 13h40
Itinerary Umbwe Route
Select a day
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
DAY 1: Depart JHB 13h50 arrive Moshi 20h05. Overnight at Aishi Protea Hotel.
DAY 2: After breakfast drive to Umbwe gate (1800m). The trail starts through the primary rain forest to Umbwe caves campsite (approx 5 to 6 hrs). Dinner and overnight at Umbwe caves (3000m).
DAY 3: Start the ascent with a packed lunch to Baranco camp. The walk now becomes steeper but very scenic, along narrow valley ridges and over rocky sections towards the Moorland zone. Dinner and overnight at Baranco camp (3950m).
DAY 4: Ascend the great Baranco wall (approx 1 hr), thereafter descend to Karanga valley. Walk over gently sloped hills and through valleys, up to 4100m for hot lunch. Dinner and overnight at the spectacular Karanga camp.
DAY 5: Have a hearty breakfast and take slow trek to Barafu hut (4600m) through the wild alpine desert (approx 3 to 4 hrs). Afternoon rest and dinner. Eat and drink well. Depart at midnight for summit.
DAY 6: Uhuru Peak - the highest point in Africa (5895m) Takes approx 6 to 7 hours. Descend to Mweka campsite for dinner and overnight (3000m).
DAY 7: Descend through the rainforest to Mweka park gate (approx 2 to 3 hrs). Transfer to Aishi Protea hotel. Hotel dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 8: Descend through the forest to the park gate taking 3 to 4 hrs and transfers to Aishi Protea hotel. For hotel dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 9: Depart 08H00 for Johannesburg arrive 13h10.
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