Itinerary

Day 0 (Feb 18) Leave U.S. for overnight flight

Day 1 (Feb 19) Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where we are transported to the hotel. Overnight in Marangu at the Marangu Resort.

Day 2 (Feb 20) Today we will visit the Shira Tumaini women's cooperative and learn about their history and the projects they are working on. This will enhance our understanding of the local culture rather than just the tourist version. We will also visit the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project to learn more about the work they are doing to improve conditions for porters. Overnight at Marangu Resort.

Day 3 (Feb 21) This morning we drive from Marangu to Machame Gate, one of the main trail heads on the mountain.  We'll have tea and finish some last minute preparations while our guides check in with the park ranger and our porters load our gear. Then it's off! We leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. This part of the trail can be muddy and slippery and gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We spend our first night on the mountain at Machame Camp. (5400 to 9300 ft, 5-7 hours).
 
Day 4 (Feb 22) After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route then turns west into a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite (12,400 ft, 5-7 hours).
 
Day 5 (Feb 23) From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. There are two possible routes here: to either go by way of Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth" , or to continue more directly down to the Barranco Valley at an altitude of 12,800'. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Ending the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day (12,800 ft, 6-8 hrs).

Day 6 (Feb 24) After breakfast, we leave Barranco camp and scramble up the great Barranco Wall. While there is no technical climbing involved, the rock scrambling is exciting and the view is magnificent. We then descend down into a wild looking valley, before descending to the Karanga River and ascending once more to the Karanga Valley campsite (13,000 ft, 4-5 hrs).

Day 7 (Feb 25) Leaving the Karanga Valley campsite we come to the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu camp. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for a very early morning summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position (15,100 ft, 3-4 hrs).

Day 8 (Feb 26) This is undoubtedly our longest and toughest day, and will be one of the most amazing days of your life! Leaving our camp by midnight , we ascend slowly and steadily for about 6-7 hours. At Stella Point (18,652 ft), we will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise we are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, it is about a 45 minute ascent to the summit, Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Millenium or Mweka camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a brief rest.  The descent is quite challenging due to steep terrain and losse gravel ("scree") in places, and its difficulty should not be underestimated. Finally, after 14-18 hours of hiking, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 9 (Feb 27) A 4-6 hour descent through beautiful forest brings you to the Park gate and our waiting transport. We drive back to the hotel, where hot showers and a great dinner complete our celebration.

Day 10 (Feb 28) With the climb over, we completely switch gears today for the safari (Swahili for "trip"). Departing the hotel after breakfast, we head to Lake Manyara Park, enjoying lunch along the way. This park is located below a volcanic escarpment at the base of which numerous springs feed the forest meadows, keeping them lush and green, and attracting a large animal population. Elephant herds are frequently encountered. Game followed by dinner and a night at Lake Manyara Lodge.

Day 11 (March 1) We will leave early in the morning after breakfast and drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a full day game viewing in the Ngorongoro main crater. Ngorongoro Crater is quite different from the Serengeti: a huge collapsed volcano crater, the steep walls both confine and protect many of the animals that live here. Most animals live on the crater floor some 1200 feet below the rim. Herds of wildebeest, zebras, warthogs, buffalos, and their babies are common and we may also see the black rhino, one of Tanzania's "Big Five" and difficult to see other places. In the afternoon, we will take time out to stretch your legs and enjoy a picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs while watching hippos jostle for position in the water. We will leave the crater in the evening.

Day 12 (March 2) We will leave after breakfast in the morning and drive to Serengeti National Park with a stop at Olduvai Gorge, site of Louis and Mary Leakey's famous discoveries of human ancestors, the Zinjanthropus Bosei. We will take a tour of the site and museum and after the tour we will proceed with our drive to Serengeti National Park while game viewing along the way.

Day 13 (March 3) Today we will leave early in the morning after breakfast for a full day game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. Our concentration today will be following the great migration of the wildebeests and zebras on the southern plains of the Serengeti National Park. In the afternoon we will stop to enjoy our picnic boxed lunch at a designated picnic site and in the evening we will return to the same lodge for overnight.

Day 14 (March 4) We will leave after breakfast and make our way to Seronera airstrip while game viewing on the way. You will take a local flight from Seronera airstrip and fly to Arusha arriving in time for lunch. After lunch we will provide you with a day-room to refresh and relax before we transfer you to the airport in the evening for your international flight back home. (Some people have chosen to extend their trip with a visit to the mountain gorillas of nearby Rwanda.

Day 15 (March 5) Back home, we savor the excitement and challenge of the previous 2 weeks and enjoy the luxury of sleeping in our own beds

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