Mountain Climbing

6 Days,5 Night to Mt. Kilimanjaro- The Machame Route

Hints of the tour

CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO VIA MACHAME ROUTE - a slightly challenging but very scenic route.

Accommodation : Tents

Standard Duration : 6 Days altough an extra day at Shira or Karanga valley is recommended to help acclimatize. This is much quiter route as opposed to Marangu and involves a rather gradual ascent unlike that on Umbwe Route. The walking is rather strenous.Often called the Whiskey Route this is a scenically beautiful trail, longer and much gentler.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: From Arusha drive to the Machame route, often called the "Whiskey Route". From the Machame Park gate is a gentle climb up through the original montane forest, carpeted with unique -busy lizzie- flowers, begonias and ferns. First camp amongst the giant heather at 3,000m. Ascent of 1,200m and 5 to 6 hours walking.

Day 2: Emerge from the giant heather zone and hike through fine open moorland to camp by the Shira Cave at 3,840m. Herds of eland up here (& occasional lion!) and there are fascinating geological features in the old volcanic caldera which can be viewed during a half-hour optional walk in the afternoon. Ascent 840m and 4 to 5 hours walking.

Day 3: From Shira, climb towards the main peak Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders. Skirting around its base and under the imposing western Breach, descend into the sheltered Barranco Valley for mid-way camp at 3,950m. 6 to 7 hours walking and only 110m total ascent but having climbed much higher and dropped back down assists acclimatization.

Day 4: Up the steep Barranco wall with some sections of very easy scrambling and drop down again to the Karanga Valley where you take a break for lunch.

After lunch hike on to Barafu Hut 4600m, having hiked a total of 7 to 8 hours and ascended 650m. You have fantastic views across to Mawenzi peak from the camp after having completed a longer day of hiking which now requires you to adequately relax in preparation of the challenging summit hike early the following morning.

Day 5: A bracing 1am start to climb the steep frozen scree. This is unavoidable on any route but we aim to go past Gillman's Point to reach Stella Point on the crater rim for sunrise another 40 minutes and you are at the highest point on the continent (Kibo:5900m), usually in warm sunshine. Return on the Mweka descent route.

Ascent of 1,300m and about 7 hours trek to the summit; 2,600m descent and 6 to 7 hours trek to the Mweka campsite (3400m) above Mweka gate. This is a long hard day but you feel absolutely ecstatic when you have done it!

Day 6: From Mweka campsite it is a 4 to 5 hours descent through the forest to Mweka gate (depending on individual fitness) to collect certificates and meet the vehicle. Return to Arusha for the night.

Synopsis

Departure dates: Any time with a minimum of two people.

Season: the best times are January to March and June to December.

Scheduled group trips: Daily during best seasons.

Cost Includes:

• All transport by private vehicle to and from the mountain
• Accommodation as detailed on the itinerary.
• Services of a private mountain guide, cook and adequate porters to carry both trip provisions and client's private bags.
• National Park entrance, accommodation and camping fees.
• All food and catering equipment - breakfasts, lunches (packed when necessary) and evening meals prepared by our own cook. Special dietary requirements are catered for with prior arrangements at no extra cost.
• Certificate of Achievement /appreciation from us.
• Free storage of excess baggage not required on the mountain hike.
• Crisis management apparatus - VHF 2-way radio, basic first aid kit and an on call vehicle.

Cost excludes:

• Travel and personal accident insurance.
• Visa, passport, vaccinations, medicines.
• Personal Mountain equipment.
• Tips.
• Expenditure on alcoholic drinks, souvenirs and other personal items.
• Optional excursions not detailed in the itinerary.
• Additional optional accommodation added at the base hotel or extra days on the mountain added.
• Treated drinking water other than boiled.
• Extra costs incurred in case of own intentional change of itinerary while already on trek.
• Porters to carry excess of 16Kg. personal luggage per client.

General: Accommodation is camping throughout in 3 person mountain tents shared by two people. All your equipment will be carried by vehicles or local porters; you only carry a daypack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. We can cater for special dietary requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments.

6 days, 5 Nights in Mt. Kilimanjaro-The Marangu Route

Hints of the tour

Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, lies just three degrees south of the equator and is permanently snow-capped. It offers one of the best opportunities in the world to climb a peak at high altitude without the need for technical climbing ability. The trek takes you through well-defined altitudinal vegetation zones, from semi-arid scrub to dense cloud forest. It is open to any normally fit and healthy person prepared for physical exertion and exercise. Walking approximately 60 kilometres, you start from Marangu Gate (1,860m) and gradually ascend, with night stops, to reach Gillman's Point (5,680m) and finally Uhuru Peak (5,896m), the actual summit.

DAY 1 - MANDARA HUT
This morning you drive (about 2 hours) through Kilimanjaro?s semi-tropical foothills to Marangu (1,372m), situated on the south-eastern side of the mountain. As you drive, there are usually some excellent views of the snow-capped peak. On arrival at Marangu gate, you meet your team of guides and porters, pick up any last minute supplies for the trek, and head to the entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park to register for the climb. From the cluster of buildings at the gate it is some four to five hours walk through patches of coffee plantation and dense rainforest to Mandara Hut. The forest teems with brightly-coloured bird life, colobus and other varieties of monkey. The flora includes numerous mosses, lichens and flowers, as well as delicate orchids. If the skies are clear you may have fine views over the town of Moshi lying at the edge of the plain far below. Mandara Hut is a collection of basic, A-frame mountain huts with bunk beds - quite adequate for your needs - where you inevitably meet up with fellow trekkers who are bent on the same goal. Overnight stay Mandara Hut - 1 night (Brekfast, Lunch and Dinner).

DAY 2 - HOROMBO HUT (3,720m)
Your second day on the mountain starts with a steep climb through the last swathe of rainforest, though this soon gives way to rolling alpine meadow dotted with giant heather. Once you leave the forest canopy, Kilimanjaro's twin peaks - snowcovered Kibo and rocky Mawenzi - lie directly ahead, dominating the skyline. Further on you cross a zone of open heath with stunted vegetation, before emerging onto bleak moorland. Today you gain roughly 1,000m in altitude, and your walk can take anything from five to seven hours - depending on your pace. Tonight you stay at Horombo Huts - another collection of buildings similar in style to those at Mandara - which offer shelter and basic accommodation to those on the mountain. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).

DAY 3 - HOROMBO HUT
A day here provides an opportunity for you to acclimatise gradually to the altitude. Statistics show that an acclimatisation day like this effectively doubles the chance of making it to the summit, so this time is well spent! The day is not exactly wasted as there are a few walks you can make in the vicinity of the hut - the most popular of which is to the base of Mawenzi Peak, the dramatic eastern summit of Kili. This walk takes four to five hours (round trip), and will get you to an altitude of 4,600m before you return to the hut - this will stand you in good stead later on. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).

DAY 4 - KIBO HUT (4,705m)
The landscape becomes progressively more rocky and rugged as you leave the ?everlasting flowers? and other bizarre alpine plants behind. Giant groundsels and lobelias appear in the sparse moorland. Today's trail up to Kibo will again take anything between five and seven hours. Skirting Mawenzi Peak, you pass ?Last Water? then cross a stark, almost lunar landscape onto "The Saddle", a broad tundra desert between the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. From here you start to get fantastic views of the upper reaches of the mountain before arriving at Kibo Hut (4,705m), a dry-stone-walled hut with dormitories and limited facilities. Tonight you prepare for tomorrow's final assault - THE SUMMIT - re-packing to leave any non-essential items with the porters; you need to summon all your energy to get to the summit so there's absolutely no point in carrying anything you don't need! An early night is imperative as you must make a midnight start in order to reach the summit in the morning before the cloud cover settles, and then have time to get back down to the hut.
Overnight stay at Kibo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

DAY 5 - UHURU PEAK (5,896m)
This is a long and demanding day! The guides wake you soon after midnight and you start out in darkness, zigzagging up a long scree slope by the light of your torch in the extreme cold. At this time of day the scree is still frozen - which makes it easier to walk on! After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer's Cave - named after the German geologist who made the first successful ascent in 1889 - where he found the remains of a frozen leopard. The gradient gets steeper and three hours on (this is the hardest stretch of the ascent!) you should reach the crater rim at Johanne?s Notch. From here it's a short scramble to Gillman's Point (5,685m) in time for dawn. Your reward is the dramatic spectacle of the sun rising over the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi - the profusion of colors and shapes make all the suffering seem worthwhile! For those who still have the energy and drive, it takes another couple of hours along the crater rim to reach Uhuru (Freedom) Peak (5,896m). Your descent (approx 3 hours) retraces the route back down past Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut for a well-deserved rest. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

DAY 6 - Back to ARUSHA.
The pace quickens as you continue your triumphant way back down across alpine meadow and past Mandara Hut through the rainforest to Marangu Gate where you board the vehicle for the journey back to Arusha. Breakfast and Lunch are included in this day.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CLIMATE:
Mount Kilimanjaro is only three degrees south of the Equator so although the climate is technically 'equatorial', it is essentially tropical. The long dry season (Jun-Oct) is followed by ?Short Rains? (Nov-Dec). During the short dry season (Jan-Mar) it can be very hot and humid.
The 'Long Rains' fall Apr-May. On the mountains, temperatures rise and fall only slightly throughout the year but vary considerably between night and day. Temperatures gradually fall as altitude increases. Above 4,000m, daytime temperature is usually around 5C dropping well below freezing at night.

BAGGAGE:
For your comfort we recommend you travel as light as possible; many airlines impose a maximum weight limit of 20 kg - we advise you to take a lot less!
We would suggest :
One main piece - soft bag rather than a hard suitcase as it can be easily stowed and carried by porters on the ascent. Pack lightly as space is restricted - max. 15kg. NB: any surplus baggage can be stored in Arusha during the ascent - it is vital not to over pack. Please take only bare essentials for the climb. A daypack - For comfort we recommend a larger daypack or small rucksack with a comfortable harness and waist belt (30-40 litres capacity is ideal for carrying warm clothing, camera, water bottle etc.

CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR:
It is essential to keep yourself (and your baggage) dry at all times. Also, to cope with variable temperatures, the best strategy is to layer clothing, so you can adjust your temperature. You should not underestimate the freezing cold conditions you will encounter on the mountain. Although some clothing and equipment is available for hire locally, it's impossible to guarantee its quality or availability, so equip yourself fully before departure. If you require further advice please contact your mountain climb consultants.

The following is a suggestion of what you may find useful to take on this trip. It is not exhaustive and a more detailed packing list can also be found at Suggested Mountain Climb Equipments page.

• T-shirts (synthetic materials are best as cotton retains moisture)
• Waterproof thigh-length jacket (Goretex or similar)
• Gloves (waterproof warm outers + thin liners)
• Warm hat (or balaclava) that covers the ears
• Waterproof walking boots (well broken-in)
• Waterproof outer trousers _ Warm mid-layer (fleece or down)
• Warm long-sleeved shirt _ Warm walking trousers (not jeans!)
• Thermal underwear _ Walking socks (several pairs)
• Walking shorts
• Trainers or soft shoes for relaxing
• Sun-hat
• Gaiters

EQUIPMENT:

• Glacier glasses (or good quality sunglasses - preferably with side shields)
• Personal first aid kit & essential medication
• Wet wipes
• Warm sleeping bag (3/4-season)
• Sleeping bag liner
• Trekking pole(s) - can be hired locally
• Small towel
• Headtorch & spare batteries
• Spare plastic bags
• Waterbottle(s) - minimum 3 litres capacity
• High factor sunscreen & lipsalve
• High energy snacks, dried fruit, nuts, sweets, etc. NB: hang on to some till the last day - you?ll appreciate them more!
• A small bottle of cordial or squash concentrate (to liven up the ?flat? taste of boiled water)

MEALS
6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 evening meals are included.

TIPPING:
Tipping is an accepted part of life in Tanzania, and you will be expected to tip to reward service. You will be briefed on arrival as to when and how much is appropriate, however, depending on the size of your group you should budget on a personal contribution of around $ 45 to $ 50 for your trek guides, cooks and porters on the trek.

CLIMATE CHART
Arusha (1,390m)

3 Days, 2 Nights in Mount Meru Climb

Hints of the tour

Mount Meru is located in Tanzania and is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. It is a great mountain to climb and offers spectacular scenery, including views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is unspoilt and less congested as compared to it's Mount Kilimanjaro.

MOUNT MERU CLIMB

Duration: 3 Days/2 nights
Location: Mount Meru, Arusha, Tanzania

Day 1: Arusha - Momella gate - Mariakamba Hut
Drive 1 Hr, Hike Distance 10 km, 4 - 5 hrs, 1000m ascent, Alt: 2516
Dinner and overnight Mariakamba Hut

Day 2: Mariakamba Hut to Saddle Hut
Hike Distance 4km, 2 - 3 hrs, 1050m ascent, Alt: 3566
Dinner and overnight Saddle Hut.

Day 3 option 1: Saddle Hut to Meru Summit.
Hike distance 5km, 4 - 5 hrs, 1000m ascent, Alt 4566

Day 3 option 2: From Meru Summit to Saddle Hut to Momella Gate and back to Arusha
Hike Distance 14km, 6 to 8hrs, 3050m descent, Alt: 1516
Drive 1 hr back to Arusha

Price includes :- Transport , Ranger /guide, Porters, Park fees, Hut fees, Rescue fees, cook, Meals, Tea and coffee
Price Excludes :- Tips / Drinks / Climbing gear / sleeping bags and all items of personal nature.