Summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

NOTE: 1 meter = 3.281 feet and 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles

DAY 1 (Sep 13): Pick up from Moshi in the morning and drive to Machame Gate (1500m) to Machame Camp (3000m), distance is about 18 km's. (BLD)

It is approx. 45 minutes drive from Moshi to Machame gate. All your equipment and supplies are taken over by porters; a cook will prepare all your meals. Where accommodation on the Marangu route are in huts, the Machame route offers tents only. After all formalities have been taken care at the gate, head into the forest and begin the 7 hour ascent to the first camp on the mountain, Machame camp (3000m).

DAY 2 (Sep 14):  Machame Camp (3000m) to Shira Camp (3840m), distance is about 9 km's. (BLD)

Breakfast is served early in the mess tent and, weather permitting; you could take in your first view of the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro. The lunch stop will be reached at about 3600m and after this short lunch and an equally limited rest you will continue up the rocky ridge to the next camp on the mountain, Shira camp (3840).

DAY 3 (Sep 15):  Shira Camp (3840m) to Barranco Camp (3950m), distance is about 15 km's. (BLD)

The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky environment where you reach an altitude of 4600m after a 5 hours walk to Lava Tower. As you ascent from the Shira camp (3950m) there are good views of the Shira Plateau to the west, Oehler Ridge to the north east and the Western Breach to the east.

DAY 4 (Sep 16): Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karanga Camp (4200m), distance is about 6 km's. (BLD)

The morning starts with a scramble up the almost vertical Barranco Wall to an altitude of about 4200m and after aprox. 3 hours, the path now crosses through the southern slopes to reach the Karanga Valley.

DAY 5 (Sep 17): Karanga Camp (4200m) to Barafu Camp (4600m), distance is about 7 km's. (BLD)

After breakfast, you continue in a southeasterly direction to the junction before turning north to reach Barafu camp (4600m) after about 4 hours. Here you take a long rest and prepare for the midnight ascent to the summit.

DAY 6 (Sep 18): Barafu Camp (4600m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m), distance is about 7 km's. (BLD)

At around midnight, you will head in a northwesterly direction up the southeast valley towards Stella Point on the crater rim. The 6 hour long walk to Stella Point is a mental and physical challenge with the steep face just below Stella posing the ultimate challenge. The time you spend on the summit is determined by the weather and wind conditions. The walk back to Mweka Camp from the summit can take over 7 hours.

DAY 7 (Sep 19):  Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (2000m), distance is about 15 km's. (BLD)

You will camp for the night at Mweka camp (3100m) before departing for the Mweka Parks Gate the next morning where your driver will pick up and take you back to the Moshi and the Springsland Hotel.

DAY 8 (Sep 20): Drive from Springlands Hotel Moshi to Tarangire National Park, lunch en-route. Afternoon game drive in Tarangire. This is a beautiful park filled with baobabs and acacias with a large variety of game such as zebras, elephants, giraffes, and waterbuck. All the animals enjoy the water coming from the Tarangire River. The animals are best viewed during the dry season, including elephant herds, elands, orynx, lesser kudo, rhino, leopards, lions, and cheetah. The birdlife is varied and plentiful. You can also see the very rare Roam Antelope in this park. Dinner and overnight at a Highview Hotel. (BLD)

Day 9 (Sep 21): After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Half-day game drive in the crater. This is undoubtedly the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as the prides of lion that includes the magnificent black mined males. There are lots of colorful flamingoes and the variety of water birds. Other game that you may see includes leopard, cheetah, hyena, other members of the antelope family, and small mammals. Dinner and overnight at a Highview Hotel. (BLD)

Day 10 (Sep 22): After breakfast, take a morning hike in the Southern Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the elephant cave and waterfall. In the afternoon visiting the Iraqw tribe cultural centre in Karatu to learn how the tribe protected their cattle from Massai incursions using underground settlements. Overnight at a Highview Hotel. (BLD)

Day 11 (Sep 23):Drive to Lake Manyara for a morning game drive in the park. Late in the afternoon, return to Springlands Hotel for overnight. (BL)

Day 12 (Sep 24): Transfer to the airport.

NOTE: Several pre-trip meetings will be set-up in 2010 prior to our departure to discuss gear, AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), VISAs, travel insurance, vaccinations and other concerns/questions.

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