Mt
Kilimanjaro Climbing & Mount Kenya trekking: Mount Kilimanjaro and
Mount Kenya climbing, Mt Kilimanjaro climb, Mt Meru trek
14 Days : Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro climbing combined Sirimon/
Chogoria and Kilimanjaro trek Marangu route
Day.1 Arrival – Nairobi
Pick up from the airport on arrival and transfer you to Comfort inn
hotel for overnight stay .
Day 2 : Nairobi/Nanyuki
Depart Nairobi mid morning for Nanyuki arriving in time for lunch.
The afternoon is spent in this area for acclimatization. Dinner and
overnight in a budget hotel.
Day 3. Old Moses Camp
After breakfast, drive to Sirimon Park Gate. After chek-in start
hiking through the Rain Forest for 9 km to Old Moses camp (3300m).
Dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Shipton Camp
Depart Old Moses Camp at 7:30 am via Mackinders Valley to Shipton
Camp (4200m). The distance takes 6 to 7 hrs. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5.Point Lenana- Chogoria
Early morning departure (3:00 am) to the summit, a walk that takes 3
hrs to point Lenana (4985m) arriving at 6:30 in the morning. After
sunrise, descend to Mintos Hut for full breakfast and later proceed
down through the Gorges valley to Chogoria Bandas and campsite.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 6. Chogoria/Nairobi
After breakfast, set on morning journey to Chogoria (32km). 4WD
vehicles are provided but during bad weather, climbers may have to
walk some disance as vehicles may not reach the Bandas. From
Chogoria transport is provided back to Nairobi, arriving late
afternoon Drop off at Comfort in hotel for overnight stay.
Day 7: Arrival - Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, met and assisted. Transfer to a
hotel for an overnight stay before embarking on the Kilimanjaro trek
the following day.
Marangu Route
Total hiking distance: About 96 km's on the easiest trekking route
commonly known as the Coca-Cola route
(Excluding any acclimatization hikes on day 3)
Day 8: Marangu Gate (1980m) - Mandara hut (2700m)
Hiking time: 5 hours | Distance: About 12 km's | Habitat: Montane
forest
The drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate, takes
about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu,
which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach
the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the Park
office and make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will
be seen arranging and loading their packs, containing the food,
water, cooking gas as well as most of your equipment. Make sure that
you have all your daypack items (containing at least drinking water,
your lunch pack and extra clothing) with you as the porters ascend a
lot quicker than the hikers. Our guides will be available to assist
with any additional information or needs you might have. You now
leave the Park gate and ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the
rain forest. The forest, suffused with mist and dripping with beards
of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro's animals are found. (An
alternative and more scenic parallel forest trail, branches off to
the left a few minutes after the gate. This trail follows the edge
of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to
rejoin the main trail either, after 1˝ hours hiking, or 1 hour
before Mandara hut.)
Your first night stop, Mandara hut, is a group of wooden A-framed
huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with
solar generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60
climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above and there
are flush toilets behind the main hut.
Day 9: Mandara hut (2700m) - Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 6 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Moorland
From Mandara hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest,
then skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into the
transition from rain forest to moorland. It is well worth a short
detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first
really impressive view of the Kibo Crater. On a clear day, Kibo will
glimmer in the distance, showing off her majestic glaciers in the
morning sun. Once you are in the open moorland you will get the
chance to see some of Kilimanjaro's most spectacular plants - the
endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3 m in height and the giant
groundsel (Senecia Kilimanjari), which can reach heights of 5m!
After about 6 hours from here you reach the Horombo hut, where you
will have hot washing water, rest; an evening meal and overnight.
Day 10: Horombo hut (3720m) - Acclimatization day
Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with
buildings similar to Mandara, but with a total capacity of 120
climbers! Normally bustling with hikers, guides, porters and with an
atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending
and descending hikers here. This extra day and night at Horombo is
for additional acclimatization. A hike towards the Mawenzi hut,
passing the Zebra Rocks on the way (about 3 hours up and 1.5 hours
down), is strongly recommended. This hike will further assist with
the process of acclimatization. Remember to drink enough water and
move slowly! All meals for the day are provided at the hut. Retire
to bed early and get a last good night's rest.
Day 11: Horombo hut (3720m) - Kibo hut (4700m)
Hiking time: 6 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Alpine
desert
After breakfast you now continue your ascent into the Alpine desert
habitat. From Horombo there are two trails to the "Saddle" (which
refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo).
There is an upper route (right hand fork) and lower route (left hand
fork) to choose from. The upper route (right hand fork) will be very
familiar, as you will have climbed most of it the previous day
towards Mawenzi hut. It is very stony and eroded.
The recommended lower route (left hand fork) is much easier and
nearly an hour and it also passes the last watering point at 4130m.
You will have to fill your water bottles with all the water you will
need until your return to Horombo hut in two night's time (unless
you are willing to buy Mineral water at Kibo hut). Once again
remember to slow down and drink enough water!! Situated in the
barren Alpine desert is Horombo hut, a stone build block house which
has bunk beds for 60 climbers, but no streams with water nearby. It
is however possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp
office.
There are platform toilets behind the hut. The summit is now a
further 1195m up and you will make your final ascent the same night.
Prepare your equipment, ski-stick and thermal clothing for your
summit bid. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and
camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as
well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a
thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get as much
rest and sleep as possible.
Day12: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Kibo hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) -
Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru - 6 hours to descend to Horombo |
Distance: 6 km's ascent - 21 km's descent | Habitat: Stone scree and
ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you
shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets
tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to
the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then
zigzags up to Gillman's point (5 681m), which is located on the
crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone screen,
requiring a great physical and mental effort. Probably the most
demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move
slowly.
From Gillman’s Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up
to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Total
exhilaration and satisfaction - you made it. Weather conditions on
the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend, taking
photographs, before the 3 hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a
short rest you gather all your gear you left behind for the ascent
and head down to Horombo hut (3 hours) for your overnight. The
return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the
ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours,
so be prepared for a very tough day.
Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner (with soft drinks
and beer for sale at the camp office) on the mountain and a
well-earned sleep, filled with memories and stirring emotions.
Day 13: Horombo hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 6 hours | Distance: About 27 km's
After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the
Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. At Marangu gate you sign your
name and details in a register. This is also where successful
climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who
reached Gillman's Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates
and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold certificates.
You now drive back to Arusha for a long over due hot shower, dinner
and celebrations!! Overnight at a budget hotel.
Day 14: Departure
Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home or
continue with your safari schedule |
