Tours - Tanzania / Kenya

Day 01: Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut (8,875 ft)
This morning we drive through Kilimanjaro’s semi-tropical foothills to Marangu Gate, where you enter Kilimanjaro National Park and start your climb. Today’s trek takes 4-5 hours through tropical rainforest to reach Mandara Hut.

Day 02: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut (12,201 ft)
Your second day on the mountain starts with a fairly steep climb through the last of the rainforest up to alpine meadows dotted with giant heather. Further on, the environment changes to open heath with stunted vegetation before opening out to bleak moorland.

Today you will gain approximately 1,000m in altitude, so walk slowly in order to acclimatize properly. It is normally a 6-7 hour hike to reach Horombo Hut.

Day 03: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut (15,463 ft)
The terrain now becomes progressively more rocky and rugged and giant groundsels and lobelias make their appearance. The trail skirts Mawenzi Peak, before crossing a stark, almost lunar landscape and the tundra desert of ‘the saddle”.

The hike to Kibo Hut takes anything from 5 to 7 hours and the views from the saddle are breathtaking. Make this an early night – your attempt on Uhuru Peak starts at midnight.

Day 04: Kibo Hut – SUMMIT (19,340 ft) – Horombo Hut (12,201 ft)
Soon after midnight, you will be awakened by your guides to start the zigzag trek up a long scree slope. After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave and from here the gradient gets steeper. Continue your climb for approximately another 3 hours to Gilman’s Point and you will be rewarded by the dramatic sight of the rising sun reflecting off the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi.

Walk along the crater rim for another couple of hours to reach your goal – Uhuru Peak, towering at 19,340 ft. After congratulating yourself and your companions on this great achievement, descend to Kibo Hut for rest and refreshment before continuing to Horombo Hut for your last night on the mountain..

Day 05: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
After a leisurely breakfast, make your final descent across the alpine meadow, past Mandara Hut and on down through the rainforest to Marangu Gate, where your driver and vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Arusha.

DAY 01: LEMOSHO - FOREST CAMP (9,000 ft)
Admire the scenic Masai Steppe as you drive to Lemosho Gate for the start of your climb. Today is only a few hours of gentle walking to Forest Camp; an opportunity to stretch your legs in anticipation of the long trek ahead.

DAY 02: FOREST CAMP - SHIRA CAMP (11,000 ft)
After an early breakfast, you will start a 5 hours walk through the forest and up into the Hagenia zone. The vegetation begins to thin out as you approach the Shira Plateau, one of the three craters of the Kilimanjaro volcanic massif. From Shira Camp there are exquisite views of the Shira Needles and far-off Mount Meru.

DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP - SHIRA PLATEAU (12,500 ft)
Today we slowly climb into the alpine heather zone, approaching the Kibo outcrop from the west. Lunch will be taken en route to Shira 2 campsite during this leisurely, 5 hours walk.

DAY 04: SHIRA PLATEAU - LAVA TOWER CAMP (14.300 ft)
Follow the trail through the sparse vegetation of the Alpine Desert Zone, where few plants survive and temperatures can reach the freezing point. Today you will hike for approximately 4 hours to reach Lava Tower, an imposing relic from Kilimanjaro’s volcanic past and your shelter for tonight.

DAY 05: LAVA TOWER - BARRANCO (13,000 ft)
This morning you will awake to find the entire Shira Plateau at your feet, with superb views across to Meru and the Shira Needles. A steady walk brings you up to the pass at Lava Tower looming at 15,000 ft. The descent to Barranco Camp takes you along an immense canyon called Grand Barranco. Along the way you will see numerous waterfalls, which are fed by streams from the mountain which converge here to form the Umbwe River. Today’s trek lasts for about six hours and arrival at camp is around 5 p.m.

DAY 06: BARRANCO - KARANGA CAMP (13,000 ft)
Begin your hike to Karanga Camp (which is at the same altitude as Barranco Camp - so you should be well acclimatized by now to this elevation). After a scramble at Barranco Cliff, the rest of the trek is spent climbing up and down the slopes of the mountain for most of the way to camp. This section of the trail is not considered difficult and takes only about four hours. After lunch, you have an opportunity to hike in the Karanga Valley, where giant senecios and lobelia grow.

DAY 07: KARANGA CAMP - BARAFU CAMP (15,200 ft)
The climb to Barafu is mostly on Alpine Desert terrain; a mostly mineral environment with just a few lichens and mosses. Mawenzi Peak towers majestically to the right and Kibo Peak seems just a stone’s throw away. Climbers usually arrive at Barafu Camp sometime before 3 p.m. Those who wish to attempt the summit should retire early this might, as the next day is the longest of the whole climb.

DAY 08: BARAFU CAMP - ASCENT TO SUMMIT - MWEKA CAMP (10,200 ft)
It is at this stage that the climb becomes much more difficult and hikers should carry as little as possible for this stage. Temperatures range from -4 degrees to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Making your way up a path that is flanked by the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers, you will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater between Stella and Hans Meyer points.

One more hour of climbing brings you to the summit – Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent. The track around the edge of the crater is icy and rocky, so concentrate on your feet and follow your guide very closely for this section of the climb.

Enjoy your scramble down the scree and carry on to Kibo Hut for rest and refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night. Arriving into camp at around 5 p.m. you will look back and realize that, today, you have trekked a total of thirteen hours!
DAY 09: MWEKA CAMP TO THE GATE
The descent to Mweka gate takes approximately five hours and climbers usually reach there around noon. Upon arrival at the gate, wrapped in the warmth of your great achievement, you will be given a certificate attesting your success before joining your driver and vehicle for the return to Arusha

Transport & Guides of tour: Our fleet of custom built, 4WD extended cab Land Rovers and Land Cruisers are the best safari vehicles in Tanzania. We limit passengers in each vehicle so everyone has a window seat and plenty of space, and fully retractable roofs allow 360 degree wildlife observation.
Transportation is by safari minivans or 4x4 Land rovers, with pop up roofs and carries all the necessary equipment & clients bags. We guarantee window seats to all our clients. Our regular safaris are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of two persons.
Our Tanzanian guides are experienced naturalists. They know the park rangers and keep in touch with them regularly, so they always have the inside track on where to find the most exciting wildlife.

TANZANIA-The Land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar
Tanzania is most famous for Kilimanjaro but there are other areas where you can walks and treks. The Meru, Crater Highlands and Pare Highlands walks are excellent walks with great view.

Mount Meru

At nearly 15,000 feet, Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, although it is overshadowed by its more famous neighbour Kilimanjaro and is frequently overlooked by trekkers.

Mount Meru is a spectacular mountain, a classic volcanic cone, with its crater wall broken to create a gigantic horseshoe. Trekking to the summit involves hiking through beautiful landscapes of grassland and lush forest on the mountain's lower slopes, followed by a dramatic and exhilarating walk along the knife-edge rim of the crater horseshoe. If you've got the time, a visit to Meru is a great way to prepare for Kilimanjaro. It helps you build up acclimatisation and
the view from Mount Meru, across the plains to the great dome of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds, provides plenty of inspiration for the major trek to come.

Mount Meru Momella Route

Day 1 Arrive at the hotel after a long flight.
Day 2 After a nice breakfast your host/ driver / guide take you on a drive to Momella. Trekking to Miriakamba Hut (8337 ft).
Day 3 After a good nights rest we do trekking to Saddle Hut (11,713 ft).
Day 4 After good night rest we have an early start to reach the summit (14,981 ft). Descend to Momella. And transfer back to hotel.
Day 5 After a nice breakfast you depart for home, End of tour.

Crater Highlands

This is the vast area north of Ngorongoro Crater. It is rarely
visited and offers true wilderness trekking. You travel with Masai herders, and so gain an insight into their way of life.

Crater Highlands - 6 day Crater Trek

Day 1 Arrive at Moshi-Kilimanjaro with your host / driver / guide and have a goodnight rest.
Day 2 Drive to Nainokanoka Village and experience more about the culture and living styles.
Day 3 After a goodnight rest we enjoy breakfast before our trek to Empakaai Crater Rim.
Day 4 After a nice breakfast we trek to Acacia Village and explore more about the surroundings.
Day 5 After a goodnight rest we trek to Ngaresero.
Day 6 After our breakfast we pay a visit to the waterfalls.

Crater Highlands? 7 day Crater Highlands

Day 1 Drive to Lake Manyara.
Day 2 Descend to the Crater Floor.
Day 3 Drive to Nainokanoka Village.
Day 4 Trek to Empakaai Crater Rim.
Day 5 Trek to Acacia Village.
Day 6 Drive to Ngaresero.
Day 7 Visit to the waterfalls.

Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Day 1 Arrive at your hotel.
Day 2 Drive to Marangu. Trekking through lush forest to the Mandara Hut (9000 ft).
Day 3 Trekking to Horombo Hut (12,000 ft).
Day 4 Continue past the The Saddle, to Kibo Hut (15,000 ft).
Day 5 Climb to Gillman's Point (18,640 ft). Continue to Uhuru Peak
(19,340 ft), the highest point on Kilimanjaro. Descend to Horombo Hut.
Day 6 Trekking back down to the park gate, transfer to your hotel.
Day 7 End of tour.

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