19 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Mount Meru and Wildlife Safari
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest ‘walkable’ mountain in the world, a magnificent and spectacular undertaking. We are the leading provider of high quality treks on the Kilimanjaro, with over 15,000 past customers, a summit success rate of 87% and an exemplary safety record.
19 days Kilimanjaro, Oldoinyo lengai, Meru & Tanzania Safari
Day 1. Nairobi
Pickup from airport and transfer to a Nairobi Hotel.
Day 2. Nairobi/Arusha
Depart Nairobi by morning shuttle to Moshi arriving early afternoon. Dinner and overnight Arusha Hotel.
Day 3. Arusha/Lake Natron.
Leave Arusha and drive to Lake Natron and vist the Walk to Waterfalls. This is a 20 minute hike up a river gorge. You will need non-leather sandals (soda harms leather). It is slippery and requires scrambling. It is an excellent swim in the river and under the waterfalls for a nice cool-down from the hot sun. There may be baboons or other wildlife in the gorge. Dinner and overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or camp.
Day 4. Lake Natron.
Full day game drive around the south and west side of Lake Natron.
Day 5. Ol Doinyo Lengai
Tis day your hike is extremely strenuous, starting at 4000 feet (1200 meters) up to 9500 feet (2890 meters). Hikers begin the 6-hour steep climb around midnight. After sunrise and exploring the crater, there is another 4 hours hiking down. The terrain is loose dirt at the bottom, turning to rock with loose dirt and stones (slippery), turning to steeper rock that requires scrambling.After drive to Mto wa mbu for dinner and overnight.
Day 6. Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro with pinic lunch down the crater,spend the day gameview,Dinner and over night at the rim of the crater lodge or simba camp.
Day 7. Lake Manyara
After proceed to Lake Manyara for a gamedrive and after proceed to Arusha, for dinner and overnight at Arusha Hotel.
Day 8. Mt. Meru to Miriakampa Hut
1500m / 4900 ft l to 2500m / 8200 ft – 4 hours hiking
Starting from Momella Gate, the track passes through open grassland with cape buffalo and warthogs. With luck, you may also see giraffe and elephants. Continue a steady climb through montane forest. You can have your lunch at the famous “Fig tree”. After lunch, the trek continues through less dense forest, where there are lots of birds and monkeys including the black and white colobus. By mid-afternoon, there are the first close views of the towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. Miriakampa Hut, situated in idyllic grassy glade, is reached in time to enjoy the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro.
Day 9. To Saddle Hut
2500m / 8200 ft l to 3500m / 11,700 ft – 4 hours hiking
The walk from Miriakampa Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a a steep sustained climb all the way. Starting through beautiful and lush montane forest, the path continues beyond the halfway point of Elephant Back Ridge and carries on uphill through the giant heather and other moorland vegetation to reach Saddle Hut and lunch. In the afternoon, you can make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3820 m / 12,533 ft) for superb views. It takes about 1 hour to walk up and 30 minutes to walk down. The ascent is 1056 m / 3465 ft.
Day 10. Summit and down to Miriakampa Hut
3500m / 11,700 ft l to 4566m / 14,980 ft l Down to 2500m / 8200 ft – 5+ hours hiking up l 3+ hours hiking down to Saddle Hut
and 2+ hours to Miriakampa Hut
Summit day has an early start at around 12:00AM. There is a 1 hours steep climb to Rhino Point (3800m / 12,467ft), then the path continues along a ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4350m / 14,272ft). The summit of Socialist Peak (4566 m) is an hour more on a steep path wih magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. Depending your speed, you can enjoy sunrise at Cobra Point or the summit. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the Crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the Rift Valley. The route back to Rhino Point in the sharp morning light along a narrow ridge between the sloping outer wall of the crater and the sheer cliffs of the inner wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa. Brunch and a brief rest is taken at Saddle Hut before continuing the descent to Miriakamba Hut.
Day 11. To Moshi
2500m / 8200 ft l to 1500m / 4900 ft – 2+ hours hiking
There are two ways down from here. You can descend the route you came up or walk down the jeep road, which descends to the lower crater floor. You pass through the well-known Fig Tree Arch and can visit an impressive waterfall hidden in a ravine not far from the road. A fast descent through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has excellent views back towards the crater and over the plains of the National Park. Momella Gate is reached by late morning.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12. Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation (m): 1830m to 3100m l Elevation (ft): 6000ft to 10,200ft l Distance: 18km l Hiking Time: 5-7 hours l Habitat: Montane Forest
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
Day 13. Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Elevation (m): 3100m to 3840m l Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 12,600ft l Distance: 9km Walking lime: 4-6 hours l Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.
Day 14. Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation (m): 3840m to 4630m to 3860m l Elevation (ft): 12,600ft to 12,700ft l Distance: 15 km l Walking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 4876m / 15,997 ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3860m / 12,664 ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end 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.
Day 15. Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (m): 3860m to 4200m l Elevation (ft): 12,700ft to 13,800ft l Distance: 7 km l Hiking Time: 4 hours l Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite.
Day 16. Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (m): 3860m to 4600m l Elevation (ft): 12,700ft to 15,100ft l Distance: 13km l Hiking Time: 8 hours l Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at 4200m / 13,779 ft), and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
Day 17. Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m) l Elevation (ft): 15,100ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft)
Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent l Hiking Time:6- 8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent l Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m / 18,652 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Day 18. Mweka Camp to Moshi/Arusha
Elevation (m): 3100m to 1830m l Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 6000ft l Distance: 15 km l Hiking Time: 3-4 hours l Habitat: Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi or Arusha for dinner and overnight.
Day 19. Next destination
After breakfast transfer to the airport or shuttle, or you can visit Zanzibar beach for relaxation.
For more information about the Mount Kilimanjaro climbing safaris, trekking and hiking packages, contact Bushtroop tours and Safaris on www.bushtroop-safaris.com, by emailing info@bushtroop-safaris.com, or call/whatapp us on +254 722 802513
