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Itinerary | Biomes | Price | Included | Excluded | Discounts | Extra Charges | Getting to Moshi

Itinerary

When you arrive in Moshi, you will be transfered from the Kilimanjaro Airport to the Keys Hotel ($10/person one-way). If you are flying directly into the Kilimanjaro Airport, we recommend at least one rest day before starting your trek. If you are transferring from Nairobi, this can act as your rest day.

A briefing will be held the evening before your trek, and you must separate one bag for the trek from your other luggage. Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at the Keys Hotel at no charge.

The next morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast before last-minute trip preparations at our office. Land Rovers will drive you to the mountain to begin the journey. Depending on the route you take, the drive to the trailhead can take up to one hour and can be very bumpy.

Once you reach the park gate, climbers are requested to make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will be seen arranging their packs containing the food, water, firewood, and other equipment. Make sure that you have all your day pack items with you as the porters travel very quickly. The guides will be pleased to assist with any additional information.

The average hiking day begins between 8-9am and is about 5 to 6 hours, walking very, very slowly. The distances you will hike each day are very moderate so as to acclimate a little at a time. Your guides will repeat over and over, "pole pole" (po-ly, po-ly) , which means "go slowly" in Swahili.

The terrain lower down is absolutely gorgeous and fascinating. Higher up, the views are vast. There is little to do at the camps themselves, so take advantage of the slow pace to absorb the scenery and take every photo opportunity.

The hike to the summit starts around midnight depending on your route and speed of your group. You will go as high as you feel fit. Some people stop at the crater rim, and others continue to the very highest point on the mountain. Your guides will then take you down as quickly as possible to minimize any altitude problems. You will continue past your last campsite to the next one for overnight.

At the end of your trek, you will be picked up at the trail head by Land Rover and taken back to the Keys Hotel for a hot shower and warm bed.

Biomes

You will experience many different biomes as you climb Kilimanjaro. The land is cultivated and inhabited up to about 1900 meters (6234 ft) in elevation. You will begin the hike at the edge of the forest. This starts in a dense rainforest with an extremely high ceiling. The forest turns into a shorter forest with moss and giant ferns until about 2800 meters (9186 ft).

Next comes the heather biome to 3300 meters (10,827 ft) when Moorland appears with the unusual Senecio Kilimanjari trees. From 4000 to 4800 meters (13,123 ft to 15,748 ft), you will go through Alpine Desert where some mosses, lichens, and starchy flowers are all that remain. The area around the summit is Arctic conditions. It looks a bit like moonscape with only rock and glacier.

MACHAME ROUTE
Duration: 6 days hiking


Price: $1305 /person
$1255/person for groups of 6 or more
Extra day on the mountain: $190/person
Low Season: $50/person off April 1 - May 31 and November

If Marangu is the "Coca Cola" route, then the Machame Route is the "whiskey" route. It is the second most popular and one of the most scenic route on the mountains. All climbers sleep in tents (tents are included) and meals are served in a dinner tent or on a blanket outside. It is done over 6 days, so acclimatization is easier, and the success rate is fairly high. With the Machame/South Circuit route, you will circle halfway around the mountain with great views from all angles. This route is approximately 40 km versus 20 km on the Marangu route. It is for physically fit people with some hiking experience. Climbers descend down the Mweka trail and stay at the Mweka camp the final night on the mountain.

MOSHI
Book into the Springlands Hotel in Moshi for overnight and briefing by your guide.

DAY 1 -- Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Elevation (m): 1830m to 3100m
Elevation (ft): 6000ft to 10,200ft
Distance: 18km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
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 2 -- Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Elevation (m): 3100m to 3840m
Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 12,600ft
Distance: 9km
Walking Time: 4-6 hours
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 3 -- Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Elevation (m): 3840m to 4630m to 3860m
Elevation (ft): 12,600ft to 12,700ft
Distance: 15 km
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. 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.

OPTIONAL DAY (7-day trek) -- Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (m): 3860m to 4200m
Elevation (ft): 12,700ft to 13,800ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite.

DAY 4 -- Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (m): 3860m to 4600m
Elevation (ft): 12,700ft to 15,100ft
Distance: 13km
Hiking Time: 8 hours
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 5 -- Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m)
Elevation (ft): 15,100ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft)
Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent
Hiking Time:6- 8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
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 6 -- Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (m): 3100m to 1830m
Elevation (ft): 10,200ft to 6000ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
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. Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP
• National Park gate fees
• Transport from Moshi to starting point on mountain and return to Moshi
• Hut / camping fees and tents
• Qualified guides for all routes
• Porters' salaries
• Rescue fees
• All meals on the mountain
• Two nights accommodation in Moshi bed and breakfast, double or triple occupancy

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
• Tips for guides and porters
• The typical tip is $20/guide/day, $10/porter/day, and something in between for assistant guides. This is from the whole group not per climber. If they did extra or special work, it is nice to tip higher than this.
• Expect 2 porters per hiker, 1 guide per 8 hikers, and 1 assistant guide per 4 hikers (assistant guides double as porters).
• Budget $250 per hiker for tips for a 6-day trek.
• Tips should not be dependent on whether you summit or not, but rather whether they were professional and had your best interests in mind.
• Mountain equipment
• Some equipment is available for rent.
• Tents and foam sleeping pads are included on camping routes.

DISCOUNTS:
Groups of 6 or more get a $50/person discount.

Low Season Discounts:
Low season is April 1 - May 31 and November.

Kilimanjaro treks are offered at a $50/person discount on all routes. This can be combined with the group discount.

EXTRA CHARGES:
Extra days on the mountain are available for $190/person/day.
Oxygen is available for $30.
Extra porters (for camera gear, etc.) are $15/day

Getting to Moshi

Ideally, you want to fly into the Kilimanjaro Airport. KLM has direct flights from Amsterdam. These flights are more expensive than flying into Nairobi, but you save yourself two days of travel and expenses. We provide transportation between the Kilimanjaro Airport and the Keys Hotel for $10/person one-way.

From/To Arusha
The Davanu Shuttle (see below) goes between Arusha and Moshi once a day for $15/person one-way. We can arrange for a private car for $80 one-way for the car.

From/To Nairobi
The first option is to take any of the two shuttles that leaves every morning at 8am from Nairobi, Kenya, which cost $35 per person each way and takes approximately six hours. You can also fly to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is located halfway between Moshi and Arusha. This costs around $200 per person one way from Nairobi, Kenya. The third option is to take a private car from Nairobi to Moshi. The car fits 7-8 people and costs $400 total each way, or a mini-bus for $500 total each way (20-25 people). You determine time and place of pick-up.

Shuttle Buses

These are 25, 35, or 55 person shuttle buses that go from the Nairobi, Kenya to Moshi. This is not the most comfortable route (very bumpy and dusty), but it is a quintessential African experience. Excitement builds as you see African wildlife, Masai villagers, Mt. Meru, and finally Kilimanjaro emerge in the countryside around you.

The shuttle stops at the Tanzanian border where all passengers must disembark and go through immigration. A visa is required to enter Tanzania. Luggage may also be removed and randomly inspected by customs agents.

There is one bathroom stop on the Kenyan side of the border where you can also purchase refreshments. There is also a stop in Arusha to switch shuttles and get lunch. You will probably want to bring your own snacks and drinks for the trip.

The shuttles leave from Nairobi at 8:00am. They will also pick up at various hotels in the city center. The shuttle from Moshi leaves early in the morning, and also picks up at a few hotels in town. Arrive at the shuttle 1/2 hour early to get your luggage loaded. Travel times vary greatly, but allow at least 6 hours. The shuttle operates every day of the year including holidays.

If you take the afternoon shuttle, it only goes as far as Arusha. We can arrange for a private car to drive from Arusha to Moshi for $70 one-way for the car.

Take a look at the Shuttle Buses we recommend:

The Riverside Shuttle
The Impala Shuttle
Flights

The flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro is approximately 9 1/2 hours. Because of the long flight, we recommend a rest day in Moshi before starting your trek.

The only airlines that fly into the Kilimanjaro Airport are KLM, Ethiopia Airlines, Kenya Air, and Precision Air.

Flights between Nairobi and Kilimanjaro cost around $200/person one-way. Flights from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar are around $160/person one-way. Flights form Arusha to Zanzibar are around $180/person one-way. Flights from Zanzibar to Nairobi are about $200-260/person one-way.

You can now book flights on-line:

Precision Air
Air Tanzania
Air Kenya
From/To Dodoma
Buses leave Moshi for Dodoma at 6:30am. They take 8-9 hours and cost $20. These are public buses so not deluxe, they are safe.

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