After an early breakfast, you will be driven to the National Park gate (approx. one hour) and here you will meet your guide and porters. The guide has an amount of paperwork to do at the gate, as well as organising the porters – these things take time (African time!) – please relax, sit down and enjoy the scenery – don’t get anxious about starting off – it will only get you stressed out. The larger the group, the longer it will take – be prepared to wait for anything from 1 – 2 hours. You might be required to queue and sign the register yourself to enter the national park, so keep your passport number somewhere handy.

You will start off walking through the tropical rain forest with magnificent tree ferns and you might even be lucky enough to spot some of the Colobus monkeys.

The first part of the hike follows a 4×4 track, after which it becomes narrower and steeper, following one of the ridges up the mountain. A packed lunch will be handed to you when you depart the hotel, and the guide will stop the group at the appropriate place for you to have your lunch and a bit of a breather. At the end of the days walk you will end up at Machame Hut at around 3000m.

Pack all your gear in plastic bags inside your duffel bag and cover the bag with a bin liner to ensure that it is waterproof.
Keep one out for your personal backpack too if it does not have a built-in splash cover. Wear your hiking boots today and ensure you keep your wet weather gear with you. Shorts and t-shirt should be sufficient.

Although National Parks have done a LOT of work on the trails, there are patches on the route where it might still be VERY wet and muddy, and you may end up with pretty wet boots this evening.

Ensure your boots are waterproofed, and that you have spare lightweight shoes to wear in camp this evening. ALWAYS keep your boots and water bottles INSIDE the tent at night – otherwise they will freeze.

Fill up your water bottle at night and purify it – allowing some of the chlorine fumes to dissipate. Take it SLOWLY today; you will encounter some steep parts on the climb – but generally it’s not too strenuous.

The porters walk ahead and sometimes with you – make sure every day, that you have all your personal gear needed with you, as you will not have access to your bag.

The porters will set up camp and the guide will prepare your meals. Conditions are difficult on this route, and your guide/porters will do everything they can to make your climb pleasant and as comfortable as possible.

In addition to this your guide will discuss each day’s activities with you after dinner each night on the mountain. Eat well – at higher levels your appetite will diminish.

Overnight Machame Hut area 3000m

Ascend to Shira Hut, 3800m. Depart from Machame Camp, and keep following the ridge you ascended on yesterday. You are now in the heather zone and will see spectacular lichens and bright colours – also keep an eye out for the local variety of Protea that grows in this area.

When on the way up keep an eye out for Mount Meru in the distance, it should be peeping through the clouds. There are also some vantage points along the way where you will get your first really good views of the cone of Kibo today.

The hike is steep, but at a relatively constant gradient – so keep going at your slow, steady pace, and you will surely get there. Further along the route there are a few flatter sections, with a few steep ascents in between. After one of these steep ascents you will be on a flat rocky bluff called Picnic Rock, where you normally have lunch. From the lunch stop you will start traversing westwards, which makes the hiking a lot easier, as it is at a more relaxed angle.

One or two relatively steep spots along the way, but nothing serious. After crossing the ridge, you will descend down to camp on the Shira Plateau. Take a jersey with you today, as it cools down considerably during and after lunch. Again, keep your wet weather gear handy and some snacks for the route. Drink plenty of water. Today you should take Diamox (if planning to) – in the morning.

You may experience tingling fingers, toes and nose from this drug. As it is a diuretic, it is most important to keep your fluid intake high.
Camp at Shira – it’s an exposed and cold campsite. You may get wind and rain/sleet and in the morning the ground and tents could be frozen over. Magnificent sunsets and sunrises though!

Overnight Shira Camp 3800m

Today is a long and tiring day, but essential to your acclimatisation. You will start off at 3800 m, walk up to 4500m (skirting just below Lava Tower) and dropping back down to 3900m at Barranco Camp.

You will be walking up a ridge, straight toward the cone of Kibo, and have good views of the ice fields on the western side of the mountain. There could be great differences in the weather here – especially if clouds start blowing in – so remember your sun block and wet weather gear.

On parts of the route toward Lava Tower it looks like a lunar landscape, with nothing but dust and huge round lava rocks. Lunch is normally taken in the vicinity of Lava Tower, and for those feeling strong enough, discuss with your guide walking up to it.

From here there are a few steep downhill sections, especially to get back down to Barranco. The night temperature – again cold with night frosts, especially if the wind drops down from the peak over the glaciers. Magnificent view of Kibo from camp and the Umbwe Valley below.

Overnight Barranco Camp 3900m

The first obstacle this morning is a steep rocky ridge known as the Barranco or Breach Wall. It looks like a sheer rock face, but there is a relatively easy pathway that meanders up it. It should take you about 3 hours to overcome this obstacle, and to have a well-earned rest at the top with spectacular views of Kibo once again. Keep traversing eastwards, before descending sharply into the Karanga Valley.

There are some sections on the downhill that are quite slippery, so take care, but your trusty guides will always be with you to advise the best options. There is a short, but steep ascent out of the valley to the camp on the other side at 4200m where you will overnight (+- 4 hours walking).
Once again, pace yourself to graduate slowly. Tonight, you may experience further headaches, nausea and breathing problems. Night temperature – again cold (night frosts). Overnight camping.

Overnight Karanga Valley 4200m

Depart Karanga Valley camp from where you will continue traversing across to Barafu, 4600m, approx. 4-5 hours walking. On the way you will see shale rock – some of it paper-thin. You will see the camp of Barafu nestle on a rock outcrop as you approach.

Steep ascent to the camp. You will be able to rest up at Barafu to gather strength for the summit attempt that will follow this evening. Learn to pace yourself with your breathing – do not try to rush to catch up with anyone, go at your own, most comfortable speed and you will arrive at base camp relatively comfortably.
Listen to your guide/s they will help you.

It could be very cold today – especially when you rest or the wind picks up – dress warmly, again you may expect some sleet on this day. You will be walking through the cloud. Relax for the rest of the afternoon after arriving at camp.

After supper, drink as much tea as possible and settle down (option with a sleeping pill**) for an early night. You are likely to have a pretty bad headache at this stage.
If you are vomiting, or hallucinating, talk to your guide. He will make the decision as to whether you are able to continue. If you plan to take Decadron, do so before going to bed. Drink plenty of fluids, as you are in a ‘desert’ area – albeit cold, and tomorrow will be a long hard day. Overnight camping.

Overnight Barafu Camp 4600m

Today is a very long and strenuous day. Drink lots of fluid before you start. You will be very thirsty by the end of the day – if you can manage, carry 3 litres of fluid with you today. You will be woken at about 0030hrs or 0100hrs, with tea and a biscuit.

Put on all your clothing ready for the final ascent. You will be climbing up scree for approximately 4-5 hours. The guide will stop frequently to rest and check on his group. It is very important to listen to your body and breathing and try to get into a rhythm. Because of the slowness of your walk, your fingers and toes are likely to get extremely cold – three pairs of socks should be considered for today and two pairs of gloves (inner and warm outer).
The views from the mountain (on the way up) are spectacular – you gain incredible height over a short distance. You arrive at Stella Point (5750 m), just at the top of the crater, have a rest -the sun should be shining!

From here continue on a relatively easy path up to Uhuru peak (5 895 m), the highest point in Africa.

Your water bottle is probably frozen at this stage, and on reaching the summit there will be a certain relief, mixed with elation, amongst the group.

You will descend from Stella to Barafu. Depending on the timing of your summit, you will be able to have a short rest here (maybe a sleep) and something to eat, before continuing down the Mweka Route.

You will travel down quickly on the scree gasping in more oxygen, step by step.
This is a long descent and Mweka Camp always seems to be on the ‘next hill’ – never arriving.

It is likely you may experience seizure of joints – particularly knees today – keep a support bandage with you for this descent, and perhaps some anti-inflammatory pills/cream.

Arrival at Mweka Camp (approx. 3000 m) on the edge of the rainforest, late afternoon, overnight camping. It is now time to reflect on the day’s achievements.

Overnight Mweka Camp 3000m

After breakfast you will have a three to four-hour descent through the pretty rainforest to the park gate. Here you will sign out of the park for the last time and the vehicle will meet you.

There are generally beers and cokes for sale at the park gate. Transfer by vehicle to the hotel (approximately 90-minute drive) ready for an evening of celebration by the swimming pool.
Certificates are generally handed out by the guides, either at the gate or on occasion they may join you for a celebratory drink at the hotel.

Overnight at the Rose Hotel Arusha (D)

Departure Day (B)