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12
DAYS MOUNT KENYA CLIMB SIRIMON ROUTE AND
MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB MACHAME ROUTE
Day 01:
NAIROBI:
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport. Met by
Diwaka Safaris representative at the Airport
and transferred by our driver / guide to
your Nairobi hotel. Use of room is not
guaranteed before
noon.
Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight
at
THE JACARANDA HOTEL (B/B)
Day 02: NAIROBI – MOUNT KENYA (SIRIMON
GATE):
Breakfast at
the camp; afterwards drive to the base
hotel. Relax as you prepare for the climb.
Lunch at the base Hotel. Then drive to
Sirimon Park gate (2600m). On completion of
park entry formalities, begin a 3-4 hour
hike through forest. Ascend 700m bypassing
the bamboo, rosewood and heather zones to
Old Moses camp. The forest and bamboo are
home to hundreds of buffaloes, elephants,
bushbucks and a plethora of bird species.
Dinner and overnight at
OLD MOSES CAMP
(3300m)
Day 03: OLD MOSES – SHIPTON’S HUT:
A long day
leading to the base of the high peaks.
Today's trek is largely through the
moorlands and the Mackinder Valley, with
good views of the main peaks and a brief
stopover for picnic lunch. Total walking
time is approx. 7 hours gaining 900m in
altitude. Dinner and Overnight at
SHIPTON’S HUT
(4200m)
Day 04: SHIPTON’S HUT – POINT LENANA TO
MACKINDERS CAMP:
Pre-dawn
attempt of the summit starts at 0300hrs and
you hike for about 3 hours up steep scree
slopes and across rugged rocks up to Pt.
Lenana (4985m), the hikers' summit. Then
down through Lewis Glacier up to the
Austrian hut to join to the Naromoru track
and descend for 2 hours to Mackinder's camp
for breakfast then have the rest of the day
at leisure. Dinner and overnight at
MACKINDERS
CAMP (4300m)
Day 05: MACKINDERS CAMP – BASE – NAIROBI –
ARUSHA:
Leaving early,
you gradually descend for 4-5 hours through
the moorlands and the lower vertical bog up
to the Met Station, from where you walk down
on a wide dirt road leading to the Naromoru
Park gate (2600m) where you meet our
vehicle. Depart for Arusha, On arrival
connect for transfer to Moshi arriving in
the afternoon overnight
SPRINGLANDS
HOTEL (B&B).
Day 06: MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP
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 untilwe
reach the MACHAME CAMP (F/B).
Day 07: MACHAME GATE TO SHIRA CAMP
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 CAMP
(F/B).
Day 08: SHIRA CAMP TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO
CAMP
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
theArrow 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 09: BARRANCO CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
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 10: BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA
HUT
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 11: MWEKA HUT TO MOSHI
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! overnight at
SPRINGLAND
HOTEL (B/B).
Day 12: MOSHI – ARUSHA AND DEPART:
Breakfast at the hotel and later on you will
be transferred to the Airport for you flight
back home.
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