Trip Overview

Trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. You’ve dreamed about it; now it’s time to do it! Experience the challenge and achievement of a lifetime as you climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Check this iconic hiking challenge in Africa off your bucket list! Join AdventureWomen for a physically demanding but wholly rewarding trekking adventure up the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro! On this transformational journey, (re)discover your power and perseverance with other like-minded women cheering you on as you experience Africa’s greatest wonders – from African wildlife to Kilimanjaro’s diverse ecosystems.

At 19,341 feet in elevation, flat-topped Uhuru Peak is truly the “Roof of Africa,” so AdventureWomen has chosen the Lemosho Route, which allows gradual and ample acclimatization time and a 98% summit success rate. The trek is challenging, but you’re hiking with women who share your grit and drive, lifting each other up to ensure everyone reaches the top as one. Plus, a team of experienced and friendly porters and Wilderness First Responder African guides, following rigorous safety protocols, take care of every detail including setting up each camp with comfortable tents and preparing delicious and nutritious meals, each one better than the last!

Lemosho Route to Mt. Kilimanjaro Base Camp

On your first day, you will arrive as strangers but quickly become friends with your fellow trekkers as you enjoy a stroll together across the lowlands to watch for giraffes and other African animals. Rise the next morning for a final gear check and a chance to meet your amazing crew before driving through the rainforest to the Lemosho Route trailhead with chattering Colobus and blue monkeys calling out to you. Here begins your “pole pole” (slowly slowly) trek up through the rainforest. As you ascend, the green canopy gives way to heath and moorlands, thick with heather and flora of otherworldly proportions. Camping among the heath, you shed your boots, stretch your toes, and dream about the next day’s trek to Shira Plateau, one of the highest plateaus on earth. It’s cloud-covered terrain of volcanic rock all the way. You’ve got this!

The next day, a steady climb across rocky ridges to an alpine desert and the 300-foot Lava Tower precede the descent to a lower altitude camp in preparation for your summit to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Your body is now more accustomed to the thinning air, and as you hike along, you learn about how plant life adapts to higher altitude conditions such as the bizarre flora of the Great Barranco Valley. Scramble up the steep Barranco Wall for a jolt of inspiration, where you can view Kibo Massif’s glacier-rimmed cone. You’re getting closer to your goal! Back through the high alpine desert, step carefully through a lunar landscape of massive volcanic formations and scree; you may even scare up a few white-necked ravens. Upon reaching the Mt. Kilimanjaro base camp for your summit attempt, you’ll rest, drink deeply, and eat heartily because your team sets out for Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit at 1 AM, headlamps on. You’re pushing for Uhuru Peak!

Uhuru Peak

As summit day dawns, with exuberant cheers and shouts, share your triumphant summit of Uhuru’s rocky crown with the victorious Adventure Women who’ve hiked alongside you for seven memorable days, supporting you and giving you the energy to press on. As you reach the summit, savor this moment of glory and gratitude.

 

Main Attractions

  • Eight days on the Lemosho Route provide optimal acclimatization and a 98% summit rate
  • Summit Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest freestanding mountain in the world
  • From the “Roof of Africa,” take in sweeping views of African landscapes below the clouds
  • You’re not alone! Adventure Women work together to reach this challenging goal
  • Optional five-day safari to visit Tanzania’s most iconic national parks

What You'll See and Do

  • Anthropology
  • Camping
  • Photography
  • Trekking
  • Wildlife Viewing
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If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! Join AdventureWomen for a physically demanding but wholly rewarding trekking adventure up the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro! On this transformational journey, (re)discover your power, persevere with like- minded women, and experience some of Africa’s greatest wonders – from its wildlife to its diverse ecosystems.

During your adventure you’ll get to know your Wilderness First Responder guides. They will help you as you make your way, slowly but surely, to the summit of Kilimanjaro. You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred to your comfortable lodge.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). One group transfer is provided for the Delta/KLM arrival today. Private transfers for other arrivals are available for an additional fee

Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn

Day 2

Arusha

Have a trek briefing this morning, during which you will receive your rental gear (if applicable). Please try on and inspect each item to make sure that it’s comfortable and that you understand all the features. This will be your last chance before the trek to modify, exchange or add gear.

Today you will weigh your duffle bag to ensure that it does not exceed 33lbs, as it will be carried throughout the trek by a member of your porter team. If your duffle weighs more than 33lbs, or if you would like someone to carry your daypack, a personal porter may be hired for an additional fee.

Arusha National Park’s diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife often draw a comparison to its larger counterparts in northern Tanzania. In the park stands Tanzania’s second tallest mountain, Mount Meru (14,980 feet), an ancient extinct volcano that is sometimes referred to as Mount Kilimanjaro’s “little cousin.” You can also explore Ngurdoto Crater, nicknamed “Little Ngorongoro,” which is home to wildlife including buffalo, elephant, giraffe, and bushbuck.

Head into the foothills of Mount Meru with a park ranger and your guide, and follow a gentle uphill trail to the Tulutuluisia Waterfall. From this vantage point, you have beautiful views of the park’s diverse landscapes. Enjoy a boxed lunch along the way.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn

Day 3

Arusha to Forest Ridge

Wake up to a chorus of birds this morning. After a thorough briefing and gear check, it’s off to the wide-open plains that lead to Kilimanjaro. Passing coffee farms and mountainside villages, you will drive to the dense rainforest where your trek begins.

After registering at the Kilimanjaro National Park gate, make a long climb from the base camp through the dense rainforest of rubber trees and giant fig trees, scrambling up steep sections of roots and rock until you arrive at a forested campsite near a series of caves. A hot dinner awaits in your mess tent. (Trekking time 3-4 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Forest Camp – 9,281 feet

 

Day 4

Forest Ridge to Heath

After a nutritious breakfast at camp, lace up your boots, put on your gaiters, and make your way out of the forest this morning. The high trees will give way to scrubland thick with heather that is draped in bearded lichen. Climbing rolling hills, you will enjoy spectacular views of the forest canopy and plains below. As the air thins and the clouds part, you might just have a stunning view of the snow-streaked Uhuru Peak above. Arrive at your camp in the heath zone this afternoon. (Trekking time 5-6 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Shira Camp 1 – 11,499 feet

Day 5

Heath to Moorland

Move up the mountain steadily and gradually, heeding your guides’ advice to go “pole, pole,” or slowly, slowly, and eventually arrive at your camp in the moorlands.

Laugh along the trail with your fellow trekkers – even things like bathroom stops along the way will become funny! (Trekking time 3-4 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Shira Camp 2 – 12,795 feet

Day 6

Moorland

Proceed steadily upward over expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower, for lunch. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set in a valley enclosed on three sides with the massive valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. (Trekking time 6-7 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Barranco Camp – 13,004 feet

Day 7

Moorland
This short trekking day is taken to reach Karanga Valley Camp, between Barranco and Barafu Camps. Today is important for acclimatization. The day begins with a scramble up the steep Barranco Wall, then traversing up and down the slopes of valleys which have carved their way into the mountain’s southern face. Kibo’s glaciers loom above to your left and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jut into the African sky at just under 17,000 feet straight ahead. Reach the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch served at camp. The afternoon can be taken to relax with your new friends or take excursions from camp. (Trekking time 4-5 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Karanga Camp – 13,231 feet

Day 8

Moorland to Alpine Desert

Proceed steadily upward over expansive ridgelines in the high alpine desert where the air thins and cools. Enjoy the extraordinary views as you pass massive volcanic formations scattered throughout the fields of scree. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring early to your tent for rest and sleep. (Trekking time 4-5 hours)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Barafu Camp – 15,331 feet

Day 9

Alpine Desert to Uhuru Peak

A steaming hot drink will arrive very early on this momentous day – your summit day! After a midnight wake-up call, begin trekking with your headlamp at 1:00 am. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between -10 degrees and 10 degrees just before dawn at the summit. The winding path of endless switchbacks will take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers at early dawn, and behind you, the spires of Mawenzi will be silhouetted against the red glow of the sun from beneath the clouds.

After about six hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater; Stella Point, at 19,000 feet on the crater rim is the end of the steep climb. From here, there is a gentle slope to Uhuru Peak, which takes about an hour. The strength it takes to ascend this final 340 feet is for many monumental. You will all encourage each other to take those final few steps to reach your goal – the Roof of Africa at 19,341 feet! (Total trekking time to the summit is 6-8 hours)

After taking photos at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest, then summon your strength again for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night. (Total trekking time to Mweka Millennium Camp is 4-7 hours)

Total trekking time for the day is 12 – 17 hours.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Mweka Camp – 10,200 feet

Day 10

Mweka and Depart

Complete your descent through the rainforest to the park gate. (Trekking time 3-6 hours)

Celebrate the completion of your mountain adventure with a farewell lunch at the park gate. This is a great opportunity to thank your crew and say your goodbyes to those who made your trek a success!

Enjoy a day room in Arusha, resting up and readying yourself for your departure.

Enjoy a nutritious snack, including a variety of nuts, fruit, vegetables, and other treats to enjoy now or on your flight home.

Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home.

Depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) this evening. One group transfer is included for the Delta/KLM flight this evening. Private transfers for other departures are available for an additional fee.

Breakfast, Lunch, Snack

Overnight: Day Room at Airport Planet Lodge

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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Traveling to Tanzania



Arrival and Departure Information.

January 21, 2024 Departure

Arrive: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on January 21, 2024. One group transfer is provided for the Delta/KLM arrival. Private transfers for other arrivals are available for an additional fee.

Depart: Depart Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on January 30, 2024 in the evening. One group transfer is included for the Delta/KLM flight this evening. Private transfers for other departures are available for an additional fee.

September 16, 2024 Departure

Arrive: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on September 16, 2024. One group transfer is provided for the Delta/KLM arrival. Private transfers for other arrivals are available for an additional fee.

Depart: Depart Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on September 25, 2024. One group transfer is included for the Delta/KLM flight this evening. Private transfers for other departures are available for an additional fee.

We are happy to help you make your flight and travel arrangements. If you’d like to do anything prior to or following the AdventureWomen trip, we’d be delighted to help you arrange any trip extensions you’re interested in.

Note: The recent trend in travel is for travelers to finalize their plans much closer to departure time than was customary in the past. While we try to be as flexible as possible booking last-minute registrants, we must release hotel rooms two to three months prior to departure! Please keep this in mind when making your travel plans.

Preparation and Packing  

Please use the following guide as a reference when preparing for your adventure. We also encourage you to adapt the guide to your travel style as well as the destination’s forecasted weather.  

Gratuities  

Gratuities are a personal decision and are at your own discretion based on your level of satisfaction with the service provided. Gratuities are dependent upon the number of guests on your departure, and they vary greatly from trip to trip. As a general reference, AdventureWomen suggests you plan for $450-$500 (or more) worth of gratuities for this adventure. Specific tipping recommendations for your trip will be provided to you closer to your departure date and may fluctuate due to inflation, exchange rates, and the number of travelers on your trip. 

Passports and Visas

Citizens of the United States must have a passport valid for six months beyond your travel dates and a minimum of two blank facing pages. If you do not have a passport, apply now!

You need a visa to enter Tanzania. No earlier than 90 days prior to departure, obtain a Tanzania Entry Visa from the Embassy of Tanzania in the United States, or no earlier than 45 days prior from the High Commission of Tanzania in Canada.

We will send you a Tanzania visa application, an information form with visa instructions, and a letter to enclose three months prior to your departure.

Activity Level

We rate this trip as Challenging. Our Challenging adventures get your heart rate really pumping and are more athletic. These women’s trips are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition, and be able to hike up to 10 miles per day, in steeper, more rugged terrain.

We recommend training before your trip (with your doctor’s permission) to make the most of your adventure. With this itinerary in mind, we have a partnership with Trailblazer Wellness, a woman-owned, women-run company that will design an individualized fitness plan just for you! Best of all, AdventureWomen guests get a 10% discount with the code AVW. Learn more on the Trailblazer Wellness website.

General Preparation Guidelines

Training for your Mount Kilimanjaro trek requires both physical and mental preparation. You do not need technical climbing skills, but do not underestimate the demands of the climb. You WILL need to be fit. Endurance, good cardiovascular health, and a healthy desire to reach the summit are important.

We suggest that you begin focused training at 60-90 days before your departure, more rigorous training at 15-60 days, and then taper off in the final two weeks. You should consult your physician if you are significantly altering your physical routine for training.

We have a partnership with FitForTrips, a company that will design an individualized fitness plan for you to ensure that you are prepared for the trip. Visit FitForTrips to learn more!

We will send you a full training guide with suggestions for physical activities when you register for your trek. Please let us know if you have questions!

Health Considerations

Make an appointment with a travel clinic, as they may have recommendations for vaccines and medications based on the destination as well as your age, health, and past vaccination history.

For more health information, go to www.cdc.gov/travel and navigate to the page about Tanzania.

Altitude Symptoms

At high altitude, it is typical for trekkers to feel some physical effects such as loss of appetite, fatigue, or headache. Symptoms become more severe if you experience acute altitude sickness. Symptoms of acute altitude sickness can include troubled breathing while resting, severe coughing, confusion, impairment of motor skills, and irrational behavior.

Notify your guide immediately if you believe you are experiencing any of these symptoms. As a highly-trained professional, your guide makes your safety his top priority. If he determines that you are suffering from an acute form of altitude sickness, you will need to descend immediately to a lower altitude with a guide. This could mean being evacuated by helicopter. Medical evacuation insurance is required for this trek.

First Aid

All of your Kilimanjaro guides are trained and certified Wilderness First Responders (SOI). They have extensive training in evacuation procedures, altitude sickness, and trekking leadership skills. Your safety is their number one priority; each trek includes first aid equipment that meets internationally recognized guidelines.

Equipment on Your Trek

  • Oxygen (for emergencies only)
  • Hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag)
  • Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.; for heart emergencies)
  • Diagnositc acclimatization pulse-oximeter
  • Mobile phones, VHF 2-way radios, and satellite phones
  • Stretcher
  • Comprehensive medical/first aid kits
  • You should pack your own first aid kit for minor pains, cuts,
    bruises, blisters, altitude sickness, etc.

How To Register

Call the AdventureWomen office at (800) 804-8686 to determine space availability and register for this trip. We can complete your registration, including taking your credit card deposit over the phone.

If you prefer, you can register online by clicking “Sign Up for this Trip” on the trip page.

Please be sure to read the AdventureWomen policies before registering!

Forms and Final Payment

The deposit for this trip is $800 for the trek and $500 for the safari, and is nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Once you book, you will need to fill out and return to AdventureWomen:

  • Information Form
  • Booking Conditions Form
  • Copy of Flight Information
  • Copy of Issuing Page of Passport (photo page)
  • Supplemental Release for COVID
  • Additional supplemental trekking release form

Final payment is due to AdventureWomen in a cash form (check, money order, or wire transfer).

A maximum of $1,500 per person can be put on a credit card, which includes your deposit.

January 21, 2024 Departure Final Payment Due Date: October 23, 2023

September 16, 2024 Departure Final Payment Due Date: June 18, 2024

 

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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What's Included

Included

  • All Kilimanjaro park fees
  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • Four-season mountaineering tents with ground sheets and foam-core ground pads.
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Bottled drinking water before and after your trek, provided in large jugs to refill personal bottles
  • Purified drinking water during your trek
  • Services of licensed Kilimanjaro guides
  • Services of Kilimanjaro staff including porters, chef, and waitstaff
  • Safety equipment: oxygen, first aid kit, stretcher, Gamow Bag, heart defibrillator, radio communication, safety protocols, etc.
  • Activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • Airport transfers for Delta/KLM flights on scheduled arrival/departure days
  • All ground transportation
  • Baggage handling

Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Tanzania
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, hiking gear, and other items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for guides, porters, and camp staff
  • Mandatory local emergency evacuation insurance

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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Accommodations

Rivertrees Country Inn

Set beside the rushing waters of the Usa River on the outskirts of Arusha, Rivertrees Country Inn has colonial charm and simple but elegant style with modern-day amenities and fantastic cuisine.

Besides its delightful farmhouse guestrooms, the inn also has two spacious luxury cottages and a lovely, open-air, thatched-roof kitchen and dining area, with décor reminiscent of its country heritage as a former German colonial farm and coffee estate. The inn has a pool, internet services, and a small gift shop.

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers upon request; electricity; limited Wifi

Kilimanjaro Mountain Tents

At each of your mountain camps, you will have Big Agnes Flying Diamond, 4-season mountaineering tents which can be used for double or single occupancy. Ground sheet, fly sheet, vestibule, and closed-cell foam sleeping mat are provided, and the tent will be set up and broken down for you each day by your hardworking team of porters.

A custom-designed dining tent is equipped with solar lighting, chairs, and dining table. Hot meals are served here every day, prepared by a skilled camp chef, and served by waitstaff. You'll also enjoy the cozy setting when you arrive at camp in the afternoons, ready to enjoy a piping hot cup of tea and some snacks.

Purified drinking water is provided for you during mealtimes, and at the end of the day so you can refill your personal water bottles. Private toilet tent(s) will be set up for your group, so that you can avoid unsanitary public facilities. Basins of hot water will be brought to your tent each morning for personal hygiene and upon request any other time.

Views from each camp promise to be remarkable at every turn, with tantalizing glimpses of the summit, sweeping panoramas of the countryside below and a spectacular sunrise every morning. At night, stars light up the sky in a nightly spectacle that never fails to inspire awe.

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
Browse Detailed Itinerary

Download Extended Itinerary