Mt. Kilimanjaro: A Classic Trek To The Roof of Africa

Saturday, September 8, 2018 – Arrive in Arusha
Arrive this evening into Arusha where you will be warmly welcomed. A guide will meet you and transfer you to your comfortable lodge.

Overnight: Planet Lodge

You will be enchanted by this gorgeous oasis that is conveniently located near Kilimanjaro Airport.

The lodge offers a unique, resort-like feel with rooms nestled amidst the beautifully planted landscape and accessible by winding garden paths.

Relax in the open-air bar, enjoy the breeze as you lounge on the open verandah, or take a swim in the stunning pool. On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro off in the distance.

Sunday, September 9, 2018 – Arusha to the Foothills of Kilimanjaro
After breakfast and a climb briefing, make your way to the scenic foothills of Kilimanjaro. Take a day to acclimatize as you walk the plains and woodlands with a guide. The foothills cover a diverse terrain of acacia-covered savannah, open grasslands, forests, farms, and mountain villages. Depending on seasonality, you might come across anything from giraffe on the plains to blue monkeys in the trees. As you hike, stretch your limbs, enjoy the surroundings, and relax. You will be all the more prepared for your trek up Kilimanjaro.

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.

After the trek briefing, take a guided walk on the 11,000-acre ranch focusing on birdlife or large mammals depending on the season or your interests. Over 350 bird species and 65 mammal species can be seen on the ranch as a direct result of the conservation work that has been going on at Ndarakwai since 1994. A treehouse in the forests of Ndarakwai offers excellent, expansive views and looks down toward a waterhole where elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife come to drink.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Ndarakwai Ranch

With more than 11,000 acres of open and wooded savannah just west of Mount Kilimanjaro, Ndarakwai Ranch offers a haven for travelers and trekkers, with extraordinary hikes, wildlife viewing, and complete relaxation. The permanent camp sits nestled in a forest of yellow-barked acacias and giant fig trees along the seasonal Ngare Nairobi River. The spacious thatched-roof tents have en-suite bathrooms with safari-style showers, and a separate dining area provides the perfect place for repose and reflection on your many adventures. As a private conservation refuge since 1994, Ndarakwai has worked with surrounding communities to restore the local ecosystem. Today, Ndarakwai is home to some 65 migratory and resident mammal species and 350 bird species. Guided hikes and walks allow you to get some exercise and perhaps see some wildlife, often near the ranch’s elephant watering hole.

Monday, September 10, 2018 – Foothills of Kilimanjaro 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 Africa’s greatest mountain. Passing coffee farms and mountainside villages, you will drive to the dense rainforest where you will begin your trek. Under the tangled canopy of moss coated vines, search for black and white Colobus monkey, blue monkey, and a vibrant array of exotic birds. Settle in at the camp, which is nestled in verdant forest.

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.

Meet your guides and porters who will be with you for this spectacular nine-day journey, complete your trek registration at the mountain gate, and begin your trek!

Trekking: 3 – 4 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Forest Camp – 9,281 feet

At each of your mountain camps, you will have Mountain Hardwear Trango 3-person, 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 everyday, prepared by a skilled camp chef, and served by waitstaff.  You’ll also enjoy the cozy setting when you arrive into camp in the afternoons, ready to enjoy a piping hot cup of tea and some snacks.

Purified drinking water is provided for you during meal times, 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.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 – Forest Ridge to Heath
Make your way out of the forest this morning, where 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: 5 – 6 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Shira Camp 1 – 11,499 feet

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 – Heath to Moorland
As the sun’s rays stretch over the mountain face this morning, you will resume your trek from the savannah of heather and grasses into the moorlands. Pass bizarre flora, such as giant groundsels, and a misty, cloud-covered terrain of volcanic rock. 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.

Trekking: 3 – 4 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Shira Camp 2 – 12,795 feet

Thursday, September 13, 2018 – Moorland to Alpine Desert
Continue up expansive ridges on a long, steady climb. Camp is nestled at the base of an extraordinary rock formation called Lava Tower one of Kilimanjaro’s most famous volcanic formations. Staying at this higher altitude, then descending to a lower-altitude camp tomorrow, prepares your body for summit success.

Trekking: 4 – 6 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Lava Tower Camp – 15,213 feet

Friday, September 14, 2018 – Alpine Desert to Moorland
You’ll drop down from the alpine desert into the moorlands today, giving you time to acclimatize in the lower altitudes. Explore the valleys and undulating, starkly beautiful landscapes. The terrain of volcanic rock and boulders is dotted with strange plantlife, such as groundsels, giant lobelias, and everlasting flowers. You will also trek up the towering Barranco Wall over a narrow switchback that will require some scrambling, but ultimately pays off with extraordinary views of glaciers above the clouds. With such surroundings, it’s easy to stay motivated and inspired.

Trekking: 6 – 7 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Karanga Camp – 13,231 feet

Saturday, September 15, 2018 – 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. Only white-necked ravens and a handful of other birds venture this high, where vegetation is scarce. Camp in this lunar landscape where you may see the hanging glaciers that drape Kilimanjaro’s summit cone. Temperatures drop and the landscape starts to resemble the surface of the moon as you hike higher up the mountain. Rest up before tomorrow’s daytime summit bid.

Trekking: 3 – 4 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Barafu Camp – 15,331 feet

Sunday, September 16, 2018 – Alpine Desert and Uhuru Peak
Continue through the alpine desert this morning, making the gradual journey toward Kilimanjaro’s glaciers and the summit, Uhuru Peak. After enjoying the view from the Roof of Africa, trek down to your camp for the night before your final descent in the morning.

As dawn breaks you’ll set out for the summit. Arrive in the afternoon, when weather is generally better and most trekkers from more crowded routes have already descended.

Afternoon Uhuru Peak Summit: You did it! You’re at the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet! Go AdventureWomen! If you want to, go explore the Crater just below the summit before trekking down to Barafu Camp for some well deserved rest.

Trekking: 8 – 10 hours to the summit, 2 – 3 hours to descend to Barafu

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Barafu Camp – 15,331 feet

Monday, September 17, 2018 – Alpine Desert to Heath
Have a leisurely breakfast to celebrate your successful summit of Kilimanjaro before starting your descent. After breakfast, depart the barren landscapes of the Alpine Desert zone as you begin your descent to your camp nestled in the thick heather. It will take you most of the day to get to your camp at Mweka. Enjoy the steady down after so many days of climbing.

Celebrate your achievement with your fellow trekkers and mountain crew and partake in a tipping ceremony to thank your guides and porters, acknowledging their hard work and contribution to your success.

Trekking: 5 – 7 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Mweka Camp – 10,065 feet

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – Mweka and Depart
Trek from Mweka down to the gate. It will take you from three to six 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! Land Rovers will be waiting to take you back into town for a shower and some rest before your transfer to the airport this evening.

Trekking: 3 – 6 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Snack

Day Room Planet Lodge

OR, IF YOU ARE CONTINUING ON THE EXTENSION:

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – Mweka to Arusha
Trek from Mweka down to the gate. It will take you from three to six 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! Land Rovers will be waiting to take you back into town for a quiet dinner at the lodge.

Trekking: 3 – 6 hours

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Mount Meru Hotel

An Arusha mainstay near the busy downtown area, the Mount Meru Hotel sits on a 15-acre garden and provides comfortable, modern accommodations.  Amenities include cable TV in all rooms, internet access, currency exchange facilities, concierge, massage services, babysitting on request, playground for children, outdoor swimming pool, sun bed, a volleyball court, and a nearby golf course. The Themi Grill serves both international and African cuisine.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – Arusha to the Ngorongoro Highlands
Head from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Crossing the relatively flat and arid Maasai Steppe, you reach the impressive Great Rift Valley Escarpment. The Great Rift Valley formed millions of years ago when several plates of the earth’s crust pulled apart – or rifted. Today the valley stretches over 3,700 miles, from Lebanon to Mozambique, just south of Tanzania. In East Africa, the valley splits into two branches, each of which is characterized by Africa’s greatest mountains and lakes. At the top of the escarpment lie the lush Ngorongoro Highlands where the region’s rich volcanic soil makes for some of the most fertile land in Tanzania.

This morning, your head guide will brief you on your itinerary and review the expectations for your safari, giving you a taste of what’s to come. Please ask the guide questions at this time and as they come up during the safari. Savor lunch at Gibb’s Farm, where nearly every ingredient comes fresh from the estate’s organic farm. Take a leisurely guided walk through Gibb’s marvelous flower and herb gardens where more than 200 species grow and blossom. As dazzling as the flora array is to the eye, the guided walk is also an aromatic and even historical experience, with some plants having been in the garden over 50 years.

You may choose to spend the afternoon relaxing on the verandah with tea, or taking advantage of innumerable optional activities: a farm or garden tour, bird watching, coffee roasting, and more. You have the option to visit the home of Daniel Tewa, a charismatic local historian, storyteller, and proud member of the Iraqw people. Tewa will impress you with his encyclopedic knowledge of Tanzanian cultures, and his wife will show you the ancestral beading and skirts of the Iraqw. Step into a mound-like traditional Iraqw home, which Tewa built beside his own modern biogas-powered house to preserve his heritage.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Gibb’s Farm

Gibb’s Farm artfully blends nature, culture and eco-friendly amenities to provide what is sure to be a relaxing and memorable stay.  Its newly updated cottages blur the line between indoor and outdoor living space, giving each guest unhindered access to one of the estate’s most stunning assets: its lush gardens. A gracious and attentive staff enhances the experience, offering cultural and historical insight and making sure all your needs are met.

Thursday, September 20, 2018 – Ngorongoro Highlands
Established in the late 1950s, Ngorongoro Conservation Area balances wildlife preservation alongside human settlements.  The area covers about 3,200 square miles from the shore of Lake Eyasi to the south, the edge of the Great Rift Valley to the east, the border of the Loliondo Game Controlled Area to the North and the boundaries of Serengeti National Park to the west. Resident wildlife populations in the crater and seasonal migratory populations around the Serengeti make this an integral part of Tanzania’s ecology. In addition, the abundance of Maasai settlements make it a cultural epicenter within northern Tanzania.

Visit the Ngorongoro Crater today, where you are likely to find an abundance of wildlife. With luck, you might even see rhinoceros and big cats, such as lion and cheetah. The diversity of species often inspires awe, from baboons and elephants in the Lerai Forest to wildebeest and mountain reedbuck over the crater’s grassy floor. To maximize your wildlife viewing time on the crater floor, enjoy your picnic lunch near a hippo pool.

This evening, relax at the Tembo Fire, an open-air sitting area nestled at the foot of the organic gardens. The tradition of the nightly campfire began as a purely practical measure to ensure that elephants – or “tembo” in Swahili – are not tempted to feast in the organic gardens at night. It soon became a popular place to sit and relax at the end of the day. Now, with a comfortable seating area and full bar, the Tembo Fire makes a wonderful place for conversation, story-telling or star-gazing.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Gibb’s Farm

Friday, September 21, 2018 – Ngorongoro Highlands to Serengeti National Park
Breakfast at Gibb’s is a great way to start the day. Enjoy local fruits, homemade yogurts and fresh cheeses, and made-to-order breakfast classics like omelettes or pancakes. Everything is made with the freshest ingredients.

Depart the Ngorongoro Highlands this morning and arrive on the great Serengeti plains by this afternoon for a different, but just as spectacular wildlife viewing experience. You will pass one of the world’s greatest archeological sites in Olduvai Gorge as you cut across the desert-like bush country. Make a short stop at Olduvai Gorge, a deep ravine and site of fossilized remains of animals and hominids that date as far back as two million years. A brief lecture and small museum tour are included.

The wooded knolls around Naabi Hill Gate mark the Serengeti’s official entrance, which then drops into the park’s signature wide-open plains. More than any other place in the park, this stretch embodies the meaning of the word “Serengeti,” which derives from the Maasai “Siringet” and has been artistically translated as “the land that flows on forever.” Serengeti National Park covers 6,000 square miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest. Spend an afternoon wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. The big cats often spend these hours lying drowsily about the plains and up in the trees while many antelope and other animals continue to graze.

Spend some time at your Nyumba in the Serengeti this evening. Before dinner, enjoy a workout, utilizing the Nyumba’s Keep Fit Kit, or just put your feet up and relax in and around the dining tent, exchanging safari tales with your fellow AdventureWomen travelers.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Central Serengeti Nyumba

This seasonal Serengeti Nyumba is set strategically in a private location in the heart of the park, allowing you easy access to both the southern and central plains.  Here, you will experience exceptional service from the friendly staff, eat gourmet meals prepared from fresh, local ingredients and appreciate the prime location.

The rustic luxury of your camp provides you with all the essentials including solar lighting, private en-suite bathroom with safari shower and self-contained, pump-flush toilet, proper beds with fine linens and more.  As these accommodations are mobile and environmentally friendly, you will not find air conditioning, fixed plumbing or electricity in your spacious tent.  Always comfortable, but never obtrusive or excessive, these camps are the perfect way to experience Tanzania in elegance and style.

Saturday, September 22, 2018 – Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti, Tanzania’s second largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forests. The Grumeti, Mbalageti, and Mara river systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and leopard, as well as large prides of lions and clans of hyenas. Other commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, topi, hartebeest, ostrich, and jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing. The greater Serengeti ecosystem actually covers the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, and numerous surrounding wildlife-protected lands that combine for a total of almost 17,000 square miles, which is larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all together.

Those with advance reservations will have the opportunity to balloon across the plains during one of your mornings in the Serengeti. A pre-dawn wake-up call leaves you time to drive to the balloon launch site in order to catch the most dramatic light. Then take to the skies just as the sun rises. Glide over the plains and acacia treetops, taking in spectacular views of the Seronera River Valley and the surrounding plains. After your descent, enjoy a magnificent champagne breakfast right in the midst of the Serengeti wilderness.

Explore the pristine landscapes of the Serengeti with your guide’s uncanny wildlife spotting instincts leading the way. Expansive plains, rolling hills, dramatic granite outcrops and riverine valleys are home to an endless variety of fascinating creatures, from the lowly dung beetle to the impressive elephant.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Central Serengeti Nyumba

Sunday, September 23, 2018 – Serengeti National Park and Depart
Enjoy a scenic flight from the central Serengeti back to Arusha. A shopping mainstay in Arusha, the Cultural Heritage Center attracts many travelers each year with its abundance of wooden carvings, artifacts, apparel, and crafts. The center also has Tanzanite and other gemstones for sale. While the center caters mostly to tourists, they also have wonderful cultural displays and a separate wing that displays some of the finest African art in Tanzania.

During a special farewell lunch in Arusha, you will have time to say goodbye to your safari companions as you prepare for your departure. Visit the adjoining Shanga workshop where physically challenged artisans create remarkable jewelry, learn glass-blowing, and sell their work. This extraordinary project was created in order to mentor and empower those who are often marginalized in Tanzanian society. You will be surprised and inspired by the quality and beauty of their creations.

Enjoy a day room in Arusha, resting up and readying yourself for your departure. Transfer to the airport and say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends!

Breakfast, Lunch, Snack

Day Room at Mount Meru Hotel