Day by day itierary for the 2023 Charity Kilimanjaro Climb

Day 1
12.09.2023

Arrival of guests at Kilimanjaro airport at a time of their choice. Pick-up and transfer by 4x4 to accommodation near or in Moshi. Evening meet-up over dinner with tour-leader at accommodation.

Overnight comfortable, authentic lodge under local management (D)

Optional excursion: stretch your legs on an excursion for early arrivals
Visit of waterfall and small-scale organic coffee farm on the slopes of Kilimanjaro (ca. 4 hours)

Day 2
13.09.2023

After a sumptuous breakfast we stretch our legs on an excursion to the office of KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project) in Moshi. Meet the porters and local management. Peep into a KPAP training session for porters. Visit village where porters live. Learn how to make Ugali, a stiff maize porridge, the staple food of all porters (and Tanzanians for that matter) and taste it. Lunch at KCNU Café in Moshi, belonging to the local coffee grower’s cooperative (lunch not included). Apart from freshly prepared comfort food KCNU has the most aromatic locally produced coffee, smoothies and cakes to die for!

Late afternoon safety briefing Kilimanjaro by tour-leader and Tanzanian head guide. Thorough kit-check for every participant (non-sufficient or missing equipment can be rented from climbing company against a reasonable fee). Dinner at Lodge.

Overnight comfortable, authentic lodge under local management (B, D)

Day 3 (Day 1 on Kilimanjaro)
14.09.2023

After early breakfast transfer to the starting point of our Kilimanjaro climb at Lemosho Glades. Before that we need to check in every guest at Londorossi park gate. We meet our mountain staff, at least those who have not started the climb already to build the camp. A hot lunch will be served at Londorossi. Fully energized we commence our expedition. Through dense mountainous rainforest you slowly gain elevation. Pole, pole (slowly, slowly) is the name of the game. Look out for endemic plants and colobus monkeys. We arrive in the afternoon at Forest Camp where your tent is already set up for you.

Overnight Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 2100m, camp altitude 2750m, approximate walking time 4-5 hours

Day 4 (Day 2 on Kilimanjaro)
15.09.2023

Today we leave the forest behind and venture onto a gigantic former eruption crater of Kilimanjaro, the Shira Plateau. Thousands of years ago filled with lava and grown over by Erica, this hilly plateau is where we find our next camp. Here some of you might feel the first signs of acclimatizing to a higher altitude. Our tour leader and the head guide will perform the necessary health checks three times a day throughout the climb.

After a steeper begin out of the forest, the path flattens on Shira plateau and we will get the first glimpse of Kilimanjaro from its western side, with the Western Breach Wall clearly visible.

Overnight Shira 1 Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 2750m, camp altitude 3480m, approximate walking time 6-8 hours

Day 5 (Day 3 on Kilimanjaro)
16.09.2023

The morning light on Shira Plateau wakes you for a shorter walking day. What we call a half-day walk takes you across Shira plateau, so you arrive in the next camp for lunch. Afternoon offers the chance for an easy acclimatisation walk as we never sleep during the day (sleeping does not support acclimatisation as your breathing rate goes down).

Overnight Shira 2 Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 3480m, camp altitude 3860m, approximate walking time 3-5 hours

Day 6 (Day 4 on Kilimanjaro)
17.09.2023

A truly spectacular but somewhat demanding day awaits you. It is crucial for our acclimatisation. We leave Shira Plateau and gain elevation. Our highest point will be reached at Lava Tower, a former eruption vent of Kilimanjaro in 4600m, where we will have lunch. After enjoying sweeping views of the spectacular but potentially dangerous Western Breach Wall, just above Lava Tower, we descend down into Barranco Valley. Here you will not be able to resist making a photo of the highly unique Giant Senecias, endemic to the mountains of East Africa. Tired but filled to the rim with spectacular memories your dinner will taste twice as good.

Overnight Barranco Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 3860m, camp altitude 3950m, approximate walking time 7-9 hours

Day 7 (Day 5 on Kilimanjaro)
18.09.2023

In the morning a hike through Barranco Wall just opposite your camp makes you burn that wholesome breakfast you have just enjoyed. The ‘Wall’ is really just a steep mountain path, so even if you suffer from vertigo there is nothing here to scare you beyond your comfort zone. Once you arrive on top you will be able to marvel at jaw dropping views over the clouds to Mount Meru (4566m) in the distance. The path continues to Karanga Valley which actually is less of a valley but a ridge leading, as it appears to the eye, straight up from Moshi to the camp. The lights of the coffee capital from where you set out five days ago are clearly visible even from this altitude.

Overnight Karanga Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 3950m, camp altitude 4200m, approximate walking time 4-6 hours

Day 8 (Day 6 on Kilimanjaro)
19.09.2023

Today we move much closer to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. When we reach Barafu Camp your tour leader and the head guide will brief you on summit night, when your dream will come true standing on the highest point of Africa. Before going to bed, you sort out your extra layers for your summit bid, as it can get cold on the way to the summit, down to -15C to -20 C.

Overnight Barafu Camp in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

start altitude 4200m, camp altitude 4600m, approximate walking time 4-5 hours

Day 9 (Day 7 on Kilimanjaro - Summit)
20.09.2023

You will be woken up around midnight. In full gear you eat your all-important breakfast in the mess tent, giving you much needed energy for a hard and long but very much doable summit day. In the light of your headlamps our group will make its way up a not very steep lava ridge. Every member of your group will have a member of the mountain staff by their side should you need any assistance or encouragement. The path zigzags up to Stella Point on the crater rim which we should reach in the first light of the day. Another half an hour to an hour brings on a comfortably wide crater rim brings you to a personal highlight of your life: the summit of Kilimanjaro in 5895m. The crown of Africa is not only the highest free-standing peak in the world it is also one of the 7 summits and so heavy, it bends the crust of the earth beneath her.

After the all-important summit photos are done, we already have to move down. If you feel like it, our staff can teach you ‘scree-surfing’, a time saving way of ‘skiing’ down some ash slopes. Back at Barafu Camp we enjoy lunch and a very much deserved rest. Afternoon sees us making our way much further down into the forested zone. At camp altitude we are further relieved from the effects of high altitude. Your sleep tonight will be as deep and undisturbed as you can wish for.

Overnight Mweka Camp (3100m) in high-quality mountain tent (B, L, D)

Elevation gain up 1295m, Elevation loss down 2795m, approximate walking time 11h – 13h

Day 10 (Day 8 on Kilimanjaro - Out)
21.09.2023

A last look on Kilimanjaro with a cup of coffee or tea in your hand and off we go! A couple of hours take us down to Mweka gate, where your adventure of climbing Kilimanjaro ends. Watch your steps as the path is rocky and sometimes slippery. Look for blue monkeys in the forest. At the gate all participants are signed out and the tips are handed out. Your mountain staff, that helped you all along the way to enjoy a safe and successful climb, sings for you an emotional good bye.

Tired, happy and dirty we transfer to our accommodation and enjoy not only the best pizza, fish or steak you ever tasted (lunch not included), but as well the most satisfying shower, during which you truly realize what you have achieved. Later we enjoy dinner together and a little (or not so little) party during which the tour leader and the head guide will jointly hand out your personalised certificates, verifying that you made it to the peak of Mama Africa!

Overnight comfortable, authentic lodge under local management (B, D)

start altitude 3100m, gate altitude 1500m, Elevation loss 1600m, approximate walking time 4 hours

Day 11 (Depart or extend)
22.09.2023

Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport at the time your travel schedule requires.

Extension:
Should you decide to extend your stay in Tanzania for a driving safari, fly-in safari, a beach/kite surf/diving/Spa holiday on Pemba, Mafia island or Zanzibar or maybe see Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, then you would probably be met by your driver guide or a transfer car to our small safari airport from where you can fly deep into any national park or to the aforementioned islands.