Tour Itinerary:
Arrival day: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha town for overnight.
Day 1: Arusha town To Miriakampa Hut
1500m / 4900 ft
to 2500m / 8200 ft
4 hours hiking .
Pick up from your hotel in Arusha town and drive to Momella gate. Starting from Momella Gate, the track passes through open grassland with Cape buffalo and warthogs. With luck, you may also see giraffe and elephants. Continue a steady climb through montane forest. You can have your lunch at the famous “Fig tree”. After lunch, the trek continues through less dense forest, where there are lots of birds and monkeys including the black and white colobus. By mid-afternoon, there are the first close views of the towering cliffs and the Ash Cone. Miriakampa Hut, situated in idyllic grassy glade, is reached in time to enjoy the afternoon sun and beautiful views over the surrounding plains towards Kilimanjaro.
Day 2: To Saddle Hut
2500m / 8200 ft
to 3500m / 11,700 ft
4 hours hiking
The walk from Miriakampa Hut to the saddle below Little Meru is a steep sustained climb all the way. Starting through beautiful and lush montane forest, the path continues beyond the halfway point of Elephant Back Ridge and carries on uphill through the giant heather and other moorland vegetation to reach Saddle Hut and lunch. In the afternoon, you can make the short climb to the nearby summit of Little Meru (3820 m / 12,533 ft) for superb views. It takes about 1 hour to walk up and 30 minutes to walk down. The ascent is 1056 m / 3465 ft.
Day 3: Summit and down to Miriakampa Hut
3500m / 11,700 ft
to 4566m / 14,980 ft
Down to 2500m /
8200 ft
5+ hours hiking up
3+ hours hiking down to
Saddle Hut
and 2+ hours to
Miriakampa Hut
Summit day has an early start at around 12:00AM. There is a 1 hour’s steep climb to Rhino Point (3800m / 12,467ft), and then the path continues along a ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4350m / 14,272ft). The summit of Socialist Peak (4566 m) is an hour more on a steep path with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. Depending on your speed, you can enjoy sunrise at Cobra Point or the summit. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the Crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the Rift Valley. The route back to Rhino Point in the sharp morning light along a narrow ridge between the sloping outer wall of the crater and the sheer cliffs of the inner wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa. Brunch and a brief rest is taken at Saddle Hut before continuing the descent to Miriakamba Hut.
Note: For an easier climb, you can start the trek at 05:00 A.M., hike for about 1 hour, and enjoy sunrise at Rhino Point before going back to Saddle Hut for breakfast and then descending.
Note: In icy conditions or in strong winds, it may be impossible for anyone to progress beyond Rhino Point.
.
Day 4: To Arusha
2500m / 8200 ft
to 1500m / 4900 ft
2+ hours hiking
There are two ways down from here. You can descend the route you came up or walk down the jeep road, which descends to the lower crater floor. You pass through the well-known Fig Tree Arch and can visit an impressive waterfall hidden in a ravine not far from the road.
A fast descent through open grassland and mixed forest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. This trail has excellent views back towards the crater and over the plains of the National Park. Momella Gate is reached by late morning and transfer back to Arusha town.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices Above Includes:
- All park entry fees
- All camping/hut fees
- Rescue fees
- Guide and porters fees
- Guide and porters salaries
- Transport to and from the mountain gates
- Meals 3 times daily
- Cook and all kitchen utensils
Prices Above Excludes:
- International flights to/from your home
- Tips to the guides and porters
- The first night on before trek and last night after trek (book with us)
- Airport transfers (book with us for 60$ per transfer)
- Hard and soft drinks and tips
- and all Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Tanzania
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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