life of EASE......spirit of ADVENTURE
Sample Itinerary:
Kilimanjar Rongai route with crater nights and excursion (Eight days)
Day 1
Breakfast at your hotel is served from 0700. Please ensure that you have packed your bags before breakfast, have signed over your extra luggage that will not be required on the mountain to reception, and have deposited your valuables into the hotel’s safe.
Transfer and Registration. You will normally be collected at 0730 from your hotel. Your driver will transfer you to Marangu Gate where we complete registration formalities. Climbers should have their passport numbers for their registry entries but are advised to have kept their passports and valuables in the hotel safe (excluding the amount they will budget for tipping their crew). Climbers under 16 years of age, however are required to present their passports to the KINAPA gate staff as proof of their eligibility to climb on a concessionary permit. Failure to do this will result in a cash surcharge being imposed by KINAPA per under-16 climber.
From Marangu we transfer to Naro Moru, north east Kilimanjaro, a further 68km and 2 hours 20 minutes on bad roads. Depending on the progress of your transit the guide will designate a suitable location for lunch, usually en route to Naro Moru near to Tarakea. Please note that following any transfer it is customary to tip the driver, $5 - $10 per group is usual.
Around 1400 we start trekking from the Rongai Start Point at 1996m, located 600 metres south west of the Naro Moru junction. Today we ascend to Simba Camp at 2626m, a trek of 6.7km. It is usual to arrive in camp shortly before sunset but in the event of road obstacles, recent road damage caused by rains or unforeseen delays, climbers are advised to carry their headtorches in their day sacks.
Day 2
Simba Camp to 3482m for lunch at Second Caves, a distance of 5.8km from Simba. After lunch we trek a further 6.0km to Kikelewa Camp 3679m, for overnight. It is not uncommon to experience a mild headache today though this usually abates within some 2 hours of arriving in camp. Please discuss this with your guide if your headache becomes persistent or intensifies.
Day 3
Today we travel only a short distance of 3.7km, and while gaining only 624 metres in alitude from Kikelewa to Mawenzi Tarn at 4303m, nonetheless end the day 320 metres higher than on the corresponding day on the Machame Route. We set up camp close to the water feature nestled between two spurs on the western side of Mawenzi. In the afternoon you are advised to request that your guide leads you on an acclimatisation excursion over the spur to your west from where beautiful views towards Kibo can be had in clear weather.
Day 4
This morning we surmount Mawenzi’s north west ridge and move around the western flanks of Mawenzi, crossing the high eastern edge of the Plateau, from where some of the rarest, clearest and most dramatic views of both peaks can be had. If you request your guide to take the higher left hand trail past
Mawenzi, you will pass within just 820 linear metres of Mawenzi’s summit (5148m).
The highest point on this excursion is 4614m and you will have covered 3.6km in distance to reach this from your start point this morning. From here we descend a distance of 6.5km to the tent site just above Horombo Camp to overnight at 3714m, thereby affording the greatest climb high sleep low differential on any route on the mountain, exactly 900 metres.
Spending the night this low in a significantly more oxygen-rich environment than last night ensures that the body has sufficient reprieve to be able to make the necessary adaptive changes that it has identified the need for during its exposure to the environmental factors associated with high altitude over the last 24 hours. Tomorrow morning, even though you may feel quite tired you will nonetheless be better prepared for your approach to the high camp, Barafu, than you would have been on any other route.
Day 5
This morning we begin to rise along a section of the Marangu Route that is used to approach Kibo Huts however after 1.9km we turn to the west away from all other trail users, gaining the South Summit Circuit that is effectively exclusive to TK and that avoids the crowding associated with the route you have just branched away from. From this junction a further 7.1 km brings us to Barafu Huts at 4681m along the smoothest and most gradual approach by which it is possible to reach Barafu.
Day 7
This morning, provided climbers are feeling strong and motivated and are judged by the guide to be in good health, we rise up from Crater Camp towards the very centre of Kibo and the Reusch Ash Pit viewpoint at 5845m. From here views are enjoyed towards the summit and into the centre of the volcanic cone where fumeroles and sulphur emissions can often be seen. Strength permitting, we continue to circumnavigate the Ash Pit towards the Eastern Icefields and Gilman’s Point, where we begin the descent to Kibo Huts via the loose scree slopes of Eastern Kibo. There is clear logic is descending a loose scree slope; it is far easier on the knees and as the ground collapses underfoot if you take short quick strides it’s easy to maintain momentum. We do short bursts and take regular rests, pausing to photograph the Saddle beneath us and Kenya to our left. At Kibo Huts we have a short refreshment break before continuing to Horombo 3705m where we overnight again.
Crater Camp to Gilman’s Point via Crater Excursion: 4.3km
Gilman’s Point to Kibo Huts: 3.4km
Kibo Huts to Horombo: 9.6km
Total day’s distance: 17.3km
Day 6
Our assault route begins at Barafu Huts and follows a ridge, as opposed to a loose scree slope, where the ground underfoot is much firmer, affording far better footing and being less tiring.
Around midnight (your guide will judge the time that is optimal for you based on your pace thus far) quit camp for the ascent via Stella Point (5752m) to the summit. Tonight is very difficult - particularly the final 500m - and you’ll need to commit to draw on inner strength to help you achieve the summit.
On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. The brain does not function very intelligently at this altitude so please remember to take many photographs in all directions to make sure you capture and record your memories.
From the summit you will continue to press westwards, passing Furtwangler Point at 5894m, before descending a steep scree slope to Crater Camp at 5729m. Having settled and enjoyed refreshments at Crater Camp you have the option of requesting that your guide accompany you to the top of the Breach Wall to watch the sunset over the Shira Plateau.
Distances on summit day:
Barafu to Stella Point: 3.3km Stella Point to Summit: 1.2km Summit to Crater Camp: 0.9km
Total summit day’s distance: 5.4km
Day 8
This morning we descend from Horombo to Marangu Gate 1860m via Mandara Huts 2715m. The day’s distance is 19.7km along very well maintained trails. (Horombo to Mandara is 11.6km and Mandara to Marangu Gate is 8.1km). This is the standard Rongai descent route and the Marangu ascent and descent route.
At Marangu Gate it is customary for climbers to tip their support staff. Ordinarily tips are collected by one of the climbers and the total amount is handed to the chief guide who himself decides how the amount should be divided amongst the rest of the crew according to a customary scale that is determined by the responsibilities and experience of each staff member. All our chief guides are thoroughly honest and fair in this regard and it is not necessary for climbers to hand out individual envelopes to each porter, cook and assistant guide, unless they specifically wish to do so. Climbers nowadays tend to tip their support crew 10-15% of what they have paid for their climb.
Arriving at Marangu Gate we sign the Register and you will receive your Certificate of Achievement before being collected and driven back to your hotel.
PLEASE NOTE: Your safety is our business. All our Mountain Guides are highly trained in guiding at altitude and hold relevant, current First Aid Qualifications. In all matters of safety the decision of the Chief Guide is final.