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Kilimanjaro/Mt. Kenya |
Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, at 19,340ft and 17,157ft, respectively, are the highest two points
on the African continent. Though they straddle the equator, both receive heavy amounts of snow-fall in the rainy season due to their high altitude. This package allows you to explore some of the
more unique and less traveled routes on each mountain. We start with a trek up Mt Kenya via the
scenic Chogoria Route. As this is not a technical climb, the maximum altitude we can reach on Mt Kenya is 16,450ft, at Pt Lenana. Our 5 days on Mt Kenya have now prepared us for the higher
altitudes of Kilimanjaro, which we will ascend via the very scenic
Machame Route, then descend quickly via the Mweka Route. We
summit Kilimanjaro after 6 days on the mountain, including one
rest day. A one day cultural tour in Nairobi, and 3 days safari in
Masai Mara are also included.
Trip low down
Group size : 4-16
Departure point : Major US cities
Time of year : Dec-Feb, May-Jun, Aug-Sep
Day 1 Depart US for Nairobi, via Amsterdam or London.
Day 2 Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to the Intercontinental Hotel or similar.
Day 3 Today we take it easy to settle in to our new time zone and relax after the long flight. We will take a day trip to some of
the nearby cultural attractions in Nairobi: the Giraffe Centre, the animal orphanage in Nairobi National Park, and a visit to Bomas
of Kenya to see some native dancing and examples of native huts. Lunch will be provided at a nearby restaurant while enroute to
the various attractions. Dinner will be at the world-famous Carnivores restaurant, where you will get all the wild game you can eat:
crocodile, zebra, eland, and for those less adventurous, there is always beef, pork, and chicken. Overnight back at the hotel in Nairobi.
Day 4 We drive north from Nairobi into the Mount Kenya National Park. En route we have good views of the mountain ahead of us. Arriving at Chogoria, we have lunch before transferring to four-wheel-drive vehicles for the final 15-mile drive up a rough and muddy road to our overnight camp. An early start means that we will have time to walk any impassable sections of the road if the vehicles get stuck. We stay overnight in a “banda” (cottage) in woodlands nearby the Chogoria Gate. Altitude 9,840 feet.
Day 5 We start the day with an early morning game-viewing walk in the area around our banda. There are elephant, cape buffalo,
antelope and colobus monkeys in this area, as well as many species of impressive birds. After a late breakfast, we start our trek up
towards Mount Kenya. On our walk, there are excellent views back towards the plains. We camp at Lake Ellis, a blissful campsite
in full view of the main peaks of Mount Kenya and well away from the main trail. Altitude 11,316 feet. 3-4 hours walking. In the
afternoon, there is the option of an acclimatization hike to the summit of Mugi Hill for some great views. It is an elevation gain of 250
meters and will take about 2 hours, round trip.
Day 6 We continue our ascent, climbing away from Lake Ellis on its west side, across moorland to a ridge which eventually joins the main Chogoria trail. We have views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley as we continue towards our destination for the day of Mintos Camp. Exotic bird species, including the Tacazze sunbird, can be seen close to the camp amongst the bizarre giant plants – principally groundsel and lobelia. Altitude at Mintos Camp – 14,100 feet. 6-8 hours walking.
Day 7 Today we ascend into the alpine zone, above the last of the trees and giant vegetation species. We continue up until we reach a saddle named Simba Col at 15,150 feet, then head down to Shipton’s Camp (13,900 feet) where we will either set up our tents or stay inside. 6-8 hours walking, with a couple of steep climbs.
Day 8 Today we are up early to do the steep climb up Point Lenana, which at 16,450 feet is our high point on Mt Kenya. The group will then descend back to Shipton’s Camp for lunch before continuing on to Old Moses Camp for the night. Elevation at Old Moses is 10,800 feet. 9-11 hours walking.
Day 9 Descend a relatively short distance to the Sirimon park gate where we will meet our transport back to Nairobi, stopping at
a local curio shop along the way to purchase souvenirs of ebony, soapstone, batiks, etc. Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel or
similar. Dinner is on your own, but the Thorn Tree Cafe is always popular. 3 hours walking.
Day 10 Today we drive from Nairobi to the town of Arusha in Tanzania, where we will stay overnight in the Hotel Impala or similar nice hotel. Dinner this night is on your own.
Day 11 We start our hike up Mt Kilimanjaro at the Machame Gate entrance. Starting elevation is approximately 6,000 feet, and our camp for tonight will be near Machame Hut at 10,000 feet. 5-7 hours walking. We are now fit and well acclimatized after our climb on Mt Kenya, and we are in much better shape to enjoy the ascent of Kilimanjaro.
Day 12 Hike to Shira Hut at 12,500 feet for dinner and overnight. 5-7 hours walking.
Day 13 Today we have a shorter day distance wise, but we start getting up into the higher altitudes. We make our way to Lava Tower, which has one of the best views of any campsite on the mountain. From the foot of the tower, the campsite looks right at the western wall of Kilimanjaro. From the top of the tower you can see the entire Shira Plateau on one side and the Great Barranco Wall on the other. Elevation at Lava Tower is 15,200 feet, where we stop for dinner and overnight. 4-6 hours walking.
Day 14 Today is essentially a rest day, as we only have a mostly downhill hike to our next overnight at Barranco Camp, elevatrion 13,050 feet. 2-3 hours walking. This builds some time into the itinerary to allow for contingencies of weather and acclimatization.
Day 15 We hike along the South Circuit Path, under the Great Barranco Wall, and then start up towards the path that will eventually take us to the summit. We halt at Barafu Hut (15,350 feet) for dinner and overnight. 8-9 hours walking.
Day 16 Today is summit day! We need to get an early start to take advantage of the best surface conditions (frozen scree and snow) for the trek up to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The angle of climb is steeper today as we climb up the ash and scree to the crater rim at Stella Point. From here there are good views of the ice cliffs within the crater. There are also amazing views of Mawenzi summit (5200m) and possibly our old friend, Mt Kenya! Following the crater rim for about an hour on easier terrain we reach the highest point in Africa – Uhuru Peak (19,340 feet). We descend from the summit down past Barafu Hut all the way to Mweka Hut at 13,050 feet. This is a very long day with at least 11 hours walking.
Day 17 We trek down for 3 hours through a beautiful forest to the roadhead, where we pick up our certificates of ascent, have a beer and reflect on the Kilimanjaro climb. We head to the Hotel Impala in Moshi for dinner and a well-earned night’s sleep on a real bed.
Day 18 Drive from Moshi to Nairobi. Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Day 19 We head out to Masai Mara today for the start of our safari. It will take us most of the day to drive from Nairobi to our camp in Masai Mara, but we will arrive in time for an evening game drive. Overnight in tented camp. This camp is a permanent camp site with hot showers, flush toilets, bed and bedding, and good security.
Day 20 Full day of game viewing in Masai Mara.
Day 21 Early morning game drive before breakfast. Leave camp after lunch, and arrive back in Nairobi in the early evening. Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel or similar.
Day 22 Rest day in Nairobi. You are free to do some souvenir shopping, or just catch up on you journal, post cards, etc., while hanging out at the hotel. Flights leave from Nairobi in the late evening. We shuttle you to the airport, and you are on your way home!
Day 23 Connect in Amsterdam or London and arrive in the US. Please check your flight itinerary for arrival dates and travel details.
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