13 Days Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro Combined Expedition

Leave from your pick up place (hotel) in Nairobi and drive via the great northern road passing rice plantations and eastern highlands arriving Chogoria town in 4 hours. It is from this town you will have lunch and meet the rest of your climbing crew (porters) and proceed with the driving through rain forest for about an hour. The trekking starts at bamboo forest to Chogoria park gate campsite.

Hiking time, 2 hours.
Dinner and overnight at the camp/Lodge.
Altitude gain from Nairobi; 1,150m.

After having breakfast , leave the camp hiking through lush vegetation and forest passing Old Urumandi Hut proceeding to Nithi water falls. Afterwards continue hiking passing Road head Campsite for lunch to Lake Ellis. Approximate 5 – 6 hours of hiking. In the afternoon, local explore the lake and around the campsite.

Dinner and Overnight at the camp.
Altitude gain; 450m.

After having breakfast, leave the camp trekking along a single trail through alpine and moorland vegetation. The trek between the two camps is a no water fetching zone, ensure that you have approximate 3 litres of water to keep you going. Lunch will have been packed for you. Approximate 6 – 7 hours hiking time. In the afternoon local explore around the Camp to the Temple and the view of the Gorges valley.

Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Altitude gain; 900m.

Wake up at around 0200 hours, have a simple breakfast, gear up and start hiking in the dark on a relatively flat trail to steep and rocky scree surface reaching point Lenana Summit at (4,985m) in 3 hours. While at this point you will enjoy a spectacular African sunrise with 360° views. On a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro is visible at a far distance. Take some photos and start descending down to Shiptons Camp for full breakfast and some rest. Afterwards, continue trekking down along the Mackinders valley crossing Likki and Ontulili valleys to Old Moses Camp for a well earned sleep. The approximate distance from Shiptons to Old Moses Camp takes about 6 hours. Lunch will be provided along the way, dinner and overnight at Old Moses Camp.

Altitude gain; 685m, altitude drop; 1,685m.

After the breakfast, leave the camp trekking down along a paved road passing through bamboo and rain forests with chances of spotting wildlife reaching the gate in about 2 hours. Check out of the park and board your transport back to Nairobi Hotel for a shower and overnight.

END OF MT KENYA TRIP.

It is on this day we board an early morning tourist bus taking us to Tanzania Moshi hotel taking 6 hours on transverse. You can also opt taking a flight to Kilimanjaro national airport from Nairobi.

7 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route

This route is popularly known as “Whisky Route” although no whiskey available. Machame route is indeed a bit difficult climb but it does have much higher success rates. Choosing a seven days itinerary allows your body to acclimatise and resting ahead of the summit attempt at Barafu Camp which leaves plenty time to recover. Here is the seven days itinerary starting from Moshi town and back.

The drive from Moshi hotel to Machame gate takes about 50 minutes passing the Machame village which is located in the lower slopes of the mountain. Meet the rest of your team [ porters],Check in the park gate and start trekking through tropical rain forest reaching Machame Camp in 5 -6 hours. Lunch will have been packed for you.

Dinner and Overnight at the Camp.
Hiking distance;11 km.
Altitude gain; 1,885m.

After having breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest crossing a little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge. The route then turns to the west reaching Shira Camp in 4 – 6 hours. Lunch we will be provided in a half way distance.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Hiking distance; 9 km.
Altitude gain; 1,015m.

From the Shira plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. Continue trekking towards South East via Lava Tower (4600m). Have lunch from this point and continue down to Barranco Camp. This day offers great acclimatisation allowing hikers to “ Walk high, Sleep Low”.

Dinner and Overnight at the Camp.
Hiking Distance; 10 km in 6-8 hours.
Altitude gain; 750m, altitude drop; 650m.

After breakfast, leave the Camp and climb a non- technical but steep ridge Barranco Wall or the kissing rock. Continue trekking in a series of hills reaching Karanga Camp.

Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Hiking Distance; 5 km in 4-5 hours.
Altitude gain; 40m.

Right after breakfast and gearing up, start trekking passing the junction to Mweka trail continuing up to the Barafu Camp. From this camp, Mawenzi peak and the Kibo peak are very visible. Have an early dinner and resting ahead of the summit.

Hiking Distance; 4 km in 4 -5 hours.
Altitude gain; 615m.

Wake up at around 2300 hours, have a simple breakfast, gear up and start the journey to the summit in the dark. This is the most challenging part in our bodies both mentally and physically. Walk at a pace of your own step after the other not competing with other hikers or teammates. We say “ Pole Pole” meaning slow but sure.
While at Stella point [18,600ft], you will be rewarded by the epic sunrise if the weather is clear. Then continue in about an hour along the crater rim to the summit. At this point, Uhuru peak [5,895m/19,340 ft], you are now on the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and continent of Africa.
Spend a short time at the summit taking photos and start descending down to Barafu Camp for lunch and a rest. Afterwards then continue trekking down to Mweka Camp (3,100m). Enjoy the last dinner on the mountain and a well earned sleep.

Hiking ascent distance from Barafu to Summit; 5 km in 6-7 hours.
Hiking descent distance from summit to Mweka; 12 km 6 hours.
Altitude gain; 1,295m, altitude drop; 2,795m.

After the breakfast and a little celebration, pick up your day packs and start descending down . On arriving at the gate, you’ll be rewarded with certificates of achievement. Board a vehicle which will drive you back in your hotel for a hot shower and a bear in Moshi town.

Altitude drop; 2,150m.

END OF KILIMANJARO TRIP.