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Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It lies close to the equator, yet snow, ice and glaciers are to be found on its highest slopes. Soaring to the impressive altitude of 5895 metres (19,350 feet), it provides incredible views of hundreds of square kilometres of surrounding countryside – thousands of feet below – as well as of the mountain peaks, valleys and glaciers around you. The walk to the summit takes you through a number of distinctly different climatic and vegetation zones – from beautiful rainforest, to alpine moorland, to volcanic desert, to glaciers, ice and snow. (Indeed, even if you do not make it to the top, the scenic interest and rewards of the lower sections are considerable). No mountaineering experience is required; you are able to walk all the way. As you gain altitude, however, the going will seem tough at times – the increasing effect of altitude, and walking on scree slopes on the upper sections, mean that this is a far-from-easy undertaking. In addition, very cold conditions can be encountered on the higher slopes, and you must be adequately equipped with cold and wet weather clothing. However, if you walk slowly, even from the start at lower altitudes, have a good mental attitude and a reasonable degree of physical fitness, this will all help immeasurably. You will be accompanied by guides, and porters will help to carry your luggage. On the way up your nights are spent in tents, on the Machame route; however on the descent you join the Mweka route, spending one night in this area (but still using our own tents). The thrill of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro gives you an unsurpassed sense of achievement. The Machame Route is a day longer than the standard trail and we have added a further day to the standard itinerary. This provides important additional time for acclimatisation and may well increase your chances of reaching the summit.
After your climb you head out on safari staying in beautifully appointed, permanent tented camps. We game drive at picturesque Lake Manyara en route to the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater. Just 20 kilometres wide, the crater floor teems with vast quantities of game, including elephant, lion, cheetah and black rhino. From Ngorongoro Crater we head into the Serengeti National Park. This is quintessential Africa, where wide open plains stretch as far as the imagination, and beyond, supporting vast numbers of plains game, including over two million wildebeest. A visit to the Serengeti ranks as one of the major highlights in all of Africa. This trip is truly the ultimate challenge, followed by the ultimate reward.
Visas and Permits
Tanzania
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Tanzania. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Care must be taken to ensure that your visa does not expire before your proposed date of entry to Tanzania (visas are usually valid for three months from the date of issue). It is recommended that visas should be obtained before departure. A visa fee of US$50 is charged to most foreign nationals. A visa fee of US$100 is charged for US citizens.
Today you will meet up with your porters and guides after breakfast at the hotel, and transfer the short distance to the Machame Gate, at around 1800 metres, situated at the entrance to the forest. After completing registration procedures at Machame you should be on your way by late morning. Today’s walk is about five to six hours, gradually ascending through the forest to a ridge between two streams, before eventually emerging into heather at around 3000 metres. Note that it can be wet in the rainforest. The night is spent camping near Machame Hut, at much the same altitude. The porters will carry your trek bag with all of your kit. You will carry a day bag with your wet weather gear, camera, lunch and water. The porters will generally walk ahead so that they can reach camp first and put up your tents prior to your arrival.
After breakfast, you set off around 8.00am to head up to the Shira Plateau. From your overnight campsite you cross a small valley and continue up along a steep ridge, through open moorland, to about 3600 metres. The peak lies straight ahead of you, giving you inspiration on what is, at times, a tough day’s walk. After some three to four hours the route veers left before flattening out into a gorge, and from here you gradually ascend towards the Shira Plateau, and your overnight camp, Shira Hut, at 3850 metres, to the west of Kibo.
Today is an important acclimitisation day as you travel up to 4250 metres before spending the night at Barranco (3950m). The path continues directly up the ridge towards Kibo. This is high altitude desert, with glorious views of the Western Breach of Kibo. After about four hours the path forks to the right and descends into a gorge (‘barranco’ in Swahili). There is a fair bit of ‘up and down’ walking today which can be quite tiring. Turning south-east towards the lava tower known as Shark’s Tooth, you reach Barranco Hut and your overnight campsite at 3950 metres. With luck you’ll enjoy a great sunset tonight!
This morning you will climb the Barranco Wall (not a technical climb) and then follow the Kibo South Circuit. Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo's southern glaciers if the weather is clear. There's a pleasant lunch stop by the river, in the Karanga Valley. This is a relatively short day, and you should arrive at your camp around lunchtime, located just after the Karanga Valley set atop a ridge. Today is a valuable acclimitisation day as you will be walking for the morning only and you will be ascending and descending various ridges and valleys during your walk.
From Karanga you head up to the intersection of the South Circuit and the Mweka route. Here you start climbing up a ridge for a further two hours to Barafu Hut, at 4600 metres. Barafu is Swahili for ‘ice’ and it can be very cold here at night. Once again you should arrive late lunchtime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt.
A long, hard day! Leaving your campsite between midnight and two am, the climb from Barafu to Stella Point is fairly steep. At Rebmann Glacier (4870m) you head north between Rebmann and Ratzel Glacier, where you may enjoy some stunning views. This brings you up to the crater rim just west of Stella Point (about six to seven hours), where you join the main trail for the last leg (about an hour) to the summit at Uhuru (5895m). You then head back down, via the Mweka route, where your tents will be pitched for the last time. The section from Uhuru down to Barafu (four hours) is scree (as on the way up), then you head down through the various vegetation zones, on a continual downhill, into Mweka which is located on the edge of the rainforest area (three to four hours). At an altitude of approx 3100 metres, its nice to have some 'air' to breathe!
From Mweka down to the park gate, is a three to four hour walk, through the rainforest, which may be slippery in patches. At the gate you can often buy beers (or from the villages on the way back), and then there’s a very short hike to the roadhead where you will be met by the vehicle and transferred back to the hotel for a swim, a beer, and a VERY welcome hot shower!! Celebrations at the Aisha hotel will, no doubt, continue into the evening!
This morning you will be met at the lodge by your private transfer vehicle and driven from Moshi to Arusha and on to Lake Manyara for a short game drive. This picturesque lake is home to large numbers of birds, including flamingos, and pelicans are often seen on the water or shore. In addition, the area is also known for its black-maned, tree-climbing lions that can be a highlight of any safari. Large herds of buffalo and elephant are also often sighted. We depart Lake Manyara for our camp for the next two nights is beautifully located on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. It is highly recommended to take time in the late afternoon to pause and take in this incredible vista, as the sun sets over the crater.
Today we explore the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater, widely regarded as a microcosm of natural habitats in Africa and often touted as a veritable Garden of Eden. Within this crater lies every type of ecosystem, including riverine forests, open plains, freshwater and alkaline lakes. Ngorongoro Crater is the remnants of an ancient volcano caldera, and within its 300 square kilometres is a remarkable concentration of wildlife. The scenery is spectacular as we descend almost 600 metres down to the crater floor. There is every chance of seeing considerable quantities and varieties of wildlife in this compact area, including the highly endangered black rhinoceros. In the afternoon we leave the crater and return to our tented camp for a second night. (National park regulations stipulate that vehicles are only allowed a maximum of six hours in Ngorongoro Crater.) The late afternoon can be spent relaxing at camp, enjoying the wonderful views.
The seemingly endless Serengeti Plains portray the essence of Africa. They are home to massive numbers of grazing animals and also various predators and the interaction between the many species often provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. Along the way we have the option to visit Olduvai Gorge - a site famous for the discovery of fossilised remains of pre-historic man. Our base in the Serengeti is an eco-friendly, atmospheric tented camp with a maximum of only 20 guests. Each spacious tent comes equipped with two beds, solar lighting and ensuite facilities. There is a large dining tent as well as a comfortable lounge area with a small reference library and bar. In the evenings, time is spent recounting the day's adventures around a safari campfire. A typical day sees us returning to camp during the hotter hours in the middle of the day, where we get to enjoy a hearty meal, relax and maybe take a siesta. Depending on wildlife movements and opportunities for sightings, our drive could sometimes be a continuous one that last all day and involves returning to our camp in the late afternoon.
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