Itinerary
ARRIVAL DAY 1 | JAN 26
- At the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Trek2Kili representative. Once you land at Kilimanjaro Airport, a Trek2Kili team member(s) will be there holding a sign with your names. Then they’ll take you to the hotel.
- If you have any issues, you can call the 24/7 Trek2Kili phone number, which is for Azizi Msuya, the Trek2Kili owner (& a Kili guide): +255673360715. Note: there is free Wi-Fi in the airport.
- You’ll be transferred for overnight accommodation at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (4-star boutique hotel). Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.
DAY 1 | JAN 27: LONDROSSI GATE – MTI MKUBWA CAMP
- 4.8km /3mi | 3-4 hrs | Rainforest
- Elevation: 2389m/7838ft to 2785m/9137ft
- Altitude gained: 396m
Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through welcoming mountainside villages to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
DAY 2 | JAN 28: MTI MKUBWA CAMP - SHIRA I CAMP
- 7.9km/5mi | 4-6hrs | Moorland
- Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft
- Altitude gained: 719m
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, we leave the forest behind now, the trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Temperatures begin to drop.
DAY 3 | JAN 29: SHIRA I CAMP –SHIRA HUT
- 6.9km/4.3mi | 5-7hrs | Moorland
- Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft
- Altitude gained: 391m
We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.
Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
DAY 4 | JAN 30: SHIRA HUT - LAVA TOWER - BARRANCO CAMP
- 10.1km/6.3mi | 4-6hrs | Semi Desert
- Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft
- Altitude gained: 91m
Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards Kibo peak before we continue, South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to a second junction, which leads to Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend & overnight at Barranco Camp.
DAY 5 | JAN 31: BARRANCO CAMP - KARANGA CAMP
- 5.2km/3mi | 4-5hrs | Alpine Desert
- Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft
- Altitude gained: 48m
After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects, with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears such ease. Overnight at Karanga Camp.
DAY 6 | FEB 1: HIKE KARANGA CAMP - BARAFU CAMP
- 3.3km /2 mi | 4-5hrs | Alpine Desert
- Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
- Altitude gained: 628m
We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.
DAY 7 | FEB 2: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT
- 4.86km /3mi up | 5-7hrs | - MWEKA CAMP: 13km /8mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit
- Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
- Altitude gained: 1233m
- Descent to 3106m/10,190ft
- Altitude lost: 2789m
Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers trying to stay warm and focused of the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all
the way.
Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.
DAY 8 | FEB 3: MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE – MOSHI
- 9.1km/6mi |3-4hrs | Rainforest
- Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
- Altitude lost: 1473m
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel.
The next morning, Feb 4, the safari and Zanzibar portion of the trip begins.
SAFARI (NGORONGORO & SERENGETI) AND ZANZIBAR
February 4-12, 2020
Hoopoe is the name of your safari company. Hoopoe is a boutique, eco-friendly safari company providing specialized and tailor-made experiences supporting respectful & authentic community and protective wildlife interactions along the way. The conservation of wildlife, flora & fauna is a keystone of Hoopoe., who is a a pioneer in community partnered tourism – building local partnerships, employing local people and assisting with community-development projects.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day Location Overnight
1 [total 9] NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA AUTHORITY SANCTUARY NGORONGORO CRATER CAMP
2 [total 10] NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA AUTHORITY SANCTUARY NGORONGORO CRATER CAMP
3 [total 11] NDUTU AREA KIRURUMU SERENGETI NDUTU CAMP
4 [total 12] NDUTU AREA KIRURUMU SERENGETI NDUTU CAMP
5 [total 13] NDUTU AREA KIRURUMU SERENGETI NDUTU CAMP
6 [total 14] ZANZIBAR ISLAND DHOW PALACE HOTEL
7 [total 15] ZANZIBAR ISLAND DHOW PALACE HOTEL
8 [total 16] ZANZIBAR ISLAND DHOW PALACE HOTEL
Itinerary Details
February 4, 2020 | Day 1 | Tuesday
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel by a Hoopoe Safaris representative and later embark on a private safari to Lake Manyara National Park. On arrival at Manyara gate, you’ll begin to enjoy a game drive through its lush groundwater forest where you might even see its famous tree-climbing lions. The Lake is famous for its flamingos pelicans storks and shorebirds. During the game drive you’ll understand why this is where part of “Out of Africa” was filmed. Picnic lunch en route. Late afternoon depart the park and drive to Ngorongoro arriving at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Camp for sundowners dinner and overnight.
February 5, 2020 | Day 2 | Wednesday
After breakfast and taking picnic lunches descend into the crater floor where you will spend a remarkable full day in one of the most phenomenal places in Africa. See some of the worlds largest elephant large prides of lion big herds of plains animals like zebra and wildebeest. The Crater is the last place in Africa where free-ranging black rhino are usually seen by visitors. Picnic lunch en route. Early evening ascend to the rim and return to Sanctuary Ngorongoro Camp for dinner and overnight.
February 6, 2020 | Day 3 | Thursday
Enjoy breakfast at the Camp before departing for Ndutu driving via the Endulen route with an option of stopping by the Laetoli Archaeological Site to see the hominid footprints that are 3.6 million years old. One of the best preserved protohominid found in the world and demonstrating early bipedalism. Arrive at the Camp for lunch. Afternoon spent game viewing around the Ndutu Area in search of the migration. Early evening return to the Kirurumu Serengeti Ndutu Camp for dinner and overnight.
February 7, 2020 | Day 4 | Friday
Full day spent on a game drives exploring around the Ndutu Area and the southern plains of Serengeti where normally at this time of the year millions of wildebeest zebra and a vast assortment of other plains animals congregate to feast on the rich nutritious grasses that appear after the rainy season. There is no other as impressive or dramatic wildlife spectacle on earth. During your daily game-drives you’ll witness the annual ancient drama of life and death in this wilderness. All meals and overnight at the Kirurumu Serengeti Ndutu Camp.
February 8, 2020 | Day 5 | Saturday
Another full day spent exploring around the Ndutu Area either taking picnic lunches or returning to the camp for lunch. You will also get to experience a short guided walk escorted by a ranger during one of the mornings around the Ndutu Area. All meals and overnight at Kirurumu Serengeti Ndutu Camp.
February 9, 2020 | Day 6 | Sunday
After breakfast you will be transferred to Ndutu Airstrip enjoy a short game drive en route. You will arrive at the Airstrip in time to check in for a Coastal Air schedule flight departing for Zanzibar at 1045hrs. On arrival you will be personally met by our representative and transferred to Stone Town for hotel check-in. The afternoon will be a guided tour of Stone Town. Return to the hotel to freshen up and then later escorted to the Emerson on Hurumzi for sundowners dinner at the rooftop restaurant. Return to Dhow Palace for overnight stay.
February 10, 2020 | Day 7 | Monday
Enjoy a full day in Zanzibar. Relax on the beach or go exploring. Day at leisure with meals on own arrangement. Overnight at the Dhow Palace.
February 11, 2020 | Day 8 | Tuesday
Enjoy a full day in Zanzibar. Relax on the beach or go exploring. Day at leisure with meals on own arrangement. Overnight at the Dhow Palace.
February 12, 2020 | Day 9 | Wednesday
Departure day! Flight leaves Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, main airport in Zanzibar. Arrange taxi through the hotel. About 15-minute drive to the airport.