TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS - SOUTHERN CIRCUIT

SAFARI CODE FAST01

FAST 01: 6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS: MT. KILIMANJARO MARANGU ROUTE

Day 1.
08:00 Meet the guide for orientation and complete gate formalities. With crew members join together to start the climbing. Walking of approximately 3 hours followed to Mandara Hut (2743m) from the gate. Dinner and overnight there.

Day 2.
08:00 Early After breakfast start trekking via Maundi Crater to Horombo Hut (3760 m). It's approximately 5 hours trekking to Horombo from Mandara for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 3.
08.00 After breakfast you ascend the past the last water point, travel to Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi approximately 5 hours walk to Kibo Hut (4730) for dinner and overnight.

Day 4.
00.00 Early start to the summit on the steep and heavy screen up to Gilmans Point (5681m) on the crater rim followed by Uhuru peak (5895m). It's about 7 hours. Descend to Horombo for dinner and overnight.

Day 5.
08.00 Descend to Marangu gate and meet with your driver back to accommodation place.

NOTE: Many trekkers choose to stay an extra day at Horombo Hut in order to acclimatize. This extra day allows trekker to rest with opportunity to Hike Mawenzi.

FAST 02: 6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS: MT. KILIMANJARO RONGAI ROUTE

Day 1.

08.00 After all formalities at the gate (1950 m) transfer from Marangu gate to Rongai. Trekking followed about 5 hours to first caves Camp (2600 m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 2.

08.00 Early after breakfast from Caves Camp followed by hiking of approximately 6 to 7 hours to Kilelewa Cave Camp (3600 m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 3.

08.00 After breakfast passing into the grassy steep slopes hiking approximately 4 to 5 hours to Mawenzi turn camp (4330 m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 4.

08.00 After breakfast continue with hiking on the east side of Kibo crossing the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo taking 4 to 5 hours to Kibo Hut (4700 m) for dinner.

Day 5.

00.00 Early time the attempt to Uhuru peak starts (5895 m) hiking approximately 8 hours to Uhuru peak and descend to Horombo Hut for dinner and Overnight.

Day 6.

08.00 From Horombo Hut after breakfast, you descend 6 hours passing Mandara Hut to the gate followed by transfer to the accommodation place.

FAST 03: 6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS: MT. KILIMANJARO UMBWE ROUTE

Day 1.

After breakfast, drive to Umbwe gate. The route follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forestry. The climb takes you along the Umbwe River. Arrive at Umbwe Cave Camp (2850m) which is about 6 hours walk from a starting point. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2.

After breakfast you leave the camp and shortly afterwards the forests ends. Above the sheer of the Breach wall appears and disappears as the afternoon mists roll up the Great Baranco. Arrive at Baranco camp (3900m) after around 6 hours walk. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3.

After breakfast, a short scramble to the top of the Great Barranco and then traverse over scree and ridges to the Karanga Valley (4000m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. After climbing out of the Karanga Valley the trail ascends a ridge to the Barafu Camp (4600m) after 6 hours walk. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4.

An early ascent to the rim of the Kibo Crater between Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers, the last section before the rim and sometimes can be snow-covered and an ice axe or ski poles are useful for balance. Further hour from here leads to Uhuru Peak where you can view Mount Meru to the West and Mawenzi Peak to the East. Then you start to descend to the Barafu Camp for rest and lunch before continuing down to camp at Mweka camp (3100m). Dinner and overnight.

Day 5.

After breakfast descend through a thick forest which will lead you to the park gate to find a waiting vehicle to take you back to your Hotel for a warm shower and rest.

FAST 04: 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS: MT. KILIMANJARO SHIRA - LONDOROSSI ROUTE

Day 1.

After breakfast transport across the Maasai Steppe to the trailhead in the Lemosho Glades. You start climbing through the forest to the first camp Forest camp 2700m. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2.

After breakfast start climbing through the forest, crossing the Hagenia zone. The of Kilimanjaro volcanic massif. The other two are Mawenzi and Kibo. Dinner and overnight at Shira camp 3300m.

Day 3.

After breakfast you climb cross the alpine heather zone, approaching the Kibo massif from the west to Heather camp 3750 m.

Day 4.

After breakfast you continue hiking, approaching the Alpine Desert Zone. Very few grasses survive like lichens and tussock and the temperate swings from tropical climate to freezing extremes, Lava Tower camp 4290 m.

Day 5.

From the area you have good view of Meru, Kibo Massif and the Western Breach the passage which we continue our climbing the following two days. Camp Arrow Glacier 4650 m.

Day 6.

The falling temperature persists; you continue climbing pass through Western Breach, taking non-technical ascent route climbing slowly for six hours. Famous snows of Kilimanjaro cover the passage, traverse a crater before reaching the next camp Summit Crater camp

Day 7.

Now we have only 2 hours and 10 minutes hiking to the crater summit and finally up to Uhuru Summit, 5895m the Roof of Africa, free outstanding mountain in the world. You reach this point in good time to enjoy the sun rising before descending through Mweka route to Mweka camp 3150m, dinner and overnight.

Day 8.

From Mweka camp you continue descending to Mweka gate and further transport to your hotel for warm bath and dinner.

Note: Either Mweka or Marangu routes can be used for descent, either Horombo Hut or Mweka Camp may be reached in a further 6 hours from the Summit allowing for a short lunch stop and rest at either the Barafu or Kibo Hut.
NB: From the Lava Tower to Mweka via Uhuru will take at least 14 hours starting at 2 am at the latest.

FAST 05: 6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS: MT. KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO ROUTE

Day 1.

After breakfast, drive to Londorossi Park gate (2250 m, 2 hours). You need a 4WD vehicle to Lemosho Glades (2100 m, 11 km, 45 minutes) a point where you can camp. Walk along the forest trail to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsites (2750 m) It is 3 hours from the Lemosho Glades. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2.

After breakfast walk in a gradually steepness and enter the giant heather Moorland zone. Walk passes several streams to the Shira Ridge at about 3600 m and descends gently down to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau (3500 m) it is almost 5 hours.

Day 3.

A gentle walk across the Plateau leads to Shira 2 camp (3850 m) on Moorland meadows by a stream. It is 1.5 hours walk. Dinner and overnight. There are a variety of walks on the Plateau making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Day 4.

Walk and leave the moorland and the rocky path leads to Lava Tower where you can camp at the height of 4600m, 4 hours. A strong group may decide to go on the steep screen path to the site of the Arrow Glacier camp where there are poor campsites (4800 m, 5.5 hours)

Day 5.

From the Lava Tower or Arrow Glacier camp, there are steep screen and outcrops requiring scrambling to get to the Western Breach to the Crater floor. The route can become icy sometimes so you may need ice axe or ski pole. You can camp anywhere in the Crater floor (5700 m, 4.5 to 6 hours) or in a further 2 hours Uhuru Peak can be reached.

Day 6.

After breakfast, descend to the Marangu or Mweka gate which is approximately 6 hours. After reaching the park gate you find a waiting vehicle to take you back to your Hotel.