TREKKING

Featuring - Mt. Kilimanjaro | Mt. Meru | Ngorongoro Highlands | ’Ol Doinyo Lengai

Check also Cultural Tourism Trips to the Usambara Mountains

Kilimanjaro routes and other treks

6-day Machame route
5-day Marangu route
6-day Rongai route
5-day Umbwe route
7-day Shira route
3-day Mt. Meru trekking
’Ol Doinyo Lengai hike
Ngorongoro Highlands trekking

Kilimanjaro mountain is the highest point of Africa standing at three peaks,Kibo which is 5895 metres, Mawenzi 5749 meters, Shira 4160 meters, the mountain is awesome spectacle,but climbing it is achievable by anyone who is determined and reasonably fit.

There is a number of routes to climb the mountain, of which we recommend four. The Rongai and Marangu are the easiest, while Machame and Shira provide more enduring walk while ascending.

The journey to the roof of the mountain takes at least five days and is best attempted during Tanzania's dry seasons - July through September and January through March.

The dry, warm months from mid-December to March and the dry, but cooler months from June to October are generally the best times to trek on the mountain as the weather is normally more favourable with less rain and snow. November is a little more unpredictable and you can have some beautiful sunny days followed by some very poor weather.

The months of April and May should be avoided as it can be very wet with heavy snow and therefore also very cold. The views tend to be that much clearer after the end of the rains as the dust in the air has been swept away, although the views on clear days are breathtaking throughout the year. It should be noted that weather patterns are changing throughout the world and becoming less predictable, so it is important that you come prepared for poor weather on the mountain at any time of the year.

Please contact us for a full information pack with details of our standards of service on the mountain including staff welfare, accommodation, food and general conditions on the mountain.

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Mount Meru is approximately 4615 meters above sea level. It does provide a climb that is spectacular. Actually this mountain is steeper than most of Kilimanjaro.

Meru was at one time, taller than Kilimanjaro until it blew it's top some 250 thousand years ago. This huge explosion left behind a huge caldera with a jagged rim.

The walks are through forest and woodlands that offer an immense variety of wildlife such as monkeys, elephants, buffalo, giraffe and warthog.

Ngorongoro Highlands

Ndutu Woodlands: Acacia trees, resident giraffes, impalas and elephants in the dry season

Mount Oldeani: Forested crater

Lake Natron: Engaresero river gorge, breeding flamingos in the soda lake and rift cliffs.

Empakaai Crater: No roads and no human inhabitants, a crater which contains forests and a deep lake, where flocks of flamingos can be spotted. The cardera is six kilometers wide and the lake occupies nearly half of its floor. The scenery is spectacular at every point. From the northern and eastern side you can look out to the dramatic cone of Oldonyo Lengai, the Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron. On the valleys eastern side you might see the snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro. It is possible to camp on the rim and hike into the crater with an armed ranger.

Olmoti crater: This shallow grassy crater is the source of the Munge river, which pours through a north in the rim in a spectacular waterfall on its way to Ngorongoro crater. Participate in a pleasant walk from Nainokanoka ranger post, through the forest up to the top of the waterfall.

Oldoinyo Lengai: An active volcano, with the possibility of climbing to the very top of the crater. Adventurous visitors sometimes struggle up its steep slopes to visit the steaming, bubbling crater, but most prefer to view its symmetrical cone from a distance. Oldoinyo Lengai is the Maasai language for "Mountain of God".

Lerai Forest: "Lerai" is a Maasai word for yellow barked acacia or fever tree. The small forest patches on the crater floor, are homes to monkeys, baboons, bushbucks, waterbucks, elephants and rhinos. A picnic site with ablution facilities is located in this forest.

Lake Makat: This soda lake is filled by the Munge river. It is a great attraction for flamingoes and other water birds which come to feed here. Predators hide in the marsh to ambush the large animals that come to drink from the pools and river. In the severe dry season the lake often dries up completely.

Olkarien Gorge: The dramatic cliffs of this narrow gorge in the Gol mountains are the breeding site for hundreds of Ruppell's Griffon Vulture during the rains. In the dry season, the Maasai bring their cattle into the gorge to drink.

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MACHAME ROUTE

6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS

Day I: Pick up client from the Hotel transfer to the gate and start walking through mountain forest to Machame hut 3000m for Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: After breakfast slowly trekking the path leads up through steep rocky enjoy superb views of Shira Plateau and land below also you will see Mt. Meru another exiting volcano on the South western direction dinner and overnight Shira Hut (3840m).

Day 3: Depart Shira in the morning taking the path which rises up gradually towards the Kibo dome, after reaching the wedge Buttress point the path drop down to the Baranco Hut dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Leave slowly crossing the floor of the great Baranco Valley and up to the Baranco Valley and up to the Baranco wall, continue the trek on the South Circuit path through the Karanga Valley. (Last water point – Karanga river) then slowly trek to Barafu Hut (4600m). From Barafu you will have excellent views of Kibo dome and Mawenzi peak dinner and overnight Barafu hut.

Day 5: Early mid night start to conquer the highest point in Africa. This section of the route is very steep and is considered the steepest on the non-technical path on this mountain between 4 – 7 hours to the peak (5896m) whereby is one hours from stella point (5700m). Then descend down to Mweka hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: This easy day walking to Mweka gate where you the car transfer you to your hotel.

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MARANGU ROUTE

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Day 1: 8.00 a.m pick clients from the hotel and drive to Marangu gate then start walk through a thick rain forest which takes four hours to Mandara Hut 2750 m for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: After breakfast proceed walk slowly following a trek through the forest and then through the savanna bush to Horombo Hut (3,489m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: A hard days climb to Kibo Hut 4703 m 6 – 7 hours crossing the barren sub-Alpine terrain of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Needed to relax on arrival as the next stage begins shortly after midnight, this fall on day 5.

Day 4: Making a very early start to around 1.00a.m, follow the zig zag path up the screen stopping frequently to catch your breath in this starlit air. This is the steepest and most demanding section of the climb, five hours to Gillmans point 5681m to and most to see sunrise behind Mawenzi, Illuminating plain. Then walk further 45 minutes around the crater and up to the highest point UHURU peak the summit of Africa.

Day 5: It is much easier day as we have luxury of walking downhill on the way to the waiting vehicle at Marangu gate for transfer to your Hotel(Arusha / Moshi.)

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RONGAI ROUTE

6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS

Day 1: An early start with a drive to Rombo gate. Trek for 3-4 hours to the first cave for dinner and overnight. First cave (2700 m)

Day 2: Trek to the second cave for lunch and onwards to Kikelewa cave on the Mawenzi trail for overnight. This takes about 6-7 hours. Kikelewa cave (3600 m)

Day 3: The day is spent trekking to Mawenzi Tarn hut for overnight. Mawenzi Tarn (4330 m)

Day 4: A day of trekking across the saddle to School Camp. This takes about 4-5 hours. School Camp (4750 m)

Day 5: Just after midnight start for the summit via Gillman's point (5700m) for 6-7 hours to Uhuru peak (5895m) - the highest point in Africa! The descent takes about 5-6 hours to Horombo hut campsite for overnight.Horombo Camp (3807 m)

Day 6: The day is spent descending to Marangu gate, this takes 6 hours or so, where you will be met and transferred to Arusha.

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UMBWE ROUTE

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Day 1: After a pre departure briefing, depart for Umbwe gate. Begin the trek through the rain forest to the Forest caves for dinner and overnight. (13km for about 5 hours) Forest Caves (2850 m)

Day 2: After breakfast, continue your trek past the glacier streams to the Barranco Camp, this is about 5km in 4 hours. An extra day here is recommended for acclimatization. Barranco Camp (3950 m)

Day 3: Trek to the Arrow Glacier hut for a distance of 5km in 6 hours. Dinner and overnight. Arrow Glacier (5100 m)

Day 4: After midnight, begin the final ascent (3km, 6-7 hours) to Uhuru peak (5895m) - the highest point in Africa!. After a short rest descend to Mweka Camp for overnight. This will be a distance of 12km at around 6-7 hours. Mweka Camp (3100 m)

Day 5: After a good nights rest and breakfast, descend to the Mweka gate (10km, 4 hours) where you will be met and transferred to Arusha.

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SHIRA ROUTE

A longer, challenging and scenic route on Kilimanjaro. This is a less popular as the trach leading to Shira hut is a longer one and not in every good condition.On the acclimatization day at Shira ,one can either stay at Shira Hut taking short walks in the area or depending on the weather condition,

Trek along the edge of the Shira Plateau to the Shira cathedral & Shira needle. This takes about 7-8hrs return

2.ASCENT VIA ARROW GLACIER 6NIGHTS 7 DAYS

Day	Trek Time	Distance In km.	Destination	Accommodation	Altitude above sea level	Notes
1.	2-3hrs	6km.	Londoros	Camping	2250m
2.	4-5hrs	8km.	Wilderness	Camping	3800m
3.	2hrs	3km.	Shira Hut	Camping	3840m
4.			Shira Hut	Camping	3840m	Aclimatizati on day at Shira Hut
5.	5-6hrs	8km.	Lava Tower	Camping	4620m
6.	5-7hrs	6km.	Uhuru Peak	Camping At Mweka hut 3100m	5895m	Start 1:00am. for Uhuru descend to Mweka hut 3100m 6-7hrs 12km.
7.	4-6hrs	15km.	Mweka Gate	overnight hotel Town	END

3.ASCENT ARROW GLACIER 5 NIGHTS 6 DAYS

The same as the above day 1-3

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Meru routes
3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

Day I: 9:00 leave Arusha for Momella gate where trek starts. On the way stop over for gate watching at Serengeti Ndogo. From Momella gate (altitude 1500m) ascend to Miriakamba hut (altitude 2500m) takes 3hours.

Day 2: From Miriakamba hut ascend to Saddle hut takes 4hours (3500m). Afternoon trek to the summit of little Meru (3820m) takes 45minutes. Then down to the rhino point. Dinner and overnight Saddle hut.

Day 3: 3:00 a.m from Saddle hut ascend to the summit of Mt. Meru (4565m) and walk around the rim of Meru Crater. Then return to Saddle hut for breakfast across alpine desert. Lunch on the way down you find car at Momella gate wait and drive back to Arusha.

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Ngorongoro Highlands to Lake Natron

7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS

DAY 1: Depart Arusha for Ngorongoro - Hike to Nainokanoka village ( 28kms, 5 hours) Descend into the Olmoti crater for a morning tour, with lunch inside the crater. In the afternoon, walk the rim of the Olmoti crater and visit the Munge waterfalls before returning to the camp for dinner and overnight
DAY 2: Olmoti crater - Kamnana village (20kms, 6 hours). Depart for Kamnana village, walking through the Embulimbuli Depression following the cattle trails which pass through forests and grasslands. Your overnight camp is set in the bush some distance from the village.

DAY 3: Damnana village - Empakaai crater (8 kms, 4-5 hours) Early departure. Start walking following the path which leads trough open grassland area, bushland area and forests, gradually gaining height to the rim of the Empakaai crater. Camp is set on the rim, before descending into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial forests, grass and volcanic lake. Animals like buffaloes, redbucks, waterbucks and different species of birds can be seen at close range during the walk around the lake. Overnight camp at the crater rim.

DAY 4: Empakaai crater - Naiyobi Maasai village (5 kms, 7 hours) Depart for Naiyobi village circling the crater rim, descend on the northwestern side.

DAY 5: Nayiobi village - Mounwongoni village (11kms, 6-8 hours) Depart in the morning following the dusty paths downhill and off the crater highlands to Muowongoni Maasai village. Overnight camp at the edge of the village.

DAY 6: Mounwongoni village - Ngarasero village (7-9 hours) Leave in the morning before the sun is hot to follow the winding path across bare volcanic rocks and dusty lava soil. The path rounding the north-western floor of the active Mt. Lengai crosses river Ngarasero to the nearby village. Camp is set near the river and a bath here is very refreshing. Early morning between 1200.am and 01.00 am your transfer vehicle drives you to the foot of Mt. Lengai to start the trek to the peak at 2878 (4-6 hours difficult hiking up, additional 2-3 hours down)

DAY 7: Lake Natron - Arusha (375 kms, 5-6 hours drive) Descend from the mountain at about 9.00am or 10.00am. Relax until lunch, then tour Lake Natron by vehicle. Return to Arusha.

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ADD-ON ROUTE

Ol’ Doinyo Lengai / Lake Natron

2 DAYS / 1 NIGHTS

*Note: This route is usually combined with a safari or Ngorongoro Highland trek, but can be done on its own also. Please contact us for further details.

DAY 1: Depart Arusha for Ol’ Doinyo base camp ( 5 or 6 hour drive - mainly on rough roads). Camp will be setup and after lunch you have the option of visiting a waterfall nearby. Relaxation and preparation for the climb ahead will follow. After dinner you can rest >>

DAY 2: At 12.00am or 1.00am you will be transferred to the base of the mountain and begin your ascent (4-6 hours). After exploring the volcanic crater and enyoying the sunrise you will descent (2-3 hours). After breakfast at camp you may rest. When you are ready we depart for Lake Natron for a driving and walking tour. Drive back to Arusha will follow.

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