Kilimanjaro/Kenya/Safari – Trekking, Rock Climbing, and Tours

General overview

We offer a combined expedition on Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro plus safari in one extraordinary program, climb the two highest mountains in Africa together and explore East Africa on a “mountain safari”. Alternatively, you can choose to trek on Mt Kilimanjaro trek or climb / trek Mt Kenya.

Africa Program: Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and safari combines various mountain and safari travel at a reasonable price, allowing you to experience the best of Africa in just 19 days.

Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 metres/19,340 feet. We hike an easy and beautiful 9-day trek that offers something for everyone and is a rare opportunity to reach the summit on the uncrowded Umbwe walking route. During the trek and climb, our experienced guide is with you all of the way. Our skilful cooks prepare delicious, fresh food and hot drinks at least three times a day. Friendly and helpful porters carry all of your personal equipment, and group equipment, and set up camp each day so you can relax and enjoy the trip.

The trek is a beautiful walk to Africa’s highest summit. Kilimanjaro is on the equator with warm temperatures and is very accomplishable for the average person who enjoys hiking. The path we have chosen is off the beaten track, providing ample time to explore the mountain, the variety of foliage, and wildlife. Normally, you never step on snow, and there is no climbing, only walking on easy trails.

Mount Kenya, is the second-highest peak in Africa at 5,199 meters/17,057 feet. It is off the beaten tourist track and provides eight days of pristine trekking, optional rock-climbing, and exploration. During the trek and climb, our experienced guide is with you all of the way. Our skilful cooks prepare delicious, fresh food and hot drinks at least three times a day. Friendly and helpful porters carry all of your personal equipment group equipment, and set up camp each day, so you can relax and enjoy the trip.

The trek is a unique and moderate summit circuit on easy trails. You do not have to walk on snow, and the views of the high alpine scenery are superb.

The optional rock climb is perhaps the best climb in all of Africa. Climb 16 to 22 pitches on excellent rock. Most of the climb is moderate scrambling. There are a few technical moves, but the steep sections are short. You should be able to follow grades up to North American 5.7, British Severe, UIAA (French) 5, and Australian 14.

We offer a variety of customised safari add-on options for Mount Kilimanjaro: 1/2 days Arusha, 2/3 days Ngorongoro or five days Serengeti/Ngorongoro.
Also, if you are climbing Mt Kenya, then our Amboseli safari is a good combination.

Itinerary

Day 1 –  Arrival in Tanzania. You will be greeted by our staff at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. From there we will provide transportation directly to the hotel.

Day 2 –  Kilimanjaro Trek – Rongai Camp. Breakfast and team briefing. From the hotel or lodge, a private bus takes you through a region of lush vegetation, coffee, and banana plantations to the north side of Kilimanjaro. The journey continues through the forest area to Nale Moru, the starting point for the climb. A narrow path along the corn and potato fields leads into forests and with a bit of luck, we can observe wild animals there. Finally, we leave the forest area and reach the camp at the transition from the woodland to the moorland near the first Rongai cave.

Day 3 – Kilimanjaro Trek – Kikelewa Camp – The path leads evenly up to the second Rongai cave (3,450m / 11,320 ft) and small caves appear again and again in the landscape formed by lava flows. After lunch, we leave the main trail and walk through moorlands towards Mawenzi. Finally, we reach the camp near Kikelewa Caves (3rd cave).  Lunch on the way to Kilimanjaro on Rongai Route

Day 4 – Kilimanjaro Trek – Mawenzi Tarn – We have a short, but steep climb that will take us to our camp near Mawenzi Tarn. Grass-covered slopes lead into a high alpine and almost vegetation-free-zone. The fantastic panoramic view rewards the effort of the ascent: We camp at a small lake at the foot of the dominating rock formations of the Mawenzi “the dark” (5,149 m / 16,893 ft), the small neighbor of Kibo “the light” (5,895 m / 19,341 ft), respectively the second-highest and highest peaks of Kilimanjaro.

Day 5 – Rest day at Mawenzi Tarn – Day five provides an opportunity to relax at our beautiful campsite and acclimatize. If you feel the mountain calling, we will be happy to offer you short hiking options that you can take from camp. These hikes provide some truly stunning views of Mawenzi.

Day 6 – Kilimanjaro Trek – School Hut / Kibo Hut – A desert-like plain, reminiscent of a lunar landscape, leads over the saddle between Mawenzi and Kilimanjaro to the next camp at School Hut. In the afternoon, all gear for the following day will be prepared and everything will be set up. Then, after an early dinner it’s an early night in order to be rested and ready for the summit ascent shortly after midnight.

Day 7 – Kilimanjaro Ascent – Summit! – Off to the Summit: At midnight it’s time to get up and hit the trail. In the light of the headlamp, we set off as a group at a common pace. You will be accompanied by the local guides and the expedition leader, all in radio contact with each other and our support team. In this way, individual groups can be formed if necessary, ascending at their own pace. The terrain leads over a gravel path and becomes steeper towards the top to reach Gilman’s Point ( 5,685 m / 18,652 ft). From here, you will have to hike along the summit plateau’s outer crater rim, where the terrain is forgiving and flat to reach the highest point in all of Africa!

Day 8 – Kilimanjaro Trek – Descent – Back at Marangu Gate we sign out the visitors’ record logbook. It is time to say goodbye to guides and porters. You thank them for the guidance, care, and support with a tip, provided you are satisfied with their contribution. Afterward, we drive to the hotel. For your summit success, you will be rewarded with a certificate from the National Park. The afternoon and evening remain for us to relax and celebrate.

Day 9 – Flight home or onward journey – We say our goodbyes and depart for our respective destinations. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and flight home

Mt. Kenya:

• Day 1 – Arrive in Nairobi and drive to the hotel
• Day 2 – Full day to relax, tour of Nairobi (national park, Bomas), last purchases (snacks etc.) and climbing training. Dinner with orientation and meeting all group participants
• Days 3 and 4 – trek to Mount Kenya
• Days 5 and 6 – Climbing Mount Kenya
  • Winter: We climb to the Austrian Hut and from there we can climb the Point Lenana (4985m).
  • Summer: From Shipton’s Camp we can do a training tour or try the Batian ascent.
• Day 7 – Climb the Batian, 5199m, 17,057’. We get up early in the morning to be at the start of the route at the first sunlight.
• Day 8 – Descent

Good to know

Leadership

Guides: We have highly experienced and friendly African guides to support us along our trek and optional rock climb, as well as safaris. These trustworthy and helpful professionals are there to assist the group on the approach trek and on the mountains, make sure everyone is enjoying themselves, and support us safely to our destinations.

Experience and tranining

Extensive experience is not required for trekking Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, or participating in the safari. The most important thing is for members to be in adequate walking fitness.

If you plan to participate in the optional rock climb on Mt. Kenya, you should be able climb North American 5.7, British Severe, UIAA (French) 5, or Australian 14. You do not need to be expert (although some members are) and are not required to lead any of the 16 to 22 pitches we will be climbing unless you would prefer to.