Ladies Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

You will be met at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and will be driven to our hotel for some relaxation and pool time after a long flight. Please ensure you arrive before 12 midday. If your flight is after this, then we can discuss a private transfer. We can also discuss arriving a day earlier and suggest an airport hotel for the night.

We will be staying at the lovely Arusha Planet Lodge which is just 45 mins from the airport.

Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge (or similar) (D)

MEALS INCLUDED: Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft 
•Distance: 11 km 
•Hiking Time: 5-7 hours 
•Habitat: Rain Forest

The day will begin after breakfast. You’ll be driven to Kilimanjaro National Park entrance at the Machame Park Gate (5,400 ft) which takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Here you’ll register with the Park Service. As you grab your gear, the porters and guides will weigh all the equipment.

We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge.

This forest shelters a variety of wildlife, including the blue monkey. Despite its name, the blue monkey is not noticeably blue, it is mainly olive or grey apart from the face. Typical sizes range from 19 to 26 inches in length. The tail is that long as well.

The forest begins to thin out at the edge of the moorland zone. The trees begin to open up which gives you expansive views of the plains far below. Finally, you’ll arrive at Machame Camp (9,800 ft) and camp for the night.

Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

•Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft 
•Distance: 5 km 
•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours 
•Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. You’ll leave the rainforest behind as you enter the Moorland zone. From this vantage point, you’ll have amazing views of Kibo. The route now turns west onto a river gorge.

Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft 
•Distance: 10 km 
•Hiking Time: 6-8 hours 
•Habitat: Semi Desert

Today begins with a gentle ascent along a distinct trail surrounded by panoramic views. The trail ascends above the Moorland zone and continues through the lava ridges beneath the glaciers above.

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft 
•Distance: 5 km 
•Hiking Time: 4-5 hours 
•Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, The morning starts with a very steep 800 foot climb up the Barranco Wallto the Karanga Valley campsite. It is not as scary as it looks from below. Just follow the guide’s lead and you’ll easily reach the top in a few short hours. Once at the top you’ll take a break and get some jaw-dropping shots of the valley below. From here the terrain changes to scree with pockets of lush vegetation sheltered in the rocks.

This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft 
•Distance: 4 km 
•Hiking Time: 4-5 hours 
•Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft) 
•Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent 
•Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent 
•Habitat: Arctic

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

•Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft 
•Distance: 10 km 
•Hiking Time: 3-4 hours 
•Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. It’s time to celebrate – the realisation hits as we have just achieved our first climb together!

We will celebrate in the evening with a delicious meal together at Arusha Planet Lodge

Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge (or similar) (BLD)

MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today we say goodbye to our new found friends and we head home, or onwards to your next destination. After breakfast, we’ll pack up and head back to Kilimanjaro airport, where we’ll drop you off at the airport for your flight home. We hope you’ve had an unforgettable adventure with us and that you’ll take home memories that will last a lifetime. The trip will finish at Kilimanjaro Airport.

OR YOU CAN GO ON SAFARI!!!

Day 9: 25th June – Treat yourself with a pool day, read a book or book a massage – or do all three!

Free day at Planet Lodge Arusha to relax by the pool with a book or you could treat yourself to a massage!

Meals: B,D & L

Day 10: 26th June – Drive to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast meet & greet at hotel and drive to Tarangire National Park where you will encounter your first game drive.

This park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa with several herds of up to 300 members per herd. In addition, there are large numbers of impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, Bohor reedbuck, Coke’s hartebeest, Thompson’s gazelle, the greater and lesser kudu and on rare occasions, the unusual gerenuk and fringe –eared Oryx are also seen. A few black rhinos are also thought to be still present in this park. You will see big numbers of elephants gather here as well as the wildebeests and zebras. Among the other common animals in the Tarangire are the leopards, lions, hyenas, and cheetah.

Lunch at Tarangire Safari lodge

PM resume game drive

Sundowners, dinner and overnight at Maweninga Lodge.

Maweninga Lodge is perched on the top of a massive granitic rock, the camp has a privileged location within Tarangire National Park. There are breath taking views from the tents & the dining area  – it really is stunning.

Meals: B,D & L

Day 11: 27th June – Game drive in Tarangire National Park then head towards the Ngorogoro Crater

Early morning game drive in Tarangire National Park then make our way towards the Ngorogoro Crater.  Lunch at Bashay. PM at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Bashay Rift Lodge

Bashay Rift Lodge is built on top of a hill. In the heart of a coffee plantation, the lodge enjoy a breath taking view (360 °) on the region extending the Ngorongoro foothills to the edges of the Rift Valley (Lake Eyasi).

Meals: B,D & L

Day 12: 28th June – Full days game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, a full day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater with a special bush lunch.

Dinner and Overnight at Bashay.

The Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. Within the rim there are an estimated 30,000 animals, making this one of the densest concentration of wildlife within Africa.  With a permanent water source, rhino, elephant, hyaena, wild dog, black maned lion and leopard can be seen here as well as large herds of zebra graze on the grasslands that cover the crater floor, alongside wildebeest, gazelle, eland and buffalo.

Meals: B,D & L

Day 13: 29th June – Now it really is time to head home

After breakfast drive back to Arusha with a gorgeous final lunch at Arumeru Lodge before transferring to the airport.

Meals: B & L