Suggested Itinerary
DAY 1 Depart UK
We depart in the evening from London Heathrow Airport
for our flight to Nairobi.
DAY 2 Arrive Nairobi
On arrival into Nairobi Airport we are met by our guides
and drive north for three hours to the delightful Naro
Moru River Lodge in Nanyuki district, an excellent place
to relax and unwind from the long flight and travelling.
The lodge is a former British colonial residence with
charming riverside gardens and wooden chalets. There
is an abundance of colourful wildlife in the adjacent
forests, and in the evening we can sip our gin and tonics,
sitting out on the beautifully manicured lawns or in
the well-stocked bar adjacent to its open-air swimming
pool.
DAY 3 Begin trek
to Old Moses Camp
After breakfast we drive north across the Equator to
Mount Kenya National Park. There is a monument of sorts
on the Equator and we can have our photographs taken
standing with one leg in the northern hemisphere and
one leg in the southern. At Sirimon park gates we register
with the Rangers and meet our crew of porters who will
accompany us for the next few days. The initial part
of the trail follows a good track through dense forests
alive with birdsong and the sounds of noisy Colubus
monkeys. Elephants also inhabit these parts, but they
are rare these days and we will be lucky to see one.
We emerge on the edge of the forest where it joins the
moorland zone, and reach our campsite at Judmeier, also
known as Old Moses Camp (3340m).
DAY 4 Trek to Liki
North Hut
The route begins to climb quite steadily now so although
today’s walk is relatively short, we will be gaining
altitude more rapidly now and it is important not to
proceed too quickly. We trek across gentle moorland
slopes passing under ‘the Barrow’ to reach
our overnight stop at Liki North Hut (3900m). We should
be at the camp by mid afternoon, allowing for an exploratory
hike into the surrounding wilderness area.
DAY 5 Trek to
Shiptons Hut
In the morning we complete our trek up to Shiptons hut.
Although not far in distance we are now at an altitude
of 4200 metres. We stop here and our staff will put
up the camp. Meanwhile we will take a packed lunch and
go for a long acclimatisation hike. Our objective will
be Mintos Hut and tarn (4200m). Although at the same
height as Shiptons Hut, there is much ascent and descent
between the two, making this ideal territory for an
acclimatisation hike. In addition from Mintos we get
great views down into the deep corrie of Lake Michaelson.
In the afternoon we return to our camp at Shiptons hut.
DAY 6 Across Huasberg
Col to the American Camp
Today is one of the most interesting on the whole Mount
Kenya section of the trek. We climb up from Shiptons
huts and cross the rocky Hausberg Col. This is not a
particularly high pass but with renewed altitude gain
it can feel like hard work. We traverse around the summit
pyramid of Mount Kenya along a delightful narrow path
which eventually brings us past small glacial lakes
and out by Two Tarn Hut. This rudimentary but famous
climbers bivouac sits dramatically beneath the Diamond
Couloir and is a great spot for us to stop and have
lunch. We then cross a low grassy ridge and descend
a long slope down to the flat valley which is American
Camp. From high up on the ridge we will be able to look
down on the camp, hopefully which our staff will already
have established ahead of us.
DAY 7 Climb Mount
Kenya
We leave camp at 3am, maybe earlier, for the hike and
scramble to the summit of this third highest point on
Mount Kenya. Walking with head torches and hopefully
by moonlight we take about three hours to reach the
summit of Point Lenana (4,985m). Although the climb
is straightforward the final section is hard work at
this high altitude. We should have timed it right to
reach the summit as dawn breaks over the great Rift
Valley, a sight you will never forget. After enjoying
the views and taking our summit photographs, we descend
down to the Austrian Hut (4700m) where we can pause
and perhaps have a light second breakfast. We then have
a leisurely stroll back down the Teleki valley towards
Mackinders Camp, where we can take lunch. The path continues
easily until we begin a long descent through a section
known as the Vertical Bog. If it is dry this section
is no problem. If it is wet, the vertical bog can live
up to its name. Finally we reach a campsite by the roadhead,
known locally as the Met Station (3,050m - there is
a Meteorological station here).
DAY 8 Trek out
to Naro Moru
In the morning our private vehicle will meet us. We
drive for about two hours out through the Mount Kenya
Park Gates back to the comforts of the Naro Moru River
Lodge which we should reach in time for lunch. The welcoming
outdoor swimming pool will doubtless be the main focus
for the remainder of today’s activities.
DAY 9 Drive to
Moshi
After breakfast we drive south through Nairobi where
we can stop for lunch. We then continue across the Masai
Plains to the Tanzanian border at Namanga. After completing
immigration formalities we continue south to the town
of Moshi and our hotel.
DAY 10 Begin Kilimanjaro
climb to Umbwe Caves
From Moshi we drive along a rough track through the
village of Umbwe which is located on the lower slopes
of the mountain. Just beyond this we come to the National
Park gates where we sign in for our ascent. We begin
walking through thick rain forest on an increasingly
steep and winding trail to the Umbwe Caves Camp. This
trail can be very muddy and slippery after rain. We
camp in a clearing by the small overhanging cave.
DAY 11 Trek to
the Barranco Camp
After breakfast, we start trekking and soon leave the
gloom of the rain forest. The path continues to ascend,
passing through lighter montane vegetation and crossing
a small valley. We then hike along a ridgeline covered
with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now crosses
open country until we reach our overnight camp at the
Barranco Hut, situated in a stunning position with the
western icefields forming a magnificent backdrop to
our camp.
DAY 12 Trek to
Lava Towers Camp
From the Barranco we climb the gentle hill behind the
camp, slowly gaining altitude, until we reach the Lava
Tower Camp. Although not a long day, this is an important
stage in our acclimatisation process. We should reach
the camp by lunch time, and in the afternoon we can
make an acclimatisation hike.
DAY 13 Trek to
the Arrow Glacier Camp
We will have a leisurely morning around the Lava Towers
Camp. After lunch we move from the Lava Towers Camp
and have a short climb up to the Arrow Glacier Camp,
situated at the foot of the Western Breach. We establish
our camp and prepare for our summit day.
DAY 14 Summit Kilimanjaro
We leave our camp in the very early hours of the morning
for the long ascent up to the summit of Kilimanjaro's
main peak - Kibo. It takes from 4 to 5 hour slow walking
up scree and a rocky ridge to reach the top of the Breach
Wall. Although this section is classed as a scamble,
there are no great technical difficulties. When we reach
the top of the Breach Wall, we emerge onto the flat,
lunar surface of the crater floor. The huge ice cliffs
of the Furtwangler Glacier sit in front of us and provide
a temporary diversion whilst we recover from the long
ascent. We then continue the final 2 hours ascent to
Uhuru Peak at 5,896 metres. From here we have the most
fantastic views of the summit icefields and the plains
of Africa stretched out below our feet. After taking
in this amazing view we descend via Stella Point and
the Barafu Hut to the Millenium Camp. A long and very
tiring day which for some will be the most physically
arduous day of their lives.
DAY 15 Return
to Moshi
We have a short morning walk through the forest to the
National Park gates. We sign out of the Park and the
Rangers will give us our certificates of ascent. We
then board our vehicle and drive back to Moshi and our
hotel.
DAY 16 Moshi -
evening departure
The morning and afternoon will be free. In the evening
we make the short transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for
our flight home.
DAY 17 Arrive London
We arrive back into London early in the morning.
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