Day 1: Airport transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to the Hotel.

Day 2: Morum Barrier Gate > Shira 1 Camp

Your western IFMGA certified guide will accompany you for the entire trip. The first day of our climb our mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning. We will hold a briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle (roughly 3–4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park's western entrance: Londorossi Gate. After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group continues upwards towards their drop-off point by off-road vehicles (reaching 3,400 meters or 11482 feet). Here you will see stunning views of the Shira Plateau for the first time. The route from your drop-off point to your first high-altitude camp, Shira 1 features a small gain in altitude and is not very challenging physically. Due to this, you will be able to begin the process of acclimatization properly. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have already prepared everything necessary, put up the tents, and begun preparing dinner.

This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:

• Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine

• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)

• Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip to discuss potential allergies. At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Day 3: Camp 1 — Camp 2

On this day you will depart from Camp 1 in the morning and complete the climb to Camp 2. This trek is not difficult and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of African savannahs and the unique flora of Kilimanjaro. Camp 2 is the best place on the trip to see Mount Meru (the fifth highest summit of Africa and second-highest in Tanzania), weather permitting. During the trek between camps, your guide will offer ascending Cathedral Peak - 3872 meters (12,703 feet), one of the highest points of the extinct Shira volcano. Besides the captivating hiking experience, reaching the summit of Cathedral Peak on a clear day offers breathtaking views down into the valley. This is a straightforward hike with no technical challenges. If you prefer to skip this ascent or encounter unfavorable weather, heading directly to Camp 2 is an option. When you arrive at the camp you will have lunch, and after a two-hour rest, everyone will complete an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp that features a 200-meter (656-foot) gain in altitude.

Change in Elevation: Camp 1 (3610 m/11844 ft) Camp 2 (3850 m/12631 ft)

Day 4: Camp 2 > Barranco Camp

After breakfast, you will leave Camp 2 and start your hike to the key point of the route: Lava Tower. This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end at a camp at over 4,600 meters (15091 feet). It might be difficult, and it is common to feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude you have to spend at least 1–2 hours here. For that reason, your group will enjoy your lunch at the top of Lava Tower, in order to help you acclimatize better. Then you will descend to Barranco Camp. There you will see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness! The next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry, it features a very simple hiking trail and is not intimidating at all.

Change in Elevation: Camp 2 (3850 m/12631 ft) Barranco Camp (3900 m/12795 ft)

Day 5: Barranco Camp > Karanga Camp

On this day your group will make an early start and after a filling breakfast, begin to hike Barranco Wall. We leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups, which can slow you down. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano. Then you will start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents on the route, but don't worry: your guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered a warm lunch.

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3900 m/12795 ft) Karanga Camp (3995 m/13107 ft)

Day 6: Karanga Camp > Barafu Camp

In the morning, after a warm and hearty breakfast, you will begin your hike to Barafu Summit Camp. This camp is the starting point for the final night summit to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19340f) - your end goal. Our team will set up camp ahead of time, so when you arrive your tents and sleeping bags will already be prepared, meaning you can just relax and rest when you reach Barafu Summit Camp.

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (3995 m/13107 ft) Barafu Camp (4673 m/15331 ft)

Day 7: Barafu Camp > Uhuru Peak > Millenium Camp

Reaching the summit is the literal and figurative peak of your Kilimanjaro climb. Tonight, you will depart the camp and walk along the edge of the crater rim. Finally, you will climb to the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, and stand at 5,895 meters(19340 ft). This is truly a great achievement and a test of your own strength and stamina. In order for your climbing group to reach the summit by dawn, you will depart the camp around midnight. During the ascent, a team of special high-altitude porters will join your guides to assist climbers. These porters are selected because they have expressed their interest in becoming guides and want to expand their experience by learning the route and requirements to help climbers reach the top. As they have been undergoing additional training, they are prepared to help ensure the safety of climbing participants and alert the guides to any issues immediately. Once you arrive atop Uhuru Peak, you will spend about 30-40 minutes taking photos and watching an amazing sunrise with a view across Africa. If you still have enough strength, you can ask the guides to descend into the crater and walk to the distant glaciers. As the sun rises, an interesting play of color begins - the rays of the sunshine on the surface of the glaciers give them a lovely peach hue, like something from another world. Unfortunately, the glaciers are expected to melt very soon, and your trek up to Kilimanjaro is one of the last opportunities to witness them in person. As the morning progresses, you will trek back down to the camp, where an energizing meal awaits your team. While eating, you can recover a bit from strenuous trekking, enjoying a nice afternoon before moving on to the final part of your adventure. You will return to Barafu Camp and after a 2-hour rest continue your descent to Millennium Camp.

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4673 m/15331 ft) Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19341 ft) Millenium Camp (3950 m/12959 ft)

Day 8: Millenium Camp > Mweka Gate

Millennium Camp is situated in a tropical rainforest. When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the altitude and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the national park's exit: Mweka Gate. After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, followed by offering you a chance to share your opinions on the climb in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates in our office and provide you with a transfer back to the hotel.

Change in Elevation: Millenium Camp (3950 m/12959 ft) Mweka Gate (1640 m/5381 ft)

This is the end of the climbing portion of the trip. If not booking the Safari you will be transferred back to the airport on day 9.

Day 9:  Departure date for those not going on the Safari

Day 9: Rest Day

Use this day to slow down and feel the vibe of Tanzanian Pole Pole. You can relax by the pool with a cocktail, have Spa, go shopping or do a day-trip to one of the smaller local gems. There's plenty of options to choose from and suit your individual travel style. Ask your manager to help you plan this day and make desired arrangements.

Day 10: Safari — Tarangire National Park

Today your safari will take place in Tarangire National Park. This is one of the most interesting places in Tanzania! The river of the same name flows through the park, where giraffes, zebras, antelopes and buffaloes come to drink. These animals attract predators, which is why a lot of lions live in Tarangire. You will definitely see them during your trip. In the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes the only source of drinking water for many kilometers around. Because of this, large herds of elephants come to Tarangire, making Tarangire the home to the largest population of elephants in Northern Tanzania for most of the year (especially June - October and December - March). Elephants are not at all intimidated by visitors to the park, and they often come quite close to cars. This is completely safe - since elephants have no enemies in their natural nature they are naturally curious and unafraid.

Day 11: Safari — Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Today you are going to the Legendary Ngorongoro Crater! Your day will begin early in the morning, when your guide arrives to drive you to the Ngorongoro Crater, part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Crater is somewhat reminiscent of The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: here you will witness tens of thousands of wild animals living in the massive crater left by a huge ancient volcano. The actual crater is relatively small, when you consider that it is home to the most variety of animals per square meter than anywhere else in the world! Here, you are sure to see a great number of animals within close proximity to one another. The descent into the crater will take about half an hour of driving. The road passes through beautiful, lush forests with great scenery. Your safari guide will make a stop to see the ‘look out’ which is a place offering a stunning panoramic view of the entire crater. Contrary to popular myth, animals can go outside the caldera. However, most of them are safe and comfortable inside the caldera which provides an unlimited supply of fresh grass for grazers and easy prey for predators. Therefore, they prefer to remain in the crater all the time. Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, zebras and other African animals can be seen in Ngorongoro Crater. This is one of the few places in Africa where rhinos are found, although, remember that they are an endangered species, so there are very few of them. One animal that is absent are giraffes; you will not spot any of them in the crater because, due to the build of their bodies, including legs and long necks, they cannot walk down into the crater. After your morning game drive around the crater, you will stop at the picnic area next to Lake Magadi for a snack and rest. This place is popular with various birds, including kites, who sometimes try to steal food right from the table! While not dangerous, at all, it is a good idea not to leave any food unattended. One of the draws of Lake Magadi are the hippos that live in the area. You’re sure to enjoy watching them while you eat lunch. These huge animals stay close to the shore and often surface to get air. If you do see one walking out of the water, give it plenty of space. Due to the large number of animals and endemic plants, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its natural significance in the world.

Day 12: Transfer: OLerai Lodge -> Kilimanjaro Airport

Our driver will pick you up from your accommodations and take you to the airport. If you're flying out with an international flight, please be ready to leave the hotel 4 hours before the scheduled take-off. If you're taking a domestic flight, you'll need to leave 3 hours before the flight.