The Kilimanjaro Itinerary

Two weeks today I will be anxiously packing and repacking no doubt, ready to get out and start the trek.

Day 1 You will normally be collected at 0730 from your hotel. Your driver will transfer you 111km and some 2 hours 10 minutes to Londorossi Gate where we complete registration formalities. Following registration we continue a further 12km by vehicle to the route’s start point. This final drive can take anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30, depending on road conditions. When the road is in poor condition it is sometimes not safe or even possible for the vehicle to reach all the way to the road head. In this event there will be some 180 additional metres of vertical ascent to trek and 1.9km required to reach the start point.

From Lemosho Start Point (2424m) to Forest Camp (2821m) the distance is 5.4km, over 400m of elevation gain. You are advised to stop regularly today and to move quietly in the hope of sighting wildlife near to the trail. Sightings of small antelope are virtually unique to the Lemosho and Rongai Routes.

Day 2 Trek from Forest Camp to Shira 1 Camp (3508m) on western edge of Shira Plateau. It is normal to experience mild headaches on this day. The distance to Shira 1 is 7.7km.

Optional afternoon acclimatisation ascent of Shira Ridge 3959m (Kilimanjaro’s 3rd volcanic summit) for arguably best views of Kibo (clear weather permitting). Descend to sleep lower at Shira One 3508m for overnight.

Day 3: Trek from Shira 1 Camp (3508m) to Moir Hut (4166m) across Shira Plateau before rising along the flank of a re-entrant. Height gain 658m. Distance = 9.4km.

Sunset acclimatisation to 4305m ridgeline before dinner. Excursion Distance = 1.9km.

Day 4: Start the trek clockwise around the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro from Moir Hut (4166m) to Pofu campsite (4040m). Optional accli- matisation excursion at guides discretion from Pofu campsite. Gentle walking today. Distance = 10.3km.

Day 5:

Continue clockwise trek from Pofu campsite (4040m) to 3rd Caves Camp (3971m). Gradual traversing of Kili with classic views to the North-West, North and North-East. Distance = 6.7km.

Day 6:

After gently traversing the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro, today we start the trek upwards from 3rd Caves Camp (3971m) to School Hut (4722m). Shorter distance than previous 2 days, but 751m of height gain. Do not underestimate today, and the preparation you have completed prior to arriving here. Distance = 4.9km.

Aim to get to sleep as soon as possible as you will be woken at around 2300-0000 to begin your assault. Don’t worry about waking yourself for meals - your staff will wake you for these. You probably won’t feel like eating but please endeavour to do so as you’ll need the energy reserves. You are advised to get all your gear ready for the summit bid before you go to sleep as you may feel dis- oriented when awoken for the assault.

Day 7: Around midnight of Day 6 (your guide will judge the time that is optimal for you based on your pace thus far) quit camp for the assault via Gilman’s Point (5708m) to the summit. Tonight is very difficult - particularly the final 550m - and you’ll need to commit to fight for the summit. You will inevitably feel like giving up and going to sleep. This is normal and can be overcome with perseverance. When resting please ensure you only stand or sit and do not lie down or close your eyes. Nausea and headaches are normal and around a quarter of climbers will vomit at or near Gilman’s Point. While very uncomfortable, these are not symptoms that are indicative of being at risk, per se. The onset of cerebral and pulmonary oedema are marked by distinctive early warning symptoms that your guide is capable of identifying. Please maintain regular dialogue with him and frequently update him on how you are feeling.

Avoiding loose scree slopes above Kibo Hut, we ascend from School Hut (4722m) via Hans Meyer Cave (5243m) and Gilman’s Point (5708m), to Uhuru Peak (5895m).

When you reach Gilman’s Point you will sit and rest. At this point the body often thinks you have finished your uphill fight and will be trying to coerce you into giving up and turning around. Remember that you are only 187 vertical metres short of the summit (via Stella Point), the journey from here is much less steep, and you have plenty of time for further pauses. If you do feel the need to give up at Gilman’s Point please proceed towards the summit for just two minutes before making your final decision. In most cases this act of re-establishing momentum is enough to persuade the mind and body to co-operate with your intentions and you will ordinarily find hidden reserves for a final push, reserves that you were not aware you still had.

On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. From the summit you will turn around and descend to Stella Point. When you reach Stella Point your guide may opt to switch left onto the loose scree, a departure from the ridge up which you ascended. On arrival at Barafu you would usually have time to rest an hour or so before continuing the descent after some refreshments.

From Barafu you will usually descend to Mweka Camp (3090m) for overnight. If your guide judges that a shorter day will benefit you and preserve sore knees and ankles, he may decide to stop short at Millennium Camp (3820m) instead.

Distances on summit day School Hut to Summit via Gillman’s Point: 5.4km Summit to Barafu: 4.5km Barafu to Mweka Camp: 6.3km Total = 16.2km

Day 8: This morning we descend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (1641m) where we sign the summit register.

Transfer from the gate back to Arusha. You should return back to Arusha sometime between 2 and 5pm, depending on your descent pace. Distance from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate is 8.5km.