Shira Plateau/Western Breach
(8days/7nights)
This Kilimanjaro itinerary is the most successful trek on the mountain with 98% of
the climbers reaching the summit. One of the best features of the route is the
longer, slower ascent which gives the body time to acclimatize to the altitude
gradually and this greatly increases the success rate. This route has an added
benefit of trekking across the Shira Plateau: a World Heritage Site and trekking
180 degrees around Kilimanjaro's south facing glaciers. We have allowed plenty
of time to acclimatize to the high altitude. This is the key to your safety,
comfort, enjoyment and success.
Day 1: ARRIVE AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JRO)
We will meet you at Arusha on you arrival and transfer to your overnight lodge
in Arusha. Welcome to Africa!
Day 2: PRE-CLIMB ORIENTATION
This day is designed to give you plenty of time to relax, pack and recoup from
the long journey. We will meet you late in the morning for a short climbing
orientation. We will give you a climb briefing and answer any questions you may
have. We will also do an equipment check with each person to be sure that you
are fully prepared. We have designed this day to allow for walking or cultural
exchange with indigenous people.
Day 3: MONTANE FOREST (9,000') (Day 1 on the mountain)
After breakfast in the morning we will drive approximately one hour and half
to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. We will checking in and register at the
gate then, meet the rest of the climbing crew, assistant guides, porters and
the cook. From the entrance gate we will hike about 4 hours through the undisturbed
forest to our camp for the night. With luck we will be able to see Colobus
monkeys and signs of elephants or buffaloes and other forest wildlife on our hike
to camp.
Day 4: SHIRA PLATEAU WEST SIDE
(11,300') (Day 2 on the mountain)
Today's hike, we will be taking our time hiking through the forest which will
help us spot some of the plentiful game and bird life. The day's hike will take
us up through the Montane Forest and the Hagenia forest zones. We will see
the unique environmental differences that characterize these equatorial zones.
Day 5: SHIRA PLATEAU EAST SIDE -FISCHER'S CAMP
(12,950') (Day 3 on mountain)
Our hike today will be about 4 hours across the Shira Plateau, a World Heritage
Site, and one hour up the western slope of the Kibo Massif. We will spend
the time admiring and exploring the plateau, before we get to our picnic lunch
site. Our overnight camp will be in the upper heath and moorland zone in full view
of the Western Breach.
Day 6: LAVA TOWER (14,300') (Day 4 on mountain)
Today we will hike approximately 6 hours to our overnight camp just under Lava
Tower, a 300 foot high volcanic lava plug that juts out of the side of the
mountain.
For those interested, later after lunch we will climb to the top
of Lava tower to enjoy the scenery of the surrounding areas and descend down
to the camp before dinner. Adequately, this will increase your performance by acclimatizing
high on top of the tower. This will be our first introduction to the
alpine zone, with the only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichens.
We will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up the Western Breach
wall and the Breach Icicle.
Day 7: ARROW GLACIER (16,000') (Day 5 on mountain)
With the Western Breach ascent route in full view, we will spend 3 hours climbing
to the base of the route where we will camp near Arrow Glacier. The day
will be spent mostly resting and conserving strength, but there will also be an
afternoon hike partway along the climbing ascent route. This will get us to higher
elevations for better acclimatization and give us a chance to familiarize
ourselves with the beginning of the longest hiking day of the whole climb.
Day 8: SUMMIT CRATER CAMP (18,500') (Day 6 on mountain)
We will wind our way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route for
about six hours to the crater rim of the main Kilimanjaro summit massif. Those
who still have the energy on top can explore the inner crater and the ash pit
before moving to our highest camp on the crater floor. This spectacular high
camp is next to the Furtwrangler Glaciers, with stunning views westward towards
Mount Meru and the setting African sun. The high altitude of crater camp makes
it a physically demanding experience, but the reward is a radical scene of
towering glaciers rising from the harsh rock landscapes.
Day 9: SUMMIT DAY and MWEKA CAMP
(10,500') (Day 7 on mountain)
We will start our ascent to the summit (19,340') early enough in the morning
to be on the summit by 9:00am. This final ascent is only 800 feet and can
be undertaken after sunrise and a leisurely breakfast or just early enough to
be at the summit during sunrise. This is quite a contrast to the 3,000 feet slog
required to summit via all the other ascent routes on Kilimanjaro. The rewards
of seeing the summit crater glaciers and standing on Africa's highest peak
are well worth the efforts. After taking in the view from Uhuru Peak we will begin
the long descent through Barafu Hut and down to our final camp near Mweka Hut.
Day 10: ARUSHA (Day 8 on mountain & hike out)
Today's
hike
will
take us about 4 to 5 hours to make the 4,500 feet descent to
the park gate. We will check out and receive Kilimanjaro climbing certificate
at the park gate office, then eat our lunch and say goodbye to your Destination
Tanzania Safaris mountain staff. After lunch we will drive through very beautiful
coffee plantations and small villages of the Chagga people back to Arusha,
for a nice hot shower or swimming at the lodge and relax, looking forward
to departing or going on safari the following day.
