Image to the left taken from Summits-Africa.com.
Did you know that Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in the African continent and that it is higher than 19,000 feet? Because of its high altitude, picturesque scenery, and adventurous terrain, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most popular peaks to climb.
So if it’s been one of your lifelong dreams to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, now is as good of a time as any!
Whether you’re experienced or inexperienced at climbing, there are various packages and itineraries that are offered to all climbing and hiking levels. Some trips are 7 days in length, while others are 20 days in length, and some trips offer more luxurious accommodations while others offer the bare minimum for hiking (without compromising safety, of course). Therefore, there is most certainly a hiking itinerary for Mount Kilimanjaro that can fit your needs, preferences, and physical stamina.
One of the most trusted Kilimanjaro tour operators is Summits Africa, which offers a variety of adventurous hikes up Kilimanjaro, as well as Mount Meru and Mount Kenya. But for the purpose of this blog post today, I’m going to focus on some of their amazing Mount Kilimanjaro itineraries.
Image above taken from Summits-Africa.com.
Below are some details from the Summits Africa 7 days on Kilimanjaro (luxury / the Machame Route) itinerary:
The Machame Route is one of the best ways to travel up Kilimanjaro as it provides some of the most spectacular views and scenery on the entire mountain. The 7-day ascent enables guests to enjoy a moderate-paced hike up the mountain, while still absorbing the stunning natural surroundings. Now if you’re wondering where you get the time to actually descend from the summit since ascending takes 7 days, the truth is you never come back down. Just joking! The trip is actually 9 days in total, with two days of descending.
Day 1—Arrive in Arusha: Tonight you’ll be staying at The Arusha Hotel where you will enjoy a briefing from the climbs manager and your guide, as well as an included dinner at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 2—Begin your climb: Today you will arrive at the base of Kilimanjaro and enter the Machame gate to begin your hike. Most of today’s hike will take you through lush forests. You will stop for a picnic lunch, and then enjoy a relaxing night at Machame Camp.
Day 3—Hike to Shira Camp: Today’s hike will take you on steep inclines that will start to bring you into higher altitude zones. This is one of the most beautiful trails as you will come in contact with stunning flora, lava tubes, and glacial valleys. You’ll then arrive at Shira Camp where you will stay for the night.
Day 4—Ascend to Barranco Camp: Today you will pass through alpine desert and enjoy a lunch picnic. You’ll even have the option to travel up to Lava Tower if you are feeling up for it. Tonight you will be staying at Barranco Camp.
Day 5—Hike Glacial Valleys to Karanga: Today you will enjoy an exciting hike through glacial valleys before arriving to Karanga Camp. The hike today is fairly short; however, you will have the opportunity to walk with your guide to view some of the surrounding valleys.
Day 6—Barafu: Today you’ll have another half day of ascending through alpine desert before reaching Barafu Camp where you can witness the Mawenzi peak.
Day 7—Atop Kilimanjaro: Today is the day when you will reach the summit of Kilimanjaro! You will depart from your camp a little bit before midnight. The reason for this early departure is to reach the summit during one of its most beautiful times—dawn. Alas, you can look down on Africa from the top of Africa’s highest mountain.
After you soak in the panoramic beauty and take some memorable photos, it’s time to begin your descent to Mweka Camp where you will sleep for the night.
Day 8—The descent continues: Today you will travel back down the mountain through montane forest and arrive at the base midday, whereupon you will be escorted to your hotel for some much needed relaxation. You will stay overnight once again at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 9—Off to your next adventure!
If this all sounds like something that interests you, I suggest combining a 7-day Mount Kilimanjaro hike with an additional 7-day trip in Kenya or South Africa. After an exhausting (yet exciting and fun!) hike up the 19,000 foot mountain, you’ll probably be in major need of some rest and relaxation and an additional 7 days in Africa can provide you with just that. From lavish spas to uninhabited beaches, and wine tasting tours to sunset cruises, there are plenty of ways to unwind and rest your body after a 7-day adventure.
Keep an eye out for one of our upcoming posts on packing for a hike in Africa, and don’t forget to check out our downloadable PDF, Your Unique Guide to Southern & Eastern Africa, to start getting ideas for your next African adventure.
