On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, after clearing Immigration you make your way into the arrivals terminal.
Here you will be met by your driver from Summits Africa and transferred to KIA Lodge, about 10 minutes drive.
Overnight - Kia Lodge - Bed and breakfast basis
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Hatari Lodge.
Enjoy the facilities Hatari Lodge has to offer including game drives in Arusha National Park or visit the Momella Lakes
Overnight - Hatari Lodge - Full board basis
After breakfast, leave for a full day trek on Mt Meru with a packed lunch.
Later this afternoon, you will be given a Kilimanjaro climb briefing and have a gear check.
Overnight - Hatari Lodge - Full board basis
This morning you are transferred to the starting point of the Kilimanjaro climb, the Lemosho Trail where you meet the rest of your crew.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful and scenic route to climb, you pass through tropical montane rain forest to the snows of Kilimanjaro. You will be climbing with a team of excellent guides, a cook, camp staff and porters.
Accommodation throughout is in mountain tents, and all camping equipment is provided to a high specification, including sleeping bags, linen, thick foam mattresses to ensure as comfortable a night sleep as possible, a toilet tent, tables and chairs, 2-way radio and mobile telephones to maintain communication with the Arusha base.
You set off at a leisurely pace into the afro-montane forest. Lunch is taken on the trail and camp is reached by mid-afternoon.
Overnight – Lemosho Forest Camp (2,860m) – Full board basis
After an early start you ascend the forested slopes of Lemosho, through Podocarpus and Juniper forests, onto the heath zone and the moorland of the Shira Plateau, one of the most fascinating areas of the mountain. Lunch is taken on the trail and you arrive in camp by mid-afternoon.
Overnight – Shira 1 Camp (3,850m) – Full board basis
Crossing the Shira Plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning you hike for around 3 – 4 hours to the lunch point. After lunch you ascend to Moir Huts Camp, arriving mid-afternoon. This is a good day for acclimatisation with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides.
Overnight – Moir Huts (4,161m) – Full board basis
From Shira you traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone.
As you continue, your direction changes to the south-east towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth". You may choose to do an optional ascent of Lava Tower before descending down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,910m. Here you rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. This day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. You are rewarded for your efforts with spectacular views of the Barranco Valley.
Overnight – Barranco Camp (3,910m) – Full board basis
An early start is recommended today to hike to the Barranco wall. After about 2 hours you reach the top and then hike over glacial valleys to Karanga Camp.
The selection of Karanga is strategic – significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatisation. Sunsets here are particularly spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering 1000 meters above you.
Overnight – Karanga Camp (4,100m) – Full board basis
Today is another half day walk through to Barafu Camp.
About 2 hours from Karanga you come out on the Barafu path (part of the Mweka Trail). It is a further 1 - 2 hours to the camp at Barafu.
The last stage to Barafu Hut is quite steep, and as always you are advised to take it as easy as possible. Being as relaxed as possible both mentally and physically is the best advice (physical relaxation is often as difficult as mental relaxation!)
Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds whip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of the Mawenzi volcano are the norm.
This afternoon presents an opportunity for you to rest up before your assault on the summit. Late in the afternoon you will be briefed for the final ascent.
Overnight – Barafu Camp (4,600m) – Full board basis
You depart for the summit at around midnight. Patience and persistence is the name of the game to reach the summit. You will ascend in a north-westerly direction through heavy scree toward Stella Point, arriving there in about 6–7 hours. At Stella Point you may rest if necessary before taking on another 1-2 hour stretch along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) the highlight of your trip - from here you catch the sunrise from the rooftop of Africa! You are there! You then leave behind the glistening glaciers and snowy peaks and make your way back down via Stella Point to Mweka Camp for an overnight stay (3,100m).
Overnight – Mweka Camp (3,100m) – Full board basis
This morning you make the final descent through montane forest and at around midday after saying farewell to your crew you reach the Mweka Gate. This is a leisurely 2-3 hour walk. From here you are transferred to Lake Duluti Inn for a well-deserved shower and an overnight stay. This is a good opportunity to recoup and reflect on the achievements of the week just past.
Overnight - Lake Duluti Lodge - Full board basis
This morning transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport in time to connect with your flight to Entebbe via Nairobi.
On arrival at Entebbe airport, after clearing Immigration you make your way into the arrivals terminal, where you will be met by The Uganda Safari Company, who who will transfer you to The Lake Victoria Serena Hotel a drive of about 45 minutes.
Overnight - Lake Victoria Serena Hotel - Bed and breakfast basis
Transfer to the Entebbe Airport for a scheduled flight to Kasese airstrip.
On landing, you will be met by your Ndali Lodge driver and transfer to Ndali Lodge arriving in time for lunch, a drive of about 2 hours. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight - Ndali Lodge - Full board basis
Leave early morning to Kibale Forest National Park for a morning chimpanzee trekking returning to Ndali Lodge for lunch. After lunch, take a leisurely walk to the Bigodi Swamp.
Overnight - Ndali Lodge - Full board basis
Transfer to Kasese airstrip for your scheduled flight to Kihihi airstrip.
On landing, transfer to Gorilla Forest Camp, a drive of about an hour arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, visit the nearby village.
Overnight - Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp - Full board basis
Transfer early this morning to the park headquarters for your first gorilla trek. After an hour with the gorillas trek back to base where you will meet your driver and transfer back to Gorilla Forest Camp. Spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure
Overnight - Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp - Full board basis
Leave today on your guided 4 - 7 hour walk through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, arriving late afternoon.
Overnight - Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge - Full board basis
Transfer early this morning to the park headquarters for your second gorilla trek on the Southern Side of the forest After an hour with the gorillas trek back to base where you will meet your driver and transfer back to Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Overnight - Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge - Full board basis
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kisoro airstrip, a drive of about 2 hours in time for your flight departing to Entebbe Airport.
On arrival you will be met and transferred to Lake Victoria Serena Hotel where a day room has been reserved.
This evening, transfer to Entebbe Airport and Depart Africa
