Day 1: Moshi Town / Maranngu
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel Nakara in Marangu. This is approximately 85kms from Kilimanjaro airport. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and you may arrive at any time. In the evening there is a briefing on the trek. At this time you will also receive your own personal trek bag. This trek bag will contain a kit bag that your porter will carry, an appropriate sleeping bag, sleep sheet, down jacket and sleeping mat. You will need to transfer your other possessions into this bag. You will be able to leave your normal travelling bag and any excess luggage at Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort in Marangu to be collected upon your return. Meals included- none.
Day 2: Simba Camp
After breakfast at your hotel you will meet up with your porters and guides and transfer to Rongai Gate where you will complete registration procedures. The climb begins from the village of Nale Moru at around 1950 metres. Today’s walk is about three to four hours, beginning on a small path that winds its way through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. A gradual ascent through attractive forest brings us to the edge of the moorland zone at around 2600 metres. Extensive views over the Kenyan plains will be a highlight of today’s camp. Note that it can be wet in the rainforest. The night is spent camping at Simba Camp. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.
Day 3: Kikelewa Camp
After breakfast, you will set off at around 8am to head up to the Kikelewa Caves. Today your walking time will be about six to seven hours. From your overnight campsite a steady ascent is made up to ‘Second Cave’ at 3450 metres. Here you are rewarded with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern icefields of the crater rim. Leaving the main trail after lunch we travel across the moorland on smaller paths towards the jagged Mawenzi peaks. Tonight we camp near Kikelewa Caves at 3800 metres. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn
Today’s walk is a shorter one at three to four hours but involves some steeper sections. After leaving camp a short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by a real sense of wilderness and stunning all round views. The vegetation zone is left behind shortly before we reach our next campsite at Mawenzi Tarn at around 4330 metres. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.