KILIMANJARO TEEN ADVENTURE ITINERARY:
Ages 12 and Up
Days 1-2 Depart U.S. / Arrive Arusha
Depart the U.S. late afternoon and arrive in Amsterdam the
following morning. Check in for your connecting flight to
Kilimanjaro, arriving in the evening. You are met by your guide
and transferred to your lodge, an elegantly rustic East African
lodge located in the hills just outside of Arusha, set in a
stunning location with magnificent views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Overnight: Arusha Lodge
Day 3 West Kilimanjaro Camp
This morning you will have a climb briefing at your lodge
before transferring to base camp on the west side of
Kilimanjaro. The camp is set in under the spreading branches of
Acacia Tortillis nestled near a volcanic cone, which affords
superb sundowners and good views. This day also serves as an
acclimatization day and a day to recover from the long flights.
Overnight: West Kilimanjaro Camp
Day 4 Forest Camp
After a hearty breakfast and a climb briefing, you’ll be
transferred to the Londorossi Gate (5,900 ft.) to begin your
climb. This first trekking day is through dense rainforest
(approx. 80 inches precip / yr), under the tangled canopy of
moss-coated vines, which are home to the black & white colobus
monkey, blue monkey, and a vibrant array of exotic birds. Arrive
at your camp set in the lower heather belt and enjoy a hot
dinner in the mess tent. Overnight: Forest Camp (9,500
ft.) Trekking: 3-4 Hours
Day 5 Shira 1 Camp
Once out of the forest, take a steep track into a Savannah
of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen
beards. Ascend through the lush rolling hills below the Shira
plateau, finally reaching camp at the edge of the plateau. The
view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing. Overnight:
Shira 1 Camp (12,200 ft.)
Trekking: 5-6 Hours
Day 6 Shira 2 Camp
Full day exploration of the Shira plateau. Trek east toward
Kibo’s glaciated peak. Arrive at Shira 2 camp. Shira is one of
the highest plateaus on earth, averaging 12,500 feet.
Overnight: Shira 2 Camp (12,600 ft.) Trekking: 3-4 Hours
Day 7 Barranco Camp
Proceed steadily upward over expansive ridgelines of high desert
to our camp set in a striking spot near Lava Tower. You can test
your ardor this afternoon or tomorrow morning by climbing to the
top of Lava Tower for spectacular panoramas. Overnight:
Lava Tower Camp (15,100 ft.) Trekking: 4-6 Hours
Day 8 Karanga Camp
Today begins with a scramble up the steep "Barranco Wall." We
then traverse up and down the slopes of valleys, which have
carved their way into the mountain’s southern face. Kibo’s
glaciers loom above to your left and the jagged peak of Mawenzi
appears just over the southern slope of Kibo. We stop in the
Karanga Valley at the end of this day. Overnight: Karanga
Camp (13,000 ft.) Trekking: 4-5 Hours
Day 9 Barafu Camp
As we begin this morning the trail turns steadily uphill. The
temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we
near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on an exposed ridge and is
the staging point from which you will make your way into the
arctic summit zone tomorrow morning. Our cooks will help you eat
and drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for
rest and sleep. Overnight: Barafu Camp (15,100 ft.)
Trekking: 5-6 Hours
Day 10 Crater Camp
Today you will wake up at dawn and set out for Crater Camp,
climbing over 2,500 ft. with magnificent views of Mt. Mawenzi,
Kilimanjaro’s second volcanic cone, to the east. In the
afternoon, you will arrive at the crater rim to an arctic
moonscape. Camp is set in the wide crater atop Kilimanjaro, in
soft sand near the indigo streaked Furtwangler Glacier.
Overnight: Crater Camp (18,750 ft.) Trekking: 6-8 Hours
(Optional 3-Hour Trek to Reusch Crater)
Day 11 Summit and Begin Descent
Arise with hot tea and some breakfast, and then amble your way
up the last 600 feet to Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft.). Descend the
Mweka Route to Barafu Camp for lunch, then continue to your camp
nestled in thick heather on the southern slopes.
Overnight: Mweka Camp (11,000 ft.) Trekking: 1-2 Hours to
Summit / 5-7 Hours to Descend to Mweka Camp
Day 12 Descend / Rest
Complete your descent through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate,
where you will be met and transferred back to your lodge for a
much-needed shower and some merry convalescence. Trekking:
2-3 Hours
Days 13-14 Ngorongoro Crater
Meet your safari guide this morning, and after a safari briefing
we drive into the Rift Valley, continuing up the escarpment into
the verdant Ngorongoro Highlands. For the afternoon and the
entire next day we'll descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor for
magnificent wildlife viewing. Here we’ll witness some of the
highest concentrations of animals in East Africa.
Overnight: Thomson Ngorongoro Nyumba
Days 15-17 Serengeti National Park
We head out this morning for Olduvai Gorge, before continuing
into heart of Africa—the vast Serengeti. The sight of herds of
animals running across the plains, and predators stalking their
prey is unforgettable.
We have many game drives amongst the wildlife in this great,
untamed wilderness. Our first two nights are spent in a private
Classic Camp allowing us to explore off the beaten path.The
final night we spend in a luxury lodge. Overnight:
Thomson Serengeti Nyumba
Days 18-19 Serengeti National Park / Depart / Arrive Home
Morning wildlife viewing in the Serengeti before your flight to
Arusha. We’ll say our good-byes over lunch, with time in the
afternoon to relax at the Impala Hotel or shop before
transferring to Kilimanjaro Airport for the flight to Amsterdam.
Arrive home on the afternoon of Day 19.
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