In the country of the highest single standing mountain in the world, mountain climbers’ hearts beat faster. With breathtaking scenery, rugged mountains, diverse vegetation in front of unique cultural backdrops Tanzania fascinates visitors young and old alike. Our various trekking routes offer hiking fun for everyone, for every level of fitness and experience.
The majestic snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 5895metres, and is Africa’s Highest Mountain, and the world’s tallest free standing mountain. Apart from its dramatic geological features and the beautiful montane vegetation, Mount Kilimanjaro is also notable for its birdlife, which is plentiful in the rich forest zone. You also have a chance of seeing many mammal species, including elephants, buffalos, eland, leopards, duikers, blue monkeys and colobus monkeys. Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed by any reasonably fit person.
Duration: 5 or 6 Days
Day 1 – Leaving Arusha early in the morning, we will drive to Marangu Gate where you will start your climb. After completing registration formalities you will start the climb up to Mandara Hut (2700m) with your professional mountain guide, porters and cook. Walking hours = 4-5.
Day 2 – After breakfast at Mandara Hut you will continue walking up to Horombo Hut (3700m), passing many varied scenery on the way. Walking hours = 6-8.
Day 3 (Optional) – This is an acclimatization day where you will take some gentle walks during the day to Zebra Rocks and Mawenzi Saddle, before returning to Horombo Hut (3700m) for another night. Walking hours = 3-4. This extra day for acclimatization ensures that you have the greatest chance of reaching the summit without experiencing the effects of altitude sickness. However, if you would like to attempt to make the summit in 5 days, this acclimatisation day can be omitted. If you decide to do this, on Day 3 you will walk from Horombo to Kibo Hut and you will attempt to reach the summit on Day 4 before making your descent on Day 5.
Day 4 – After an early breakfast you will start walking towards Kibo Hut (4700m), the final hut before the summit. On arrival you will be provided with dinner and a chance to relax before your final ascent early the next morning. Walking hours = 6-8.
Day 5 – In the early hours of the morning you will be woken to start the final climb up to the summit (5895m). You will be accompanied by your professional mountain guide who will offer support and encouragement to ensure that you reach the summit safely. We will aim for you to reach the summit at sunrise so that you can see a spectacular view from the summit. After a chance to take pictures you will start your descent back to Kibo Hut (4700m), where you will be served a well-deserved breakfast. After a short rest you will continue descending further until you reach Horombo Hut (3700m) where you will stay overnight. Walking hours = 12-15.
Day 6 – After breakfast you will descend down to Marangu Gate where you will be awarded with a certificate for reaching Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Thereafter you will drive back to Arusha for some much-needed rest and relaxation before you head on to your next destination. Walking hours = 5-7.
Duration: 6 or 7 Days
Day 1 – You will leave Arusha after breakfast and travel to Machame Gate (1490m) where you will finalise registration formalities. You will then begin climbing up to Machame Hut (2980m) with your professional mountain guide, porters and cook. Walking hours = 5-7.
Day 2 – After breakfast at Machame Hut (2980m) you will start climbing up to Shira Hut (3840m) where you will take lunch. After lunch you will take a gentle walk around the Shira Plateau which affords spectacular views. Thereafter you will return to Shira Hut for dinner and a good night’s rest. Walking hours = 4-6.
Day 3 – You will leave Shira Hut (3840m) early in the morning and start climbing up to Baranco Hut (3950m), passing Lava Tower on the way, a remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity. Walking hours = 6-7.
Day 4 – After a hearty breakfast you will start the hardest, but perhaps most exhilarating, part of your climb as you cross the Baranco Wall. At times you may have to use your hands as you scramble over the bare lava rocks, but it will all be worth it when you reach the summit of Baranco Wall. You will then continue on to Karanga Valley where you will stay overnight. Walking hours = 5-6.
Day 5 – After breakfast you will start climbing up to Barafu Camp (4550m), the final camp before the summit. Here you will get a chance to relax and prepare yourselves for the final ascent the following morning. Walking hours = 4-5.
NB: It is possible to walk from Baranco Hut to Barafu Hut in one day (Walking hours =8-9), taking lunch in Karangu Valley. This shortens the trek from 7 to 6 days. The added night spent in Karanga Valley increases your chances of avoiding altitude sickness but it is not essential if you are short of time. If you chose to do a 6 day trek you will summit on Day 5 and descend to Mweka Gate on Day 6.
Day 6 – You will be woken in the early hours of the morning to start your ascent to the summit. You will be accompanied by your professional mountain guide who will offer support and encouragement to ensure that you reach the summit safely. We will aim for you to reach the summit (5895m) at sunrise so that you can see a spectacular view from the summit. After a chance to take pictures you will start your descent back to Barafu Hut (4550m) where you will be served a well-deserved breakfast. After a short rest you will continue descending further until you reach Mweka Hut (3100m) where you will stay overnight. Walking hours = 8 hours up and 8 hours down.
Day 7 – After breakfast you will descend to Mweka Gate (1980m) where you will be presented with a certificate for reaching Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Thereafter you will drive back to Arusha for some much-needed rest and relaxation before you head on to your next destination. Walking hours = 3-4.
It takes 8 days/7 nights and gives you plenty of time to acclimatise to the high altitude. This is one of the quieter routes on Kilimanjaro so you can climb in peace and enjoy some of the spectacular surroundings without other climbers getting in your way!
Day 1 – Drive from Arusha to the Londorossi park gate. After registering at the park gate you will start walking along the forest trails up to the first camp, Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).
Day 2 – After breakfast you will continue climbing through the forest trails. You will eventually emerge from the forest and reach the Shira Plateau, where you will camp for the night.
Day 3 – Today you will have a slightly gentler walk across the Shira Plateau. The route is more flat than steep and you can take time to enjoy the spectacular scenery. You will stay overnight at another campsite within the Shira Plateau.
Day 4 – After breakfast you will start your climb up to Barranco Camp. You will make a slight detour to the Lava Tower and then descend back down to Barranco Camp to aid in acclimatisation.
Day 5 – Today you will have to overcome the Barranco Wall. It’s an easy scramble to the top, with great views along the way. After a rest stop at the top of the Barranco Wall you will make your way to the Karanga Valley campsite where you will stay overnight.
Day 6 – From Karanga Valley you will make your way up to Barafu (Ice) camp. From here you will rest in the afternoon to prepare for the final ascent to the summit that evening.
Day 7 – At midnight you will start the climb up to the summit, Uhuru peak. You will aim to reach the summit by sunrise, where you can enjoy some time at the highest point in Africa. You will then make your way back to Barafu Camp for some hot lunch and a quick rest. From there you will descend down to Mweka Camp for your last night on the mountain.
Day 8 – After breakfast you will walk the last few hours down through the forest to Mweka Gate. At Mweka Gate you will be awarded with a certificate for successfully reaching the highest point in Africa. From there you will be met by a driver and driven back to your accommodation in Arusha for some much needed rest and celebration.
Mt Meru Trekking
Towering above the town of Arusha, Mt Meru stands at 4566 metres. Mt. Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania and the fifth highest mountain in Africa. During your walk to reach the summit you will see some spectacular wildlife and you are also likely to get a magnificent view of Mt Kilimanjaro from the summit. To climb to the highest peak it takes 4 days/3 nights, or if you just want to get a taste of the mountain, you can climb to the first camp and descend again in a day. During your walk you are likely to see giraffes, elephants, buffalos, baboons, colobus monkeys and many more, as well as a huge diversity of birds.
Mt. Meru itinerary
Day 1 – You will depart Arusha after breakfast and travel to Momella Gate (1500m) in Arusha National Park. On the way you have a high probability of seeing many of the wildlife species mentioned above. After registering at the gate you will start climbing to Miriakamba Hut (2514m), accompanied by your professional mountain guide, armed ranger, porters and cook.
Walking hours : 6-7
Day 2 – After breakfast you start climbing steeply to the crater rim and then on to the Saddle Hut (3570m). You should be able to reach the hut by lunch time so you can then rest and prepare for your ascent to the summit the next day. If you are feeling energetic you can also hike to the nearby Little Meru peak (3820m) for some added acclimatisation, and a great view.
Walking hours : 4-5
Day 3 – After an early wake-up call you will start your ascent to the summit. You will be accompanied by your professional mountain guide who will offer support and encouragement to ensure that you reach the summit safely. We will aim for you to reach the summit (4566m) at sunrise so that you can see a spectacular view from the summit. After a chance to take pictures you will start your descent back to Saddle Hut (3570m), where you will be served a well-deserved breakfast. After a short rest you will continue descending further until you reach Miriakamba Hut (2514m) where you will stay overnight.
Walking hours : 12-15
Day 4 – After breakfast you will descend to Momella Gate, passing through forests and grasslands where you are likely to see a lot of wildlife. You will then be transferred back to your hotel in Arusha where you can relax and celebrate!
Walking hours : 4-5
Ol doinyo Lengai ‘Mountain of God’ named as the Maasai tribe a 2870metres (9650ft ) this is an active volcanic mountain located in the Rift Valley, in the southern shore of Lake Natron, To its south stretch the Crater Highlands and the Ngorongoro Conservation area.
Lake Natron
Lake Natron is the ultimate alkaline lake, so rich in dissolved sodium carbonate that the water frequently viscous to the touch. . Lake Natron is one of the most important breeding grounds for flamingos in the world, and the algae that lives here where nothing else can is the sole food source for flamingos.
Within this region you can pay a visit to the waterfalls, walk to the lake, trekking Ol doinyo Lengai . A great scenery for bird lovers as the lake attracts vast numbers of birds of all sizes and colors. Some main birds to be found here include: Thousands of flamingos, Blacksmith Lapwing, Africa spoonbill, Ostrich. Also you will find animals such as Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest
Ol doinyo Lengai itinerary
You may either start your journey to trek Ol doinyo lengai after visiting Lake Manyara National Park or Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Natron. It is a 3-4 hrs tough drive off the main road between Arusha and Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, drive from Arusha/Lake Manyara to Lake Natron. A visit to a beautiful waterfalls that feed into the lake will be a great place to cool off from the hot weather. Dinner at Lake Natron Tented Camp, before midnight, you will be driven to the base of the climb and start trekking, it is just possible to reach the summit by dawn at a gentle pace, it takes 5hrs to reach the summit, after reaching the caldera floor at sunrise, on a clear day, you will see Mt. Meru in the far distance . Further still, you also see Mount Kilimanjaro. Enjoy the spectacular beauty for a while before descend to the base, lunch at Lake Natron Tented Camp, drive back to Arusha.