Kilimanjaro, 19,340 ft. The Roof of Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro towers above the African plains, its peak seeming to pierce the clouds like a giant spear. Formed over 500 000 years ago, this enormous Stratavolcano has been nicknamed The Mountain of Greatness by the local tribes that live within its vicinity. Not surprising when you consider the fact that, at 19,340 feet, it is the tallest mass on the African continent and one of the most notable free standing mountains in the world.

Situated in North Eastern Tanzania, Kilimanjaro lies a mere 3 degrees or about 200 miles south of the equator on the border between Tanzania and Kenya. The majority of routes leading to the summit begin in Tanzania, although it is also possible to access certain trails such as Rongai from the Kenyan side of the border.

Kilimanjaro represents a powerful life force for the local Chagga people and all those who have made their lives around this mountain, providing rich volcanic soils for agriculture and an endless source of pure spring waters.

Kilimanjaro is one of the highest mountains that regular tourists can climb, although it remains a considerable feat of human endurance. The breathable oxygen at the top is less than half the amount than is common at sea level, and climbers cover at least eighty kilometers on nothing but their own two feet over the time it takes to reach the top and return.

Summit Xperience will work with Nickson Moshi and his staff at Massai Giraffe to make you ascent of Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route, sometimes called the Whiskey Route, a fun, safe and rewarding expedition. Nickson has been to the summit over 200 times, as such his experience on this mountain is unparalleled.

The price includes:

• Transfer to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
• Transport to Arusha for shopping/sightseeing.
• Two nights accommodation prior to the climb and one night accommodation after the climb. Double occupancy.
  Single occupancy rates available on request. Breakfast included. Most likely the Arusha Crown Hotel - www.arushacrownhotel.com
• All meals on the mountain.
• Assistant guides, cooks, porters
• All Kilimanjaro National Park fees
• Colorado Training Hikes. Click here for more information or contact us

The price does NOT include:

• All round trip flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Lunches, dinners and snacks in Arusha.
• Alcohol, additional beverages
• Laundry costs
• Tips. These are of course optional. You should budget on about $500 of tips throughout the trip.
  This includes all the on-mountain staff and hotels staff. Cash is best – bring US Dollars in small denominations.

Many Summit Xperience clients finish their Kilimanjaro adventure with a safari and/or a visit to the exotic island of Zanzibar. There are several options available depending on your budget and time available. Please contact us and we will help you set up the prefect add-on to your trip to Tanzania.

Required Equipment
Click here for a list of equipment and items that you need to bring on your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro Photos

Click on a thumbnail to launch a slideshow of these images

Kilimanjaro Itinerary

July 13 Leave US.

July 14 Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport at approximately 8:30pm. You will be met by our lead African guide, Nickson Moshi. Nickson and his staff will help you with your bags. It is about a 1 hour drive to the Arusha Hotel in Arusha where you will be welcome by friendly staff and checked in to your rooms.

July 15 After breakfast you have three options. Either visit two markets where you can do some sight-seeing and shopping, visit Arusha National Park and see some of Africa’s wild animals (additional $50 charge for park fees) or take your own time to rest and relax. We will have lunch together at the Arusha Hotel before our final packing and gear check. Dinner at Arusha Hotel.

July 16 We will leave the hotel at 9:00am and drive to the Machame Gate. You will be able to leave a bag of gear at the hotel. Your duffle bags for the climb should be 30lbs. We will have a scale available to help. The drive to the gate is about 60 minutes. At the gate final preparations will be made, we will sign in the park register and then we are off! This first day is about 4 hours long. You are climbing up through the rainforest so it could be damp. Rain gear is required! We will have lunch on the way to the camp. By mid-afternoon we will arrive at the Machame Camp. Nickson’s staff will have already set up your tents as well as the meal tent and kitchen tent. All you need to do is set up your personal gear in the tent and relax!

July 17 Today we continue to ascent through and out of the rainforest. We start to get amazing views of the mountain so have your cameras ready. We overnight in Shira Plateau Camp.

July 18 We will leave camp and climb past the Lava Tower. We will stop for lunch here and scramble to the top of the Tower for stunning views of the upper mountain. We will then continue to the Barranco Camp.

July 19 Immediately after breakfast we will climb up and over the great Barranco Wall. We then traverse round to Karanga Camp. There is almost no elevation gain today so this doubles as an acclimatization day.

July 20 Now we are getting to the sharp end of the trip. We will gain some more elevation as we make our way to our final camp, Kosovo Camp. This camp is about 1 hour above the better know – and very busy – Barafu Camp. Staying at Kosovo puts us a little closer to the summit and away from the noisy crowds in Barafu Camp.

We will get in to Kosovo Camp at about midday. After lunch we will have a final team briefing for the summit push ahead. Everyone will be nervous about the next 24 hours but still try and relax! Get your gear ready, be absolutely sure that you have everything in place and take a nap. It is going to be a long night.

July 21 Sometime after midnight we will wake you up – assuming you have slept – and have a light breakfast ready for you. It will probably be COLD and you will now need all that warm gear you brought. The ascent to Stella Point will take between 4 and 6 hours. It is fairly steep but the guides always set a very steady pace so we keep the team together. Stella Point is on the crater rim and from it you can now see the final section of the route to the summit. It is much less steep now and the sun is probably coming up. We will pause for a warm drink and snack before traversing round the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro – the Roof of Africa.

After we have all had a chance to take pictures and enjoy the spectacular views we head back down the way we came up to Kosovo Camp. We don’t stay here though. We will pack up and head on down the mountain to Millennium Camp where we have dinner and a well deserved meal and sleep.

July 22 We will continue our decent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate where we will have a celebration meal before returning to the Arusha Hotel.

July 23 Our last day in Africa unless you are continuing on to a safari. The flight home leaves at about 9:00pm so we have all day to do some final shopping or just relax by the pool and reflect on the adventure you have just had.

If you are going home you will be picked at 5:00pm for the transfer to the airport. Safari folks will also leave today.

July 24 You will arrive at your home destination with a pack full of dirty cloths, a camera full of pictures and a mind full of amazing memories.

Additional Information

You can use your own travel agent, alternatively we recommend that you contact Dana Welch of the Travel Society. Dana has been working with Summit Xperience customers for many years. She is an expert at expedition travel requirements. She can be reached at (303) 563-6225 or via email at dana@travelsociety.com.

Dana will also be able to give you advice about travel insurance. Check with your provider regarding health insurance coverage.

Most travel insurance companies will expect you to purchase their policies within two weeks of paying your initial deposit for your upcoming adventure. This is usually the case if you expect to be covered for any pre-existing conditions.

You will most likely need to get some shots from your travel clinic or doctor prior to the trip. Consult EARLY.

A visa is required to enter Tanzania. You can do this prior to traveling through the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington D.C. www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/visa/visa.html or through Travel Docs which will expedite the process for you www.traveldocs.com/tz/index.htm.

Alternatively you can get your entry visa when you arrive in Kilimanjaro International. This is the cheapest option but may take quite a long time to get through passport control if you also have to buy a visa.

All prices are on double occupancy. If you are a single traveler we will try and pair you up with another same-sex single traveler. If you request single occupancy an addition fee will be incurred. Contact us for information.