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Kilimanjaro Expedition

Clients on the summit of Kilimanjaro during a Kilimanjaro Expedition
Kilimanjaro Expedition clients posing with an Alpenglow Expeditions sign

Kilimanjaro Expedition

Introductory 9 Day Climb, 3 Day Extension Tanzania
Climb Kilimanjaro, one of the 7 Summits, with our professional mountain guides! The combination of Alpenglow’s internationally certified guides and the premier Tanzanian logistics coordinator give you the highest possibility of safety and success. Experience every ecological zone in the region and minimal crowds on the Rongai Route. Extend your adventure to include the extraordinary Safari for just $2,200.
Dec 28, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025Optional Extension Through Jan 8, 2025
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Clients hiking up Kilimanjaro during a guided Kilimanjaro Expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.

The summit of Kilimanjaro stands at 19,341’/5,895m, the highest point in Africa and one of the famed Seven Summits.

Our Kilimanjaro expedition travels away from the crowds by climbing the Rongai Route. While somewhat longer than the busier routes, the trek is stunning. As it climbs from the trailhead at 6,000’/1,829m to the summit, it passes through every ecological zone found in this area of East Africa. While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you begin in the rainforest, pass through alpine pines, then into grassland, alpine tundra, and eventually the barren world of the crater itself. And over the first 5 days on the mountain, you will see few other climbers or camps.

FITNESS
Trekkers must be in great physical shape to join this expedition. This is perhaps the most important aspect of high altitude trekking, and cannot be stressed enough. Regular, challenging exercise for many months in advance of departure is the only way to gain the necessary level of fitness that is needed. Please contact us for more information on physical training.
TECHNICAL
No prior technical experience required.
ALTITUDE
No prior experience at altitude required.
Clients hiking up Kilimanjaro at sunrise during a guided Kilimanjaro Expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.

Kilimanjaro Itinerary

Clients on the summit of Kilimanjaro during a guided expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.
Day 1
Arrive in Tanzania

Arrive into Kilimanjaro International Airport in the evening, where you will meet your guides. Transfer to our hotel in Arusha, at the base of Kilimanjaro, where we’ll meet up with the rest of the team and get ready to start the expedition.

Day 2
Explore Local Villages

In the morning we explore the local villages surrounding the base of Kilimanjaro. In the afternoon we hold our first team meeting and organize our gear for the climb.

Day 3
Head to our First Camp

Drive to the Rongai trailhead, with stunning views of the mountain along the way. Once there, we meet our Tanzanian porters and staff, organize loads, and then begin our climb through lush forests. Four hours of walking will take us to our first camp, at 9,500 feet (2,696 meters).

Day 4
Move to Camp 2 at 12,000 feet

Our 6-hour hike takes us out of the humid forest and onto a stunning ridge with our first views of the upper crater walls of Kilimanjaro. The trail continues climbing on this ridge to our camp at 12,000 feet (3,658 meters).

Day 5
Hike to Mwenzi Tarn

Today is a 5-hour hike to the Mawenzi Tarn. This camp is a favorite with our groups. The camp at 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) is next to a small lake and below the Mawenzi Towers, with unbelievable views of the entire summit cone and our route to the top.

Day 6
Hike to Kibo Hut

Today’s hike takes us through the last of Kilimanjaro’s vegetated zones and into the barren alpine world of the upper mountain. A four hour hike takes us past species of plants found only here on Kilimanjaro’s upper flanks, and ends at our camp at the Kibo Hut, at 15,500 feet (4,724 meters). This camp is the staging point for many teams’ summit push. With so many other climbers here, the camp has a true international feel.

Day 7
Acclimatization Day

Today is an important additional acclimatization day. We wake up, eat a good breakfast, and go for a 2-3 hour hike to a bit over 16,000 feet (4,877 meters). This dramatically aids in our acclimatization, and gives us a perfect view of our summit route. We get back to camp early, and spend the afternoon resting and preparing for our summit attempt.

Day 8
Summit Day

Summit Day! We wake around midnight for a hot drink and snack and then begin our climb. The first 5-6 hours are steep and we occasionally scramble over rocky sections (no ropes or technical experience are necessary) as we ascend the crater wall. Around sunrise we top out on the wall at Gilman’s Point and step onto the crater. The route from there crosses the small crater glacier and then ascends easily to the true summit, the highest point in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters)! Our descent is via the Marangu route. After at least a 12 hour day we will set camp at 12,000 feet (3,658 meters).

Day 9
Head down to our Hotel

6+ hours of descent take us through the Marangu’s lush rainforests (a completely different ecological zone than we saw on our ascent) to the end of the trail (6,000 feet/1,829 meters) and our van. We return to our hotel for much needed showers and a celebration dinner. Those who only have time for the climb fly home (after 9pm). We highly recommend our Safari Extension, an unforgettable East African experience.

EXTENSION- Day 10
Head to Ngorongoro Crater

A 3 hour drive in the morning takes us to the Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongoro holds the highest concentration of big game anywhere in Africa. It is an unbeatable place to see herds of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, and buffalo, along with the predators that feed on these herds – lions, cheetahs, and leopards. It is also one of the better places to spot rhinoceros. We will return to our hotel on the rim of the crater that evening.

EXTENSION- Day 11
Drive to Central Serengeti

Today we drive to the central Serengeti to continue our Safari. We end our day at a luxury tented camp in the central Serengeti.

EXTENSION- Day 12
Final Safari Day and Departure

An early morning wake up call for a half day game drive allows us to explore at the best time of the day when animals feed. An afternoon bush plane flight brings us back to Arusha in time for evening flight out.

Kilimanjaro Expedition Trip Packet 2024

Our Kilimanjaro Guides

Meet some of the guides that you might climb with on Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Expedition Questions

Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about climbing Kilimanjaro
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