Summary

Africa: Kilimanjaro / Safari

Prices From	USD$ $4,600.00
1st Departure	01.01.0001
Provider	Bio Bio Expeditions
Destination	Arusha and Kilimanjaro
Duration	14 days
Challenge	Intermediate
Avg Rating	Not Rated

The rooftop of Africa awaits! Yes, you can climb one of the "Seven Summits!" Bio Bio Expeditions has a 90% success rate of guests reaching the top of Kilimanjaro. All ages and abilities have had the honor of summiting this beautiful mountain. Rising up out of the African savannah, snow capped Kilimanjaro is a wonder to behold. We combine the climb with game viewing safaris in some of Africa's most famous parks and can also arrange for a visit to the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. Nothing compares to standing on the summit of Africa's highest peak!

Our team comes together in the town of Arusha with the alpenglow of the mountain in the distance. The route we've chosen is the Modified Shira Route which takes us through many different climate zones, offers fabulous views, has fewer crowds and provides better acclimatization! Porters carry all of our gear (under strict weight regulations for their health and safety). You only need a day pack, your hiking shoes and of course, a camera. Our days are spent trekking at a comfortable pace with frequent rest stops. We arrive at camp after it's already set up with your 4 season North Face tents and we dine in a sturdy Mountain Hardware "Space Station." Professional mountain guides well trained in emergencies and the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness accompany the team the entire way. Depending on the pace of the group, we arrive at the summit, Uhuru Peak, 19,340 feet, just after sunrise. What a spectacular moment! Over the next 2 days we descend all the way back to the cloud forest and go on to explore the incredible wildlife of Africa.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), purchase your tourist visa ($100 cash) and go through customs before collecting your luggage. You will be met at the arrival hall by a Bio Bio Expeditions staffer who will escort you to the Moivaro Lodge. The lodge lays 7km from the center of Arusha and sits on a 40 acre coffee plantation complete with beautifully laid gardens and walk ways. From the main building there is an incredible view of Mt Meru, the second tallest mountain of Tanzania. The restaurant and bar are under a classic African thatch roof that is tastefully complemented by a peaceful setting for the swimming pool, just a short walk across the manicured lawn in the center of the property. The rooms are quaint cottages, each with its own veranda and private bath. You will love this start to your stay in Africa! Elevation - 1,500 meters / 4920 feet.

Day 2

Many people wisely choose to take the opportunity to rest from the long journey as well as mentally and physically prepare for your Kilimanjaro ascent. However, you do have the choice of visiting the town of Arusha, which is culturally interesting and offers great shopping opportunities. Or, you may choose to do an introductory game drive to the nearby Arusha National Park. (This game drive is not included in your trip price.) If you opt for the game drive, you will be picked up in a comfortable safari vehicle and drive one hour to the Arusha National Park. This is a beautiful, lush, relatively small park at the base of Mt. Meru with incredible views of Kilimanjaro. You will enjoy the forested foothills and the open, grassy calderas, which offer perfect viewing of cape buffalo and other herd animals, such as elephant, zebra, giraffe, impala, sable, waterbuck, bushbuck, and warthog. The forest is also a favorite habitat of blue monkeys, baboons, and Colobus monkeys. Return to Moivaro Lodge. Elevation - 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet.

Day 3

Today we begin our climb! Day packs and poles ready! Day 1 of trekking – the gate to Shira 1 Camp: After a hearty breakfast, we drive approximately 2 hours up to the town of Londorossi where we check into Kilimanjaro National Park. It’s a short drive on a steep track through farmland and plantations up to Morum Gate. We climb steadily through shrub forest and stands of giant heather to reach the rim of Shira Plateau (3,350 meters / 10,990 feet). The views across the surrounding plains open up as we climb to our first camp in the center of the Shira Plateau. Shira 1 Camp has great views and fewer crowds than the first night of the other routes. The porters will greet us at camp with tea and cookies, tents will be set up and we’ll celebrate our first night on the flanks of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We carry own bathroom tent, which is much nicer than the public facilities on the mountain. Breakfasts and dinners are served in our roomy dining tent (Mountain Hardware Space Station) and our dining chairs all have back support to provide the most comfort possible. Our porters will also provide hot water in washbasins so you can freshen up before meals and at bedtime! (Camp at 3,610 meters / 11,843 feet) 4-5 hours of hiking.

Day 4

Day 2 of trekking – Shira 1 Camp to Shira Camp: This is a gradual day to help acclimatization and to explore the grassy moorland and the volcanic rock formations of the plateau. Make way for the porters and they pass by with our camp in pieces on their backs. After you arrive at Shira Camp, there’s an option to take a short walk to see the caves that used to serve as shelter for porters. The sun will soon set behind the rugged mountain ridge of the Shira Plateau casting a purple hue over the valley. (Camp at 3,840 meters / 12,598 feet.) 5-6 hours hiking.

Day 5

Day 3 of trekking – Shira Camp to Barranco Camp: We ascend out of Shira Camp at a nice slow pace, as this is the highest we've been yet. Kibo is in front of us throughout the hike. After a lunch stop, we detour up a steep slope to the impressive Lava Tower, a tall, black volcanic mass of rock. Some choose to scramble to the top, being rewarded with beautiful views. Or, you may opt to rest and relax! On the steep hillside above us we can see the Western Breach trail which goes directly to the Kibo Glacier. After admiring the Lava Tower, we descend down to a cold glacial stream, refill our water bottles and continue on and around the mountain. At this point, we continue to circumnavigate Kilimanjaro and view this beautiful mountain from many different angles. After hiking across a sparse lava field, we descend to the beautiful Barranco Camp. There is another cold stream flowing through this scenic valley with the impressive Barranco Wall on the opposite side. (Camp at 3,950 meters / 12,959 feet.) 6-8 hours hiking.

Day 6

Day 4 of trekking – Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp: Wake up to hot tea and breakfast and immediately make our assault on the steep Barranco Wall, fondly called "the Breakfast Climb" as it is our first challenge of the day. We will see Kibo from a new angle and have a nice, fairly short walk through high desert terrain and over several ridges to the Karanga River Valley Camp. We camp beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. This is a “short” day of hiking so one may choose to do a hike up to the scree field and then "ski" back down or just rest in camp with a good book. (Camp at 4,200 meters / 13,780 feet.) 4-6 hours hiking.

Day 7

Day 5 of trekking: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp: After climbing out of the Karanga Valley, the trail ascends a ridge to the Barafu Camp, our highest camp yet, at 15,980 feet. From this dry camp (there are no nearby streams) we will be making our ascent to the top. We plan to arrive early in order to adequately rest before our 11:30 pm wake-up call. (Camp at 4,600 meters / 15,091 feet.) 3-4 hours hiking.

Day 8

3,360 feet up, 9,172 feet down…3.12 miles up, 7.5 miles down! Day 6 of trekking: Barafu Camp to summit and back down to Mweka Camp: Rise and shine at 11:30 pm! Dressed in our warmest gear and with plenty of water (4 liters each), snacks, and headlamps we meet in the dining tent for some tea and cookies. We begin climbing by starlight using our headlamps, the local guides always reminding us to go “polee-polee” (slowly-slowly). This portion of the climb is, as you might imagine, the most demanding. This is the marathon day! The steepest section arrives just before Stella Point. We ascend to the rim of the Kibo Crater between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers. The last section before the rim can sometimes be snow-covered and ski poles or a walking stick is useful for balance. From here another hour leads to Uhuru Peak, (Freedom Peak) at 5,895 meters / 19,340 feet, the highest point on the continent of Africa. After watching the sunrise and snapping plenty of photos, we descend back down to the Barafu Hut for a rest and lunch. We then continue down the Mweka trail (used for descent only) through the giant heather zone to arrive near sunset at the Mweka Camp. This is a festive yet dusty camp on the edge of the rainforest where you might want to have a little extra money handy to purchase beers and/or sodas. (Camp at 3,100 meters / 10,170 feet.) 11-15 hours hiking.

Day 9

Day 7 of trekking: Mweka Camp to Mweka Village: Four to five hour hike down the Mweka trail through the rainforest. Arrive in the village of Mweka where there are plenty of wood curios, batiks, T-shirts, and souvenirs for sale. We have a delicious hot lunch in the village then get on the bus for an hour-long drive back to the Moivaro Lodge, which will be a welcome, clean sanctuary. After showers and rest, a delightful feast awaits us as we celebrate our accomplishment!

Day 10

We are picked up in comfortable safari Landcruisers with removable roofs and drive west two hours to Tarangire National Park. This park draws large herds from across the Maasai during the dry season as thousands of animals migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water. Lions and other predators follow the herds and can be found throughout the park. The park is approximately 2600 sq km. We have lunch at the entrance to the park and then have an afternoon game drive, ending up at the southeastern edge of the park. We check into the beautifully laid out Kikoti Lodge and tented bungalows. The lodge is located on a ridge with one of Tanzania’s most spectacular panoramic views. While relaxing on the deck you can observe a variety of animals passing below and gaze across the vast plains to the escarpment on the far end, which is the natural extension of the western edge of the Great Rift Valley. Accommodations are opulent large tents set on raised thatched platforms complete with beds, a desk, sitting chairs, electricity, bathrooms, hot showers and a private veranda looking west.

Day 11

We have full day to explore Tarangire National Park with a dawn game drive and a mid-day siesta. We then go for an afternoon game walk to a rock outcropping overlooking the valley and enjoy a fireball African sunset. We return to the lodge to have dinner and then you may opt for a night drive to study the nocturnal and diurnal creatures. Again, overnight at Kikoti Camp.

Day 12

After breakfast we leave Tarangire for Lake Manyara (95kms). Here, there are panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley. We stop along the way to visit Massai villages and overnight at the Serena Ngorongoro Lodge or Ngorongoro Farm House.

Day 13

After an early morning breakfast, we descend into the crater for a full day game drive. Overnight at Crater Serena Lodge or Ngorongoro Farm House. A few words about Ngorongoro crater… Often described as one of the wonders of the world, it was declared a WORLD HERITAGE SITE in 1978. The worlds largest intact volcanic caldera, it is a natural sanctuary for some of Africa's densest animal populations. Grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, mountains and wildlife are all there. The approach road winds up and up through the densely forested outer slopes to Heroes Point where there is a spectacular viewpoint over the 260 square km crater floor lying 600 m below. The Gol Mountains are at the far rim, Lake Magadi in the centre with Seneto springs to the left. Gorigor swamp lies to the right and Lerai Forest in the foreground. Access to the crater is strictly monitored, with only three roads (two of them, one-way,) to the crater floor. The authorities rigidly forbid tourists from entering the crater before 07.00 and they must leave before 18.00.It is estimated that there are up to 25,000 large mammals in the 100 square miles of the crater floor so you always see many animals on a game drive. They are mainly grazers but carnivores include a population of about 100 lions and approx. 400 hyenas. Open grassland covers most of the crater floor and this supports large concentrations of wildebeest and zebra. Buffalo, Thompson's and Grantís gazelle, eland, hartebeest and warthog are also common. There are no giraffe, Topi or impala in the crater. Elephant are mainly found in the swamp and there is a population of about 25 black rhino. Hippos are mainly found at Ngoitokitok Springs. There are many birds including flamingo on Lake Magadi.

Day 14

Drive back to Arusha. Stop along the way to visit the Reptile Farm. Arrive in Arusha in time to wash up and catch your International flight home or transfer to the island of Zanzibar.

Gear List

Packing for Kilimanjaro is not an easy task. All types of weather will be encountered and a wide range of temperatures. For example, temperatures at the base of the mountain in the towns of Moshi or Arusha may be as warm as 85°f / 30°c degrees and temperatures on the summit may be as low as 14°f / -10°c! Also, it is not uncommon to see afternoon rains and even snow! You should dress with the layering system in mind. We suggest polypropylene underwear and then adding other synthetic layers in the cool parts of the day. No cotton! Having warm / rain gear in your daypack is essential. Luggage to bring: You should bring a soft duffle bag, one other piece of luggage and a daypack. The soft duffle will be taken on the climb and carried by the porters. No wheels, internal frames, etc will make it easier for the porters to lash multiple bags together. The other bag with your safari gear will be left in Arusha at the hotel. When you return from the climb you can switch out bags/gear. After the climb, the Moivaro can do laundry for a fee and should be able to get it back to you by the next morning. While hiking your porter will only be carrying 30 pounds of gear not including the tent. Keep this in mind when deciding what to bring and make sure you are able to carry any weight above 30 pounds. We provide 4 season expedition tents but there is the option to bring your own tent if you would like. Please let us know if you would like to do this, so we can make arrangements. SAFARI CLOTHES • Pants- 2 pair light colored • Long sleeve shirts - 2 light or tan colored. You want to stay covered up as much as possible to protect against mosquitoes. • 1 sweater/fleece for early morning and late afternoon game drives • Walking shoes - comfortable • Swimming suit - some of the lodges have pools • Hat- wide brimmed for sun protection • Binoculars and wildlife guides • Pants and button down shirt or dress/skirt for dinner. • Camera with zoom lens - Guests have been very happy with a 300-millimeter lens! *Lots of film or a large memory card(s) and extra batteries.



CLIMBING / TREKKING • 6 pair of warm socks. - Wool or synthetic. Having a fresh pair of socks for each day is always a nice luxury • 1 pair of hiking shorts • 3 or 4 t-shirts - REI makes a very nice synthetic t-shirt • Underwear - REI also sells men’s and women's briefs that have no cotton in them. They are all synthetic material which dries quickly, wicks moisture away from your body and, if it does get wet, will continue to keep you warm • 1 pair of long underwear • 1 pair of wind proof and waterproof pants • 1 pair of fleece pants • 2 long sleeve polypropylene shirts • 1 warm fleece sweater • 1 down jacket or vest • 1 waterproof shell with a hood to protect yourself from the wind and or rain. Gortex is a breathable good option! • 1 pair of warm gloves or mittens. Down mittens with fleece liners are recommended. • 1 headlamp - Important for the summit night of hiking. We suggest the new LED lamps, either Petzl or Black Diamond and *extra batteries. • Trekking poles are a must - We do have a supply of older ski type poles in Africa but you may prefer your own. • 1 pair of gators - On both the first and last day of the trek we sometime encounter deep mud! Also some people like gators for keeping the rocks out of their shoes • Hiking Boots - Please bring boots adequate for the below freezing temperatures, possible rain and high winds we may encounter on our summit day. Ideally, this means well-insulated and warm hiking boots that are waterproof (thus providing good wind protection as well). Please be sure you have ample room for thick socks and the possibility of your feet swelling up a little at high altitudes. Constriction is the biggest culprit of a cold foot-- either by way of too tight fitting of a boot or too many sock/ foot warmers in your boot. "Medium weight" hiking boots may suffice as long as you have plenty of wiggle room for very warm socks and foot warmer packs. Please test out your boots before the trip to be sure they will be adequate for summit day. Boots with good ankle support is very important. • Sun hat and warm hat for cold days. • Sunscreen or zinc. • 1 pair of sunglasses • Gatorade, rehydration salts, your own supply of energy bars/gel • Purell, handy wipes • Ear Plugs - for camping / sleeping :) • Face mask, goggles, bandana, or dust mask. A balaclava can be useful for warmth on summit day. • Water bottles and a CamelBak. You should have a 4-liter capacity! A CamelBak is great for the trip except on summit day. Even if your bladder and hose are insulated, there’s a chance that the water inside the hose can freeze. Please have additional water bottles. Also, you can fill your water bottles with hot water at night and use them as a bed warmer. • 2 insulated water bottle carriers (to prevent your water from freezing on summit day.) that can hook onto your belt or daypack waist strap. You will not want to take off your pack to get a drink of water on summit day. Outdoor Research makes one that works well and is sold at REI. • H20 iodine tablets • Cough Drops, Kleenex, Mole skin (for blisters) • Altimeter watches are always fun to have but not a necessity! (Make sure if you buy one that records heights up to 20,000 feet. Some only go to 14,000 feet) • Short wave radios work on the mountain if listening to Voice of America or the BBC world report is interesting to you • 1 paperback book - There is plenty of time to read and relax so bring along a good book! And don’t forget your journal and pens! • Sleeping bag - Most people prefer a 0 degree bag. • Sleeping pad - Very important for insulation! • Toe warmers, Foot-powder • Daypack with approximately 2400 cubic inches of storage for all the gear you want accessible during the day including water, rain gear, warm clothes, snacks, sunscreen, camera, etc. • Duct tape • 3 Heavy duty trash bags to protect your gear from possible rain • Passport (it’s a good idea to have a photocopy of your passport and airline tickets kept in a separate area than the originals) • Proof of yellow fever vaccination card

Travel Information

Activity Location Tanzania: Kilimanjaro International Airport Kilimanjaro International Airport Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, United Republic of

Is This Trip For You? This trip is perfect for anyone looking to reach the highest point in Africa. If you have dreamed of summiting one of the worlds 7 summits, Kilimanjaro is a great place to start. This is a non-technical climb and requires no previous mountaineering experience. No one ever knows how their body will react to high altitudes and Kilimanjaro is a nice testing ground. You are able to reach high altitudes in a relatively safe environment. For the past 10 years Bio Bio Expeditions has guided people of all ages and shapes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We consider this trip strenuous but anyone in decent shape has a good chance of reaching the summit. We have carefully chosen the Modified Shira Route for our journey up the mountain. For those not concerned with the summit, but want to enjoy a scenic trek on Mt Kilimanjaro, this route is ideal. Food We carry a mobile kitchen capable of producing amazing meals and can cater our menu to any diet. The entire kitchen staff take great pride in the meals. Each meal is enjoyed in our deluxe Mountain Hardware Space Station. This shelter protects us from the elements and creates a warm, dry, windless area to enjoy our sit down meals. Money While the Tanzanian Shilling is the local currency, you can buy almost everything with dollars. Some hotels even prefer it. You can exchange a bit of US cash to buy supplies and goodies at the local grocery store and for souvenirs from street venders. Traveler’s checks are no longer an efficient way to change money. Exchange rates are high and places to do this are limited. Also, using credit cards or ATMs is not always possible though there are a couple ATMs in Arusha. With this mind, it is nice to carry a fair amount of cash hidden in different areas. Small, crisp, clean bills are useful because many people can’t change the larger bills. We suggest approximately $1000 dollars in cash, a credit card, and your ATM card. You should have $100 of this in new $1 bills. You will use these bills to tip bellboys at hotels, taxi drivers and the like. The rest should be $5s, $10s and $20s. Destination Location At 5895m (19,340 feet), Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest walkable summit in the world. Mount Kilimanjaro lies on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, just south of the Equator. To the west lies the Great African Rift Valley, Our trip meets at Kilimanjaro International Airport which is about 40k from the town of Arusha, Tanzania, located in Eastern Africa. We will do our best to reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak on Mt Kilimanjaro. Afterwards we will visit the some of the most famous parks in Africa, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater. Guide(s) We began running trips in Africa in 1990 and over the years have joined forces with the most experienced guides on Kilimanjaro. We believe it is the close and warm relationships with these fun-loving, hard working Africans that makes our trips so successful and memorable. Like Chile, Tanzania is another "home away from home" for us where we are truly welcomed with open arms and led to some of the country's best, most hidden spots. On all of our Kilimanjaro trips we use a combination of local African guides who grew up on the flanks of Kilimanjaro, and some of our regular Bio Bio guides who have climbed mountains all over the world. Our local guides have no less than 100 Kilimanjaro summits. Most importantly, the combination of American and African guides creates the best situation for learning, laughing, safety and smiles! Our guide to guest ratio is one of the highest in the industry. This allows everyone to walk at their own pace and never have to worry about going too fast or too slow. Transportation Please do not hesitate to call Bio Bio Expeditions if you need help booking airfare to Tanzania. Our trip officially meets at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Visas can be obtained at the airport for a US$100.00 fee. Accommodations While in town we stay in beautiful, high-end, centrally located hotels. The nomadic camps we create as we hike up the mountain are very comfortable with spectacular views!