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Plains To Peak
The Ultimate Kilimanjaro Climb!
13 DAYS (9 days on Kilimanjaro)

For climb only please select Lemosho Glades hike

full itinerary | prices and departures

Why Plains to Peak?

As well as Hoopoe's superlative Lemosho climb, this adventure includes 2 nights in a secluded luxury camp walking in the wild with Maasai guides. The whole expedition is lead by one of our charismatic wilderness guides and the epxerience is the most complete Kilimanjaro experience available today!

Hoopoe set departure climbs are the ideal Kilimanjaro hikes. They are the safest ascent rates for each given route and we only run departures on the 2 most scenic routes. Read about our guide training courses here. Hoopoe provides Oxygen + portable altitude chamber for safety purposes + all guides go through 2 x 1 month long compulsory training sessions per year.

Description
This expedition is much more than just a climb - it is the ultimate Kilimanjaro experience all the way from plains to summit. No other company offers so much in one itinerary from the luxury camp and walking on the plains with wildlife to hiking Kilimanjaro's most scenic route - the Lemosho route. The highest attention to detail and client attention come as standard!

Highlights

  • Amboseli Elephants
  • Walking with Maasai
  • Western forests
  • Shira plateau
  • Lava Tower
  • Barranco valley
  • Karanga valley
  • Views of Mawenzi
  • Kibo Crater
  • Glaciers up close
  • Chance of success > 95%

Learn more about Kilimanjaro here.

Full Itinerary

Day 1
ARUSHA

Whenever you arrive, you’ll be personally met and transferred to a lovely resort in the foothills of Mt. Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain. Those arriving specially early can book optional activities. Here you meet you trip leader for the expedition with a full trip briefing.

Day 2
WEST KILIMANJARO PRIVATE WILDERNESS

This morning we start our adventure and head to our own private wilderness. The secluded camp, nestled at the base of Kilimanjaro on the edge of the Amboseli plains is our home for the next two nights.

Day 3
WEST KILIMANJARO PRIVATE WILDERNESS

Today we have a full day of activities ahead including an acclimatisation bush walk, visit to see our Maasai friends and for the tireless, a night game drive! Massive elephants, some of the very biggest in Africa, as well as plains game and arid area specialist like the Gerenuk live in this fenceless wilderness and your stay here contributes to the Maasai communities nearby.

Day 4
FOREST

This morning after a leisurely breakfast we set off for the next stage of our adventure - Kilimanjaro! After picking up the requisite documentation at the park gate, the safari continues to the Lemosho Glades starting point. Less steep than the Machame route and less used, today’s trek is through the forest that laces the foot of the mountain. This evening's camp is pitched in the forest at around 2750m.

Day 5
SHIRA 1

Today's trek takes you slowly up the edge of the Shira volcano. As you gain altitude the vegetation thins and exotic species of high altitude plants appear. Camp is situated near the rim of the ancient volcano and provides a good opportunity to get the first direct views of Kilimanjaro's peak. Camp is pitched at about 3500m.

Day 6
SHIRA 2

Trek to Shira 2 Camp across the Shira Plateau, the flat caldera of a volcano that was actually bigger and is much older than Kilimanjaro. Views can be very weather specific but on good days are breathtaking. Bilious clouds are often observed melting down from its rim onto the heath covered plateau. Kibo also shines with a silvery luminance as the glaciers reflect the strong sunlight. At times mist covers the plateau - views come and go quickly. You arrive in time for lunch and then have plenty time to relax and even go for a short acclimatisation walk in the afternoon.

Day 7
LAVA TOWER

Today you will walk for 3 - 5 hours, enjoying sightings of the typical Kilimanjaro mountain vegetation and reaching a high point of around 4600 meters at our Lava Tower camp. The hiking takes us out of the heath zone into alpine desert where only the very toughest tussock grasses can survive. Freezing at night and blazing conditions in the day make this a hard place to exist. For those that are up to it we ascend the Lava Tower in the afternoon. Overnight Lava Tower (full board).

Day-8
KARANGA VALLEY

Today we hike from Lava Tower to Karanga valley. The trail initially sets of down hill into the Barranco valley before ascending the Barranco wall. In this region there are significant numbers of very mature Senecios (giant groundsels). Lunch is taken on trail before heading onto Karanga valley and up to camp. In the afternoon we have time to relax and for the very active there is a chance to head over to the Karanga valley to look at some spectacular glacial scenery. Karanga Camp (full board).

Day-9
BARAFU

About 2 hours from Karanga you will come out on the Barafu path (part of the Mweka Trail). It is a further 1-2 hours to Barafu Hut. The last stage to Barafu hut is quite steep, and as always we advise taking it as easy as possible. Once in camp we have lunch and then in the afternoon head out on an afternoon acclimatization hike to around 4700 – 4800 meters. Back at camp dinner is served. Views of Mawenzi peak are also superb here. Overnight Barafu camp (full board).

Day-10
CRATER

Today we ascend to the roof of Africa! After an early start we ascend up to the rim of the Kibo crater. It’s slow going as there is so little oxygen here. However, with patience and determination we arrive at the rim and descend into the crater for lunch in camp. The afternoon is taken relaxing and acclimatizing. It is a short walk over to the Furtwangler glacier for those that are feeling active! Dinner is taken in the mess tent and then off to bed. Overnight Crater Camp (full board).

Day 11
SUMMIT

We rise early to try to time our ascent with the rising sun. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to reach Uhuru peak – our ultimate goal. After sunrise we then head down the mountain down scree slopes and the biggest glacial valley on Kilimanjaro. The trail passes back through Barafu camp where we rest briefly before continuing down to Millenium camp for lunch. In the afternoon we take an easy pace down to Mweka camp, our last camp on Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight Mweka camp (full board).

Day 12
ARUSHA

The final descent takes you through the lower heath section that eventually turns into rainforest. Your time on Kilimanjaro ends at Mweka Gate where your vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to your evening's accommodation. You may now relax, take a hot shower or even relax by the pool! Enjoy a wonderful celebration dinner!

Day 13
ARUSHA/DEPART

You will be privately transferred to Kilimanjaro or Arusha airports for your departure. But don’t go yet! Consider our Taste of Tanzania which begins, today!

2008 Departure Dates

For climb only please select Lemosho Glades hike

starts
ends
$ sharing
$ + Single
19-Mar-08
31-Mar-08
4495
280
2-Apr-08
14-Apr-08
4495
280
16-Apr-08
28-Apr-08
4495
280
30-Apr-08
12-May-08
4495
280
14-May-08
26-May-08
4495
280
28-May-08
9-Jun-08
4495
280
11-Jun-08
23-Jun-08
4495
280
25-Jun-08
7-Jul-08
4495
280
9-Jul-08
21-Jul-08
4495
280
23-Jul-08
4-Aug-08
4495
280
6-Aug-08
18-Aug-08
4495
280
20-Aug-08
1-Sep-08
4495
280
3-Sep-08
15-Sep-08
4495
280
17-Sep-08
29-Sep-08
4495
280
1-Oct-08
13-Oct-08
4495
280
15-Oct-08
27-Oct-08
4495
280
29-Oct-08
10-Nov-08
4495
280
12-Nov-08
24-Nov-08
4495
280
26-Nov-08
8-Dec-08
4495
280
10-Dec-08
22-Dec-08
4495
280
24-Dec-08
5-Jan-09
4495
280

Read more about Hoopoe moutain guides

Ask about this itinerary Now

Learn more about Kilimanjaro here.

Please Read our TERMS & CONDITIONS page before booking.

 

Lemosho Set Departure

Amboseli bull elephants

West Kilimanjaro sunset

West Kilimanjaro Wilderness Maasai

 

 

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