Kilimanjaro 'Full Moon' Climb
Nothing can beat the magic of attempting the summit of Kilimanjaro during a full moon night. Glaciers glisten in the moonlight and the way is naturally illuminated for you as you reach the peak.
Itinerary
| Day 1 - Protea Aishi Hotel | Meals: D |
After arriving at Kilimanjaro airport you will be taken to your hotel on the slopes of the mountain, where you will meet your guide who will talk you through what to expect during the week ahead.At this time you'll meet the rest of the group and have dinner together in the hotel dining room. This is a group trip and you can expect there to be around 20 people, from all over the world. Each night you'll be camping in tents, which are assigned to each climber/couple.
Accommodation: Protea Aishi Hotel
| Day 2 - Machame Gate to Machame Camp | Meals: B L D |
After breakfast, we will leave the hotel at approximately 8:00am for the village of Machame where the trek begins. From the park entrance gate (Machame), you will walk for about two to three hours through a dense mixed forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation. A stop for lunch will be made halfway to the evening's campsite. As you continue your ascent, you will find that the tropical forest has given way to tall grasses and large heather bushes. You will be walking on a ridge, to the left of which is the Semira stream, and on the right, the Weru. Depending on the pace of the climbers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5 - 6:00pm. Your camp is set up near some old metal huts, which were once used for shelter.This initial stage of the climb is tranquil and relatively easy. There is no point in rushing to get to the camp and the guides will recommend a slow ascent, even at this point, for gradual acclimatisation. Do not try to keep up with your porters, who will usually bound ahead. Instead just take time to admire the beauty of the rainforest. If you are interested in botany we recommend bringing a small reference book as you will not always be walking right beside the guides.
Accommodation: Machame Camp (10,000 ft)
| Day 3 - Machame Camp to Shira Camp | Meals: B L D |
On this and subsequent mornings, the wake-up call is at around 6:00am. You will be greeted with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and weather permitting, a fabulous view of Uhuru peak. Today's trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. You will encounter giant groundsels as you hike through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams.Lunch will be taken just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp. The hike to the next campsite takes approximately six hours and you should arrive between 2 and 3:00pm. Most climbers tend to pace themselves, walking slowly and resting about every half-hour. Many will feel lethargic by the time they reach camp. Guides advise those trying to adapt to the thin air to drink hot tea and sleep - and there is no better advice to follow at this stage.
Accommodation: Shira Camp (12,500 ft)
| Day 4 - Shira Plateau to Barranco Camp | Meals: B L D |
Wake up and see the entire Shira Plateau greeting you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles. A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower (15,000 ft), where you stop to have lunch. Crossing the Bastains Stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp. The descent takes you along an immense canyon called Grand Barranco. Along the way, you will see numerous waterfalls which are fed by streams coming from the mountain, converging here to form the Umbwe River. Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before. Today's trek lasts for about six hours and arrival at camp is between 4:30 and 5:30pm.
Accommodation: Barranco Camp (13,000 ft)
| Day 5 - Barranco Cliff to Karanga Camp | Meals: B L D |
This morning you begin your hike to Karanga Camp, which is on the same altitude as the Barranco Camp.You will encounter a bit of a climb at Barranco Cliff and spend the rest of the day climbing up and down the slopes of the mountain most of the way to camp. The climbing is not considered difficult and you should arrive in time for lunch (around 1:00pm) having trekked for about four hours.This afternoon you can explore the surrounding areas of the Karanga Valley where giant senecios and lobelia grow - you'll get some amazing photographs!
Accommodation: Karanga Camp (13,000ft)
| Day 6 - Karanga Camop to Barafu Camp | Meals: B L D |
This morning you will begin your scenic climb to Barafu, which is situated for the greater part on a moraine with a view of Mawenzi peak towering majestically above - and Kibo peak seemingly just out of reach. The Alpine desert terrain encountered at this point is mostly a rocky mineral-rich ground with a few lichens and mosses growing.Climbers who choose to ascend the peak should go to bed very early this eveing, as the next day is the longest one.
Accommodation: Barafu Camp (15,200 ft)
| Day 7 - Ascent to summit; descent to Mweka Camp | Meals: B L D |
You will be awoken at midnight and after a light 'breakfast', start climbing at around 1:00am. It is at this stage that the climb becomes more difficult. Now, very few will not be feeling the effects of the thin air in some form or another, and climbers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the climb. Temperatures will be as low as -20 Celcius - so that means cold. As we ascend, the full moon will hang above us in the night sky (assuming it is clear weather), illuminating our path.Making your way up a path that is flanked by the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers, you will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, between Stella and Hans Meyer points. Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit. Uhuru stands at 19,340 feet and is the highest point on the continent of Africa. The track around the edge of the crater is rocky and icy. Concentrate on your feet, and follow your guide very closely for this portion of the journey.At the summit you'll have time to savour your triumph and pose for pictures as the sun rises, flooding the plains of Africa with golden sunlight.The descent is no easier than the ascent. You will reach Kibo Hut after about three hours (around 11:30am). Climbers will be given the opportunity to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night. Arriving at camp at around 5:00PM, you will have been on the move for a total of sixteen hours today.
Accommodation: Mweka Camp (10,200ft)
| Day 8 - Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate – Day Room - depart | Meals: B L |
On the final day of the journey, climbers descend from Mweka camp to the base. The descent to the gate will take approximately 5 hours and climbers usually arrive before noon. Upon arrival at the gate climbers will be rewarded with certificates attesting their success at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.You will then be driven to your hotel for a day room, allowing you to take a well earned shower and change of clothes.There will be a transfer available for your departure flight.
Included
- Accommodation on HB Basis in a hotel before the climb
- Day room at a hotel after the climb.
- Transfer to and from the hotel and the mountain.
- All food during the climb on the mountain (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Kilimanjaro park entrance fees, camp/hut fees, standard KINAPA rescue fees.
- Kilimanjaro briefing and de-briefing.
- Services of trained English speaking mountain guide, cooks and porters (porters are Swahili speaking mostly)
- Guides wages, cooks and porters standard to the norm of Mountain Society of Kilimanjaro.
- Portage of 1 bag (maximum 18 kgs) per person.
- Oximeter Safety equipment to check blood oxygen levels of clients daily.
Excluded
- Tips to the guides, cook and porters
- Shuttle bus from Nairobi – Arusha – Nairobi
- Climbing equipment such as clothes, sleeping bags, sleeping mat etc.
- Mineral water
- Visas
- Laundry
- Traveller insurance
- Telephone calls
- All other expenses resulting from early descend before the completion of the climb such as transfer, extra nights etc.
- Gamow Bag
- Oxygen Cylinder
- Notes:Our services start and end at the Mountain Gate.
Tour starts/ends:
Starts: Unless otherwise stated, most tours start in Arusha. Zanzibar tours start at Zanzibar Airport.
Ends: See itinerary for details
Note: we can also pick you up or drop you off at the hotel of your choice in the greater Arusha area if you notify us in advance.
Expected group size:
On regular group tours the expected total group size is between 2 and 10 travellers.
Type of vehicles used:
In Tanzania all your transfers and game drives will be in 4x4’s.
Level of ability required:
Although there will be no special strength and fitness requirements, please note that safari lodges situated in remote areas are by their very nature lacking in many of the modern conveniences found in cities. For this reason please be prepared for uneven floors and sometimes challenging access.
You must be able-bodied and have the ability to move independently without help on most of our tours. If you have any specific mobility requirements please contact us beforehand.
Food and dietary information:
The food prepared at the lodges and/or hotels on this tour will be of an international nature and suited to a broad range of visitors. If you have any specific dietary requirements please let us know in advance so that we can inform the lodges and hotels along the route. Alcoholic drinks, unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary, are not included in the price.
Health and vaccinations:
You should speak to your health provider about what vaccinations you will need for your trip to Kenya. In addition, most doctors recommend taking anti-malarial pills for your visit and following measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitos, such as covering up exposed arms and legs. Lodges will provide mosquito nets over the beds.
If you take any medication, be sure to bring it with you, as well as details of your prescription.
We advise all travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance before their trip.
What to wear:
Important note: If your itinerary includes a leg of the journey on a light aircraft then please be advised that the maximum TOTAL weight allowance including hand luggage is 15kg (approx.. 33lbs) and all luggage must be in a soft bag i.e. NOT a suitcase. These rules are imposed by the airlines and we are unable to make allowances.
We recommend that you do not forget to pack the following:
- Insect repellant cream/spray
- Camera and binoculars
- A torch (flashlight)
- A waterproof/dustproof bag
What to wear:
Although Tanzania lies in the tropics it can get chilly in the evenings and early mornings. On this trip we recommend that you include the following in your baggage:
- A pair of sturdy lightweight shoes or boots
- Light coloured clothing with long sleeves and legs for the evenings and early mornings
- A hat to keep the strong sun off your head
Visa requirements:
Depending on your nationality you will probably need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania for this tour. The current cost of a single-entry tourist visa is USD 50 per person if traveling on a British Passport and $100 per person for an American passport holder (subject to change) Other nationalities vary in fee’s from free to $50, and these can be purchased on arrival, for most nationals, in all major currencies.
For more comprehensive information visit the Project Visa website.
Cancellations:
If you need to cancel your trip for whatever reason, please get in touch with as soon as possible.
For more information about cancellations and refunds please refer to our general Terms & Conditions.
Why not extend your stay with one of these offers
Get a quote