Trip Itinerary for Mt. Kilimanjaro - 2011

Day 1 & 2 June 26^th and June 27^th – Fly out of Phoenix and/or other cities on the morning of Sunday, June 26^th, into Amsterdam, and finally into Kilimanjaro International on the evening of June 27^th.

· Our African leader/guide, Nickson Moshi will meet us at the airport and we will take a bus to our hotel at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge.  Everyone will sleep two to a cottage unless stated otherwise.  (www.thengurdotomountainlodge.com)

Day 3 June 28^th – Early breakfast and leave the lodge by 9:00 a.m. and arrive back at the lodge around 4:00 p.m.  This is our day of community service in Moshi at the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind. More details as we get closer to departure but it is always a rewarding day for everyone! 

* Back at the lodge, we will have gear check, a team meeting, and a team dinner.  All meals provided.

Day 4 June 29^th – Depart the lodge at 9:00 a.m. after breakfast and drive to the Machame Gate for registration, last minute organizing, and final team meeting. We begin our trek at 6,800 ft. and hike through shambas and montane rain forest arriving at the Machame Campsite (9,840 ft. / 2998 m) in 5-7 hours. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.  All meals provided.

Day 5 June 30^th - After breakfast, leave the forest on a path following a steep ridge, passing through heather and open moorlands, and crossing a large gorge to reach the Shira Campsite (12,450 ft. / 3800 m) in 5-7 hours, arriving late afternoon with dinner and overnight at the campsite.  All meals provided.

Day 6 July 1^st – After a bed tea/coffee and a later breakfast, we continue ascending through the dry landscape along a ridgeline, crossing a broad valley, and climbing the ridge crest to 14,800 feet.  After lunch we will descend several more hours through a beautiful valley and down to Barranco Campsite (13,000 ft. / 3950 m) for dinner, and overnight.    

Day 7 July 2^nd - After breakfast, we’ll cross the floor of the great Barranco Valley, up the Barranco wall to the Karanga River valley.  After 3-5 hours we arrive at the Karanga Campsite (13,400 ft. / 4100 m) in the early afternoon.  All meals provided. 

Day 8 July 3^rd - After breakfast we will travel up a ridge, reaching high camp above Barafu Campsite (15,800 ft. / 4800 m) in about 3-4 hours.  After reaching high camp we get prepared physically and mentally for an early morning summit push.  All meals provided.

Day 9 July 4^th - Getting a start around 1:00 a.m., we begin the final ascent to the summit, reaching the crater rim at Stella Point (18,700 ft. / 5700 m) in 5-6 hours. From Stella Point, it is only one hour to the 'Roof of Africa' or Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft. / 5895 m).  We then descend via Barafu Campsite, through the forest to Millenium Campsite (12,300 ft. / 3700 m) in the giant heather zone on the forest edge for dinner, party, and overnight. An easy 2-3 hour hike from high camp.  All meals provided.

Day 10 July 5^th  – After breakfast, descend through the rain forest to the Mweka Park Gate, taking 3-4 hours. There will be a team lunch at the gate.  Late afternoon return to the Ngorduto Mountain Lodge for a swim and relaxation!  A team dinner will be provided at one of my favorite restaurants in Arusha, the ‘Massai Camp”.  Overnight at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge. 

Day 11 & 12 July 6^th and July 7^th– Depart for safaris of your choice, relax on the beaches of Zanzibar or fly back to the US for an afternoon arrival on July 7^th.