Dates: 14 Mar - 23 Mar 2008 Min sponsorship: £3250 Registration fee: £449 Contact:ndcschallenges@ndcs.org.uk
Itinerary
Day 1
London - Kilimanjaro
Leave London Heathrow for Kilimanjaro International.
Day 2
Moshi
Arrive Moshi and transfer to the hotel. A chance to freshen up, before meeting for a full trip briefing and dinner.
Day 3
Moshi - Machame Camp
Walk 5 hours
After breakfast transfer from Moshi to the gate to the Machame route. Here we will meet our crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and involves real jungle bashing (machete not provided!) through magnificent forest. The path is less well trodden so it can get somewhat overgrown in places and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. We camp at Machame camp, 3100m
Day 4
Machame - Shira
Walk 4 hours
The route continues on up through the forest until we are at the steep ascent on to the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town. We camp at Shira caves, 3840m.
Day 5
Shira - Barranco Hut
Walk 7 hours
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp at the Barranco Hut (3900m). The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4800m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of 'walk high, sleep low' to avoid altitude sickness by aiding our bodies acclimatisation.
Day 6
Barranco Hut - Barafu
Walk 8 hours
We start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last water stop before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp (4600m)
Day 7
Barafu - Summit - Mweka Camp
Walk 10 - 12 hours
With an early start to avoid the sun we walk steeply upwards to the Summit glaciers. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5750m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to Mawenzi and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit Uhuru (5896m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili.
We begin the descent by contouring around to Gillman’s Point (5861m) before descending on scree to Kibo Hut (4,700m). The route then crosses the flat arid plain of the Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro’s secondary but more technical peak, before continuing down to the Mweka camp (3000m)
Day 8
Mweka Camp - Moshi
Walk 5 hours
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where you complete the trek and receive your certificates of ascent! We are then met by the vehicles and drive back to our hotel in Moshi where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before the celebration meal.
Day 9
Moshi
Free day, allowing you to explore Moshi, where there are some good markets, and relax with your fellow achievers.
We have linked up with Uwavika, an association for parents of deaf children who are based in Tanzania. They have invited all the NDCS Challengers on this trip to visit a deaf school and a new project during the day.
(Lunch and Dinner are not provided)
Day 10
Moshi - London
Transfer to the airport in time for the international flight back to the UK.
