A member of Ensembles Explores Adventures hospitality team greets you upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). He will drive you to your hotel. Your briefing, in the course of which your travel manager will provide all the details of the forthcoming climb, takes place in the evening. A final check of your readiness to tackle Kilimanjaro is the final part of your preparations.
Your guide and climb support crew arrive at your hotel in the morning. Introductions and a last brief equipment check precede your drive to the Umbwe Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. This entrance, situated at 1,640 m above sea level, is where your trek starts. The head-guide will finalize the permits and registration for search and rescue services.
Your first day trekking is meant to bring you to Umbwe Camp for your first mountain overnight. Climbing up to 2,930 m is a long haul with a significant increase in altitude, so find the right pace for the whole group and stick with it. As this part of Umbwe route goes through rainforest with its probability of rain showers- do not forget your raincoat. Your support crew will have prepared the camp and dinner by the time you get there.
This being the group’s first night at this elevation, we recommend that you follow the below rules from here on:
Nightly discomfort often accompanies acclimatization. However, while such symptoms as headaches and nausea are common, make sure you inform your guide of them immediately.
Change in Elevation: Umbwe Gate (1,640 m) — Umbwe Camp (2,930 m)
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 5–7 hours
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of trekking to Barranco Camp. The rainforest will quickly give way to brush, and if it is not too cloudy you will be able to see Meru Volcano for the first time. Trekking on Umbwe route for this day will be of a moderate length, and around lunchtime you will reach Barranco Camp (3,960 m), which is nestled inside a huge volcanic fault. Lunch will be provided here, and then you have the opportunity to relax for the rest of the day, which significantly facilitates the acclimatization process.
Altitude gain: Umbwe Camp (2,930 m) — Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
Walking distance: 6 km
Duration: 4–5 hours
Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall (we recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds of the other groups). Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.
Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp you will be offered warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Barafu Camp with a 200-meter gain in altitude, and then descent back down to the camp.
Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
Altitude gain: Barranco Camp (3,960 m) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m)
Walking distance: 5 km
Duration: 4–5 hours
Acclimatization hike:
Altitude gain: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Destination point en route to Barafu Camp (4,270 m)
Walking distance: 2.5 km
Duration: 1–2 hours
In the morning after breakfast you begin your way to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting.
Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
Walking distance: 6 km
Duration: 4–5 hours
Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)
Walking distance: 2 km
Duration: 1–2 hours
The group leaves Barafu Camp and the altitude of 4,640 m around midnight. This night you climb to 5,895 m at Uhuru Peak. The altitude poses a challenge on this trek, despite the relative ease of the walk. Every two climbers in the group will be accompanied by a guide whose responsibility is the constant monitoring of their fitness for the climb. Upon reaching Uhuru Peak you may choose to walk on one of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. The group will then return to Barafu Camp for a 2-hour rest before the descent to 3,110 m at Mweka Camp.
Please note, that while descent brings relief from high altitude, it is also where most accidents (as much as 90%) happen. It is easy to avoid falling and possibly breaking a limb, as well as damaging your toenails if you just watch your step.
Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Mweka Camp (3,110 m)
Walking distance: 19 km
Duration: 10–14 hours
Millennium Camp sits amidst a rain forest. Lower altitude and the associated relief from any effects of altitude sickness, as well as the realization of having reached you goal make for a good night's sleep. The group will set out on the last leg of the journey towards Mweka Gate Park exit (1,640 m) upon finishing breakfast. This will be your last opportunity to share memories of the climb with your guides and support team. You will receive your certificates of accomplishment at our offices before being driven back to your hotel.
Change in Elevation: Mweka Camp (3,110 m) — Mweka Gate (1,640 m)
Walking distance: 8 km
Duration: 4–5 hours
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
We've booked a safary and a Kilimandscharo treck with Exsembles Explores Adventure. Both trips were unforgetable and intense experiences. The organisation was smooth. We had a pick up from the airport and stayed in the Pili Pili hostel before and after the trip.
Great experience. Good guides and Cook! Guides communicate by radio, when animals are seen somewhere. So there's have a better chance too find them. Like this we have seen the big five and all cats. It was a great trip!
We had a group hiking to the top of Africa via marangu route for 6 days with 2gether 2africa Safaris.
It was a lovely experienced that we experienced in our entire life. I would definetly recommend this tour operators if your on a budget and if you do wanna do a solo or couples, they will treat you well and give you anything ASAP
This is my first review for 2gether2africa. We booked both a safari and Kilimanjaro so I will seperate them out as they were two different experiences.We booked a safari for 4 days and 3 nights which included lodge based stays in the Simba Lodge, Tarangire, Kati Kati Lodge in the Serengeti and finally the Rhino Lodge in the Ngorongo crater. We would of loved more time on safari but this was all we had. Initial communication was good with the company (Mike)
With 2gether 2africa safaris we booked two trips, hiking Mt. Meru (3 days) and safari trip (3 days, Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti). We had two amazing and completely different experiences. Mt. Meru was adventurous and a bit challenging with glorious and rewarding feeling when we reached the summit. Safari was more relaxed and easy going with our eyes all the time wide open to see as much wild animals as possible (and we were lucky with that).
and my friends we did a little hiking to the top of Mount MERU last week with 2gether 2africa Safaris and we had an exceptional experience through the whole hiking trip
We gotta admit it was a little bit challenging with a lot of fun and cool views on the way from the beginning to the end. On the way to the starting point we did pass through the Arusha National park and saw some wild animals like the giraffe, buffaloes, huge elephant that was stuck on the way and had to way for like 20 minutes for it to pass and the wild boar they are in form of pigs, our guide told us are the wild pigs.
We went on a 15 day trip on Serengeti, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Tarangire with 2gether Safaris which was the most beautiful experience we ever heard in our life.We did enjoy everything including the warm welcome from Kilimanjaro airport to the end of the trip. We saw big cats,enjoyed the meal from our great chef, and also from our professional guide, Mike, who had answers to all of our questions from the beginning to the end.
We went with 2gether2africa on a 3 day trip to Sipi Falls in Uganda. We were amazed by the beautiful green nature of the area and how peaceful it is. The guys at 2gether2africa were super accommodating and were there to provide for all of our needs. We were impressed by their wealth of knowledge and their warm hospitality on our trip. They were very professional and had really thought through everything we needed for the trip so it ran very smoothly and was exactly what we wanted in our holiday. We would definitely take a trip with them again. Thanks guys!
We booked safari trip with 2gether 2africa safaris and had amazing experience. We visited Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater and were lucky to see all the animals we were hoping for. Our guide was really helpful, trying all the time that we see as much as possible. He also taught us so much about animals, african culture and swahili language. And chef was also great, preparing for us delicious food and by request vegetarian. Only one problem, it was too much food :).
I went on the africa through eyes tour with Mike, and had a truly extraordinary experience. The accommodations where excellent, starting before the safari itself. Mike organized our hotel and our drive there, helping us navigate every step of the way. The safari itself was awesome, with great guides who knew the answers to all our questions and had great English. The chef who prepared tasty vegetarian food at our request and somehow managed to cook great food in the camping grounds. The staff went above and beyond so that we would get the most of our stay and see all there is to see. Above all was the connection we had with them. It honestly felt like we were all old friends, whether it was joking around in the car or hanging out at the campsite. I would never have imagined that my safari would be such a unique experience. There is honestly not a bad thing for me to say, simply book this tour and let mike blow your mind.
I went on a 4 day safari to Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro crater with 2gether 2africa. I don’t have one complaint to write about. It was clear that the Godfrey Leonard Richard (Mike) put a lot of time and effort into planning our safari. Our guide, Suliman, was extremely knowledgeable and took time to explain about any animal we saw or asked about. Our chef (we called him the president) energized us and always left us happy with the food. He also had no issue catering vegetarian for me. In the evenings we all hung out and all the staff added greatly to the atmosphere. I quickly learned that being with nice, knowledgeable and friendly makes all the difference for the time between seeing animals. All in all, 2gether 2africa exceeded all of our expectations. Its a perfect choice for both families and backpackers. The thing that stood out the most was the connection we had with the staff, who proved that this was so much more than a business transaction.
Finally we got the adventure we were waiting for our entire life to see Africa Savanna. We had smooth conversation from the beginning with 2gether 2africa Safaris till the end. The campsite and lodges was well planned and organized as we requested.
We booked 7 day tour to Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Walking tour to the Highlands of Ngorongoro. In our first night we stayed at Karatu Simba Lodge which was amazingly to see the sunset, we also stayed to the amazing Serengeti Simba Lodge.
Our Guide Steven was the most part of making things great! He was knowlegable about the Wildlife and he got eyes like Cheetah to spot where the animals are hiding. He knows exactly where to go and to find the animals.
My two friends and I went on a three day trip with Leo. We are all 21 years and, and it fits us perfectly, highly recommended for other backpackers, families and couples.
The two first days we went on safari in Mikumi nationalpark just a few hours outside Dar es Salam. Tanzanian trafic police with their pointy hats and nice uniforms are fast to stop you on their traffic stops each 15 kilometers, but charismatic Leo was very used to this and knew exactly how to handle the situation.
Choose your dates, choose your travel package, and choose your comfort level. We do the rest. Let’s start planning your Tailor-Made journey.
