8 DAYS KILIMANJARO DOUBLE ROUTE BIKE TREK VIA LEMOSHO,KOSOVO AND MARANGU

Upon arrival at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your Burigi Chato Safaris guide who will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL). Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 8 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMB UP VIA LEMOSHO ROUTE AND RIDE DOWN VIA MARANGU ROUTE (WITH OVERNIGHT AT KOSOVO CAMP ON DAY 6) the next day.

After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Londorossi Gate at the height of 2,250 m. After the necessary registration has been completed, a bumpy drive will take you into the dense rainforest, from where your adventure commences. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unspoilt natural forest to the Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). You will be accompanied by an armed ranger for the first 2 days of your trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.

•Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
•Distance: 6 km
•Hiking Time:3-4 hours
•Habitat: Rain Forest
•Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
•Accommodation: Mti mkubwa Camp

We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.

• Elevation (ft): 9,498ft to 11,500ft
• Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

We explore the Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east on moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then we divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

• Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800ft
• Distance: 11 km/ 7 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Heath
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Moir hut Camp

We begin the day climbing up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

• Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 15,190ft to 13,044ft
• Distance: 7 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Barranco Camp

After sleeping below the Great Barranco Wall, you get your chance to tackle this hurdle. Don’t worry…It’s much easier than it looks. Continue up until you reach just below the Heim Glacier. Then head down through the Karanga Valley. This is the last place for your porters to gather water. They will collect all the water for the remainder of the ascent here. You will settle in here at the Karanga Camp. After lunch, you can spend the afternoon doing light exploring or resting while taking in the views of Mawenzi’s towering spires.

• Distance Covered: 7km
• Time to be used: 4- 5 hrs
• Altitude: 3,960 m to 4,035 m
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Karanga Camp

Awakening to the sunlight dancing off the Kibo Summit, you will enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out to today’s destination – Barafu Camp. Most of the day will be spent walking through very dry desertic terrain, with Kibo ever present on your left side. After 3 to 4 hours, you will reach Barafu Camp. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

Shortly after a hot lunch, we left Barafu Camp at 14,930 feet (4,550 m) – the normal setting off point for the summit attempt – and continued on one hour up to a higher, lesser known camp called Kosovo where we would sleep a few hours before our midnight rise to climb to the top. Few people know about Kosovo Camp and staying there instead of at Barafu saved us an ugly first hour straight up climb at the onset of our quest to reach the top and we take a full night’s sleep and get up at our usual time. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy early dinner and night as the highlight of your trip is only a few short hours away.

• Altitude: 4034 m to 4,640 m
• Elevation: 13,235 ft to 15,295 ft
• Distance Covered: 6 km
• Time to be used: 3-4 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Barafu/Kosovo Camp

After a cup of hot tea and a light snack, the climb begins at around midnight from Kosovo camp. We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

Arriving at Uhuru peak you will find your bike at the peak spends some few minutes and take photos, then ride down to Stella Point then Kibo hut for Lunch. After lunch ride down to Horombo Hut.
Today cycling from Uhuru to Kibo 30% to 40% Icecap vegetation and 15% to 20% is alpine desert and from Kibo to Horombo 100% “Alpine desert vegetation.

•Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak
•Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
•Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
•Altitude: 5895 ft to 3700 ft (Riding Down)
•Distance: 5 km/3 miles
•Distance: 14 km down Altitude: 4,640 m to 5,895 m
•Habitat: Arctic | Alpine desert
•Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
•Habitat: Arctic
•Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

>Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner >Accommodation: Horombo Hut

After breakfast, make your final riding down to Kilema gate across the alpine and the rainforest to Kilema gate, then you will be transferred to Marangu gate for check out.

A vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi. Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

• Altitude: 3,700 m to 1,700 m
• Distance Covered: 18km km down to kilema Gate
• Time to be used: 3 hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

_THE END OF TREK_