Their Mount Kilimanjaro Trip: The Itinerary

John, his sister Cecilia, his son Brian, and Brian's wife Leanne, are all on their way to the Mount Kilimanjaro summit!

They departed late this afternoon from Toronto on their way to Africa!

For those of you following their trip, here is their itinerary as I know it:

Sat 08-Oct-05: Arrival at the Kilimanjaro airport.  By car, they will travel for approximately 1.5 hours to the Moivaro Lodge where they will lodge.  

Sun 09-Oct-05: Their first Safari begins! Today they visit the Tanzania Northern Parks.  They will be travelling over land in a Landrover 110.  They will travel the Arusha to Makayuni, across the Maasai Steppe, Makayuni to Tarangire Gate, Tarangire Gate to Mawe Ninga (game-drives inside the park).  Then they will head into camp and then come back out for a late afternoon game-drive along the Tarangire River.

Mon 10-Oct-05: Safari continues with a full day game-drive and picnic lunch in the more remote areas of southern Tarangire.

Tue 11-Oct-05: Safari today is composed of a mix of shorter game-drives in along the river and some walking around Lake Burungi

Wed 12-Oct-05: Today's safari heads to the Mawe Ninga to Tarangire Gate with game-drives inside the park.  Then Tarangire Gate to Makayuni, Makayuni to Arusha, across the Maasai Steppe.  They will spend tonight in Arusha.

Thu 13-Oct-05: Free Day to explore or rest.

Fri 14-Oct-05: Free Day to explore or rest, and to prepare to begin the climb.

Sat 15-Oct-05:  They will meet at 06.30hrs for a briefing and kit check.  They have chosen the Shira 7 night route group climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.
Their trek begins at the Ilboru Lodge where they will depart for the Shira trailhead (2-3 hours).  The Trailhead to Shira One is a gentle ascent through shrub forest (4 to 5 hours).  Their night accommodations will be at the Shira One Flycamp.

Sun 16-Oct-05: Treking from Shira One to Shira Hut.  Today they will ascent the Shira Cathedral (4 to 5 hours). Their night accommodations will be at the Shira Hut Flycamp.

Mon 17-Oct-05: Treking from Shira Hut to Moir Hut. Today's trek is a gradual ascent from moorland into alpine desert (3 to 4 hours).  There is an optional hike today to explore the remote Northern Icefields and ascent of the Lent Hills (3 to 5 hours).  Tonight is spent at the Moir Hut Flycamp.

Tue 18-Oct-05: Treking from the Moir Hut to Lava Tower campsite.  Today's hike is a gradual ascent across alpine desert (3 to 4 hours).  There is an optional hike with a spectacular ascent to Arrow Glacier (2 to 3 hours).  Tonight is spent at the Lava Tower Flycamp.

Wed 19-Oct-05: Treking from the Lava Tower to Karanga Valley, including the taverse of Southern Flank including the Barranco Wall (4 to 5 hours).  There is an optional hike above the Karanga campsite (2 to 3 hours).  Tonight is spent at the Karanga Valley Flycamp.

Thu 20-Oct-05: Treking from the Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut.  There is a steep ascent to the highest campsite (3 to 4 hours).  Tonight is spent at the Barafu Hut Flycamp.

Fri 21-Oct-05: Treking from the Barafu Hut to Stella Point.  There is a night time ascent up all the way (5 to 7 hours).  The trek will take them around the crater rim from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak (1 to 2 hours).  Then they will trek from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp which is downhill all the way (5 to 7 hours).  Their night will be spent at the Mweka Flycamp.

Sat 22-Oct-05: Treking from Mweka Camp to Mweka trailhead.  This will be a painful descent (5 to 6 hours).  When they reach the Mweka Trailhead they will be transported to the Ilboru Lodge for their first night's sleep in a real bed for awhile.

Sun 23-Oct-05: A free time day to relaxrecover.

Mon 24-Oct-05: Safari #2 begins.  Today they will visit the Tanzania Northern Parks in a Landrover 110.  They will be travelling from Arusha to Makayuni, across the Maasai Steppe.  Then from Makayuni to Manyara, to the Rift Escarpment and the town of Mto wa Mbu.  Then from Manyara to Karatu, up the Rift Escarpment and across beautiful high altitude farmland.  Then they will travel from Karatu to Ngorongoro Gate, seeing gently rising farmland from Karatu town towards the highlands.  Then they will travel from Ngorongoro Gate to Crater View with a steep and winding ascent through the Ngorongoro Forest.  Next is the Crater View to Sopa Descent, seeing scenic winding road around the crater rim.  Then they will safari to the Ngorongoro Crater, with game-drives and picnic lunch inside the crater itself.  Next they will visit the Crater to Olduvai, which is a scenic descent into the Serengeti.  Accommodation will be at the South Serengeti at the Olduvai Tented Camp.  Possible walks today include a walk from Olduvai Camp to Kiloki Kopje for sundowners.  An extended version of this walk goes via the Maasai cattle wells.  There is more chance of encountering giraffe and monkeys on the longer walk.  Warning: guests should be aware that there is a significant risk from wild animals whilst out walking

Tue 25-Oct-05: Today's safari departs from Olduvai to Serengeti Naabi Hill Gate - a main road traverse across short grass plains.  Then from Naabi Hill to Simba Kopjes - a main road traverse across long grass game plains.  Next the safari travels from Simba Kopjes to Seronera -a main road traverse across long grass game plains.  There is an optional back road detour to Lake Magadi and into central areas via Rongai, as well as an alternative optional back road detour from Simba Kopjes to Maasai Kopjes.  The late afternoon hours will be comprised of game-drives from camp.  Tonight's accommodation is at the Central Serengeti's Ronjo Flycamp.  Guests must be aware that there is a serious risk of dangerous animals in camp and that the instructions of the driverguide must be followed at all times. Guest should never wander out of camp and children must be accompanied at all times.  

Wed 26-Oct-05: Today's safari begins with early morning game-drives in the local areas.  Then the safari continues from Seronera to Naabi Hill, as a continued game-drive.  There are optional detours both east and west of the main road.  Then they will travel from Serengeti Naabi Hill Gate to Olduvai, which is a main road traverse across short grass plains.  Tonights accommodation is at the South Serengeti's Olduvai Tented Camp.

Thu 27-Oct-05: Today's Safari begins at Olduvai to the Crater, which is an ascent from the plains to the highlands and in order to traverse around crater rim.  There is an option here, if they havethe time and inclination to visit the Ngorongoro Crater.  The safari will then continue from the Crater View to Ngorongoro Gate, which is a steep and winding descent through the Ngorongoro Forest.  From the Ngorongoro Gate they will travel to Karatu.  There is a gentle descent to Karatu town.  From Karatu they will travel to Manyara across farmland to the Manyara airstrip on top of the escarpment.  Then they will travel across the Maasai from Makayuni to Arusha.  From Arusha they will travel to the Kilimanjaro airport where they will depart for Amsterdaam.

Fri-Sun 28-30-Oct-05: They will be in Amsterdaam visiting family.

Sun 30-Oct-05: Return to Toronto!

Submitted by Lisa - Friday, October 07, 2005 23:04:47

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