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DAY 1 - NALE MORU ENTRANCE TO SIMBA CAMP
After breakfast, meet your porters, complete registration formalities at the Rangerās Office, hike begins from Nale Moru (1950m) through farmland and maize fields, then rainforest, home to a variety of wildlife. The path climbs steadily; the forest thins out and turns into moorland zone with great views of the Kenyan Plains before arriving at Simba Camp (2700m).
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Trekking distance: 8 kilometers
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Trek time: Around 4 hours
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Environment: Montane forest
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Elevation: From 1950 meters to 2700 meters
DAY 2 - FROM SIMBA CAMP TO KIKELELWA CAMP
Leaving Simba Camp the trail leads westwards going steadily upwards thru heath and moorland zone. Lunch stop is at Second Cave (3450m) After lunch the path continues gently upwards past a canyon, dry river beds and slowly decreasing vegetation until Kikelelwa Camp (3600m) appears in the distance. The tents are situated on a hill. On a clear day you will find the mighty Kibo towering behind you, and have beautiful views of the Kenya Plains and villages, 3600m below.
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DAY 3 - FROM KIKELELWA CAMP TO MAWENZI TARN HUT
Today is a fairly short, although steep day. Occasionally steep enough for a possible hand scramble, rewarding you with excellent views along the way.. The landscape slowly changes from moorland vegetation of long grasses and heath to everlastings and other robust plant species. After 3-4 hours of hiking, you will reach Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4330m) your surroundings now being a rocky, craggy and misty mountainscape.
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Trekking distance: 6 kilometers
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Trek time: Around 4 hours
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Environment: Moorland
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Elevation: From 3600 meters to 4330 meters
DAY 4 - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY AT MAWENZI TARN HUT
We will spend a full day at and around Mawenzi Tarn Hut. A mid-day acclimatization hike, exploring the area, will briefly take you to higher altitude, before returning to Mawenzi Tarn Hut. āClimb high, sleep lowerā is part of the acclimatization process.
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Environment: Moorland
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Elevation: 4330 meters
DAY 5 - MAWENZI TARN HUT TO KIBO HUT
Todayās hike will start of steep, and begins to flatten as you walk across the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo Hut (4750m). Slowly the landscape begins to resemble more of a moonscape as all vegetation, with the exception of a few Everlastings clinging on to life, has completely disappeared. Kibo Hut will be your final camp before your summit bid starts around 0100 in the morning.
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Trekking distance: 9 kilometers
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Trek time: Around 5-6 hours
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Environment: Alpine desert
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Elevation from 4330 meters to 4750 meters
DAY 6 - KIBO HUT TO UHURU PEAK TO HOROMBO HUT
Starting around midnight ā 0100 in the morning, the path leading to the crater rim starts directly behind Kibo Hut, reaching Hans Meyer Cave (5151m) about 2.5 hours later. Here it starts to zigzag across volcanic scree up the crater rim until reaching Gilman's Point (5680m), then continuing past stunning glaciers and ice cliffs alongside the crater rim, leading to Stella Point (5752m) followed by Uhuru Peak (5895m). From here you decent for lunch at Kibo Hut, then continue descending to Horombo Hut, where you will spend your last night on the mountain.
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Trekking distance: 22 kilometers (6 kilometers ascent / 16 kilometers descent)
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Trek time: 10 to 13 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent / 4 to 5 hours descent)
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Environment: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.
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Elevation: From 4750 meters to 5895 meters (Uhuru Peak) to 3720 meters
DAY 7 - FROM HOROMBO HUT TO MARANGU GATE
The descent from Horombo is gentle in comparison to the previous day and you get to enjoy beautiful scenery, from Dendrosenecio kilimanjari trees, heath and moorland, tussock grasses and heathers, to the rainforest once more. Mandara Hut (2700m) will be your lunch stop before reaching Marangu Gate, where your golden certificate awaits you, about 1½ to 2 hours later.
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Trekking distance: 18 kilometers
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Trek time: 5-6 hours
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Environment: Montane forest
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Elevation: From 3720 meters to 1980 meters
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