12-Days Grand Traverse – Kilimanjaro Climb

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12 days • Cancellable until 45 days beforePickup availableInstant confirmationPrivate tourMin age 16+Guided • Operated by Alaitol Safaris
12-Days Grand Traverse – Kilimanjaro Climb12-Days Grand Traverse – Kilimanjaro Climb12-Days Grand Traverse – Kilimanjaro Climb
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Why we love it?

This 12-day Kilimanjaro trek from Arusha and Moshi offers an extended Northern Circuit route designed to maximize acclimatization with two extra days before reaching Crater Camp at 5,790 meters, the highest overnight point on the mountain. Along the way, you'll pass through diverse landscapes including dense rainforest home to black-and-white Colobus monkeys, misty cloud forests, moorlands, and volcanic formations like the Shark’s Tooth. The route features upgraded expanded height tents with cot beds and foam mattresses, and provides spectacular views into Kenya’s badlands from remote campsites such as Rongai Caves 2 Camp. The itinerary includes professional guides, cooks, and porters, with three meals daily while on the mountain, and transportation to and from the trailhead. This trek suits travelers seeking a thoughtfully paced climb with enhanced comfort and safety measures, including personal porter options and two daytime summit attempts, while offering the chance to experience Kilimanjaro’s glaciers and night skies at high altitude. Extensions to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safaris are available for those wanting to explore more of Tanzania.

Inclusions

  • Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
  • 18% VAT on tour fees & services
  • Upgraded expanded height tents 
  • 29C Extreme Limit Sleeping Bags
  • Cot beds with foam mattresses 
  • Transportation to & from the mountain gate
  • Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
  • 3 meals daily while on the mountain
  • Mineral water throughout the trek
  • Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the Ndarakwai Ranch (or alternative) on Bed & Breakfast Basis
  • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA) 
  • 2- way shared airport transfers 
  • Supplemental Oxygen
  • Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent 

Exclusions

  • Flights
  • Visa; $100 per person for US Nationals and $50 per person for other Country Nationals
  • Personal Porter: $550 
  • Tips to mountain crew 
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Laundry Services 

Itinerary

Day 1

  • A staff member will escort you from the airport to your scenic lodge in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

    Overnight: Ndarakwai Ranch (4,200') 

    Meals: Dinner and Breakfast

Day 2

Acclimatization Day
  • Spend an acclimatization day shaking off the jet lag at Ndarakwai Ranch

    Spend an acclimatization day shaking off the jet lag at Ndarakwai Ranch. Look for wildlife on leisurely hikes through the ranch's extensive grounds.

    Overnight: Ndarakwai Ranch (4,200') 

    Meals: Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner

Day 3

  • Drive through dense rainforest to the trailhead, then hike to your night's camp. Be on the lookout for rare black-and-white Colobus monkeys swinging in the canopy overhead.

    Overnight: Shira 1 Camp (11,499')

    Meals:Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 1-2 

Day 4

Hike through misty, cloud-covered terrain into the sparser moorlands.Overnight: Moir Camp (13,700')Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and DinnerHours trekking: 4-5 
Day 5
  • Vegetation begins to thin as you climb higher

    Vegetation begins to thin as you climb higher. Look for one of Kilimanjaro's best-known lava formations, the Shark's Tooth.

    Overnight: Pofu Camp (13,200')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 5-7 

Day 6

  • Enjoy extraordinary views of massive volcanic formations and strange, alien-looking plant life. Camp above this lunar landscape in a remote location overlooking Kenya's vast badlands.

    Overnight: Rongai Caves 2 Camp (11,450')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 5-7 

Day 7

  • Cross the alpine desert, where volcanic towers, rocky overhangs, and large boulder formations dot the trail.

    Overnight: Kikelewa Caves Camp (11,850')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 3-5 

Day 8

  • Located next to a placid lake at the foot of Mawenzi (Kilimanjaro's second-highest volcanic cone), today's camp offers spectacular views of Mawenzi's many spires.

    Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (14,210')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 4-6  

Day 9

  • Trek across the stark Saddle to the foot of Kibo  (Kilimanjaro's highest cone). Rest up in preparation for tomorrow's  daytime summit bid.

    Overnight: Kibo Hut Camp (15,486')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 5-6

Day 10
  • Wake before dawn to start your summit approach

    Wake before dawn to start your summit approach. You'll reach Uhuru Peak in the early afternoon, when few groups are around. A short descent brings you to Crater Camp, set in soft sands near the famed Furtwangler Glacier.

    Overnight: Crater Camp (18,802')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 7-10 to Summit / 1-2 to Crater Camp 

Day 11
  • famous Ash Pit during a morning hike to Reusch Crater

    See the famous Ash Pit during a morning hike to Reusch Crater, or summit for a second time as the sun rises. A steep descent brings you to your final Kilimanjaro camp.

    Overnight: Mweka Millennium Camp (12,500')

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Hours trekking: 6-8 

Day 12

  • Celebrate with a farewell lunch at the gate with your group, guides, and porters. Transfer to a day room in Moshi for a hot shower and rest before your evening flight home.

    Day room: Kia Lodge

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch 

    Hours trekking: 4-6 

Please Note

  • HighlightsClimb with confidence: Alaitol Safari has been leading treks up Kilimanjaro for more than 10 years and boasts a successful summit rate of 98 percent.
  • Superior, top-of-the-line camping gear and safety equipment, owned and maintained by Alaitol’s.
  • Quality assured: Alaitol directly employs all chefs, porters, and guides (who are all certified Wilderness First Responders).
  • Stay in the largest and most comfortable sleeping tents on the mountain, with private toilet facilities.
  • Carry only a daypack, as porters transport your luggage and equipment throughout the climb and descent.
  • Climb Kilimanjaro with Alaitol:
  • With a successful summit rate of 98 percent (compared to the 60-70 percent average), Alaitol’s Mount Kilimanjaro expeditions give you an outstanding chance of reaching ‘the roof of Africa’. Our experienced climbing team oversees every factor that contributes to a successful climbGuides & porters:
  • Every Alaitol guide is a certified Wilderness First Responder, trained in mountain craft, natural history, and ecological awareness. Our guides are also trained in first aid and are fluent in English, and most have completed over 200 summits. A founding member of the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project and a proud Partner for Responsible Travel with the International Mountain Explorers Connection, Alaitol’s is an advocate for the welfare of our team of porters. Their hard work and dedication are what make every Alaitol’s trek possible.Comforts on the mountain:
  • Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro comes easier to those who are well-rested – and Alaitol campsites are famous for their comforts. Our customised sleeping tents are the largest and most luxurious on the mountain, designed for two people with raised camp beds and tall ceiling heights. Solar-lit dining tents with comfortable tables and chairs allow you to relax out of the elements and rejuvenate during the trek. Hygienic private toilets are also exclusively available to Alaitol trekkers.Safety on the mountain:
  • Alaitol’s climbs use the finest climbing and camping apparatus, safety equipment, and communications network. On every climb, we supply and carry all safety and emergency equipment, including emergency oxygen, a portable altitude chamber, a defibrillator, pulse oximeters, a stretcher, an extensive first aid kit, and three means of communication (mobile phone, two-way radio, and satellite phone).Food & nutrition:
  • Another key element to conquering Kilimanjaro is to maintain proper nutrition throughout your entire trek. Every meal is designed to provide the fuel you need to reach the summit. Unlike many other companies, Alaitol provides fresh food throughout the entire trek, including abundant snacks between meals as well as unlimited, purified water. Special diets can also be accommodated.Acclimatisation:
  • While most trekkers spend a total of five days on the mountain, we schedule seven days (six nights) to allow more time for premium altitude acclimatisation, contributing to Alaitol’s successful summit rate of 98 percent.Sustainable Treks:
  • Alaitol leaves no trace on the mountain and takes pride in operating green campsites. Every Alaitol camp is completely portable with no fixed ground structures or plumbing, and we remove all waste and rubbish from our treks.

Know Before You Go

  • Public transportation nearby
  • Passport required

Cancellation Policy

Fully refundable until 45 days before start

Non-refundable after 45 days before start

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