Day 1 - 2: Arrival in Tanzania

The Shira Plateau Western Breach is the best non-technical route on the mountain and our summit day is only a 1-2 hour hike from our last camp. This seldom traveled route requires no technical experience, only that you be in great physical shape and have the desire to stand on the roof of Africa. Standout-Adventures takes pride in providing gourmet food and comfortable camps throughout the climb, and porters will carry your equipment. All of these factors combine to maintain our high success rate--98%. After the climb we descend to the comforts of the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge set among the beautiful Coffee garden. The hotel has 139 rooms including: 30 chalets with 60 rooms, 72 rooms in the main building, 7 presidential suites.

The hotel has 139 rooms including: 30 chalets with 60 rooms, 72 rooms in the main building, 7 presidential suites.

Accommodating up to 350 guests, all rooms have spacious en suite bathrooms, telephones and most of them have Jacuzzis. The luxury rooms comprise of spacious beds, with some rooms having a magnificent view of both Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro. All the rooms have mini bars, satellite TV's, tea/coffee making facilities, safe deposit lockers. Some rooms can comfortably accommodate disabled guests and are close to the reception and public areas.

Day 2: ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK

A day to acclimatize to the time zone, on this day we recommend our clients to go to Arusha National Park, for a guarder walk by game rangers. Nothing strenuous by a chance to enjoy game while walking in the National Park with picnic lunch boxes from Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge. Back to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 3: Montane Forest

Altitude - 7,000-9,000 feet Hiking Time: 3-6 hours

After a short drive through the beautiful grasslands and scattered Masai villages we will arrive at the forest edge of the National Park. From here we will walk a few hours through the undisturbed lush jungle to our camp for the night. Our Tanzanian guides will share their knowledge of the local ecology as you walk through the fantastic plants and trees, hear birds, and see other exotic wildlife. With luck you will be able to see Colobus monkeys and signs of elephants on your walk to camp. Upon arriving at camp, you will find your tent set up as well as hot tea and snacks waiting for you in the dining tent. You may relax or go on a short hike before dinner.

Day 4: Shira Plateau - West Side

Altitude- 11,500 feet Hiking Time: 6-8 hrs

Upon waking, your Tanzanian guides will greet you at your tent with tea and hot water to wash with before enjoying breakfast. We will take our time walking through the forest, which enables us to acclimatize comfortably and spot the plentiful game and bird life while enjoying the views down canyon through breaks in the jungle. Today's hike will take us through the Montane Forest and the Hagenia Zone. We will point out the unique environmental differences that characterize these separate equatorial zones.

Day 5: Fischer Camp

Altitude 12,300 feet; Hiking Time: 3-6 hours

It will take us roughly three hours to hike across the Shira Plateau and then one hour up the western slope of the Kibo Massif. Our Camp will be at about 12,300 feet, in the upper Heath Zone. This camp has a plaque dedicated to Scott Fischer, friend and founder of Mountain Madness. In the 1980's, Wes Krause and Scott Fischer pioneered the Shira Plateau route on Kilimanjaro which we travel. The views of the mountain at sunset and sunrise are truly spectacular.

Day 6: Barranco Camp

Altitude- 13,000feet Hiking Time: 6 hours

Today we will hike to camp 3. The route will take us up to 14,000 feet just below Lava Tower and then back down to our camp in the Great Barranco Valley. The views of the Great Breach Wall are better from this camp than anywhere on the mountain.

Day 7: Barafu Camp

Altitude- 15,500feet Hiking Time: 6 hours

Our route today climbs out of the Barranco Valley and ascends to over 14,000 feet. We then traverse under the glaciers of the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro. As we traverse we will have close-up views of all of the mountain's Southern Glaciers. We then descend into Karanga Valley before beginning our 1,600 foot ascent to Barafu Hut.

Day 8: Summit Crater Camp

Altitude 18,500 feet; Hiking time 7-10 hours

Today we climb up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route for about seven hours to the edge of the crater floor. There will be time to explore the inner crater before moving to our high camp on the crater floor. It is common to find snow along this section of the route. Our high camp will be situated adjacent to a spectacular glacier and the summit merely a short hike away! The rest of the day will be spent drinking lots of liquids and enjoying another fabulous sunset dinner.

Day 9: Summit Day!

Altitude 19,340 feet Hiking Time: 1-2 hours to summit
Altitude 10,500 feet Hiking Time: 8-10 hours to camp
Descend to Mweka Camp

After breakfast, we will leave camp and hike to the top of the crater rim. From there it is just a ten-minute hike to Uhuru Summit, the highest point in Africa 19,340 feet! We arrive at the summit and are rewarded with clear views before the midmorning clouds roll in. We will bask in the glory of our accomplishment, grab a bite to eat, enjoy the views and take lots of photographs. After summit celebrations we will begin our descent past Barafu Hut and down to our camp near Mweka Hut, where our porters will have prepared a special celebratory feast! We will have descended almost 9,000 feet today and you will feel intoxicated by the oxygen rich air.

Mountain Cuisine: The menus for all climbs are specially prepared to provide a balanced diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, plenty of protein and carbohydrates. We have tried to choose food items that are easiest to digest at high altitude. Our cooks undergo extensive training and we have ongoing workshops to review menus. The cooks are particularly vigilant in their hygiene practices as contracting stomach bugs is common for visitors to the developing world.

Dinners are typically a main course with vegetable and salad. Chicken and fish are served at some of the days during the climb, with pastas and rice dishes being served in the middle of the climb while up high. Lunches are often on the trail and usually consist of cold cuts and vegetables laid out on a table so you can make your own sandwich. Fresh hot vegetable soups are served at every meal, and packet soup is available on request between meals as is coffee and tea. Breakfast is your choice: granola, toast, fruit, eggs, and sometimes pancakes or French toast. While hiking some people have a favorite snack that they like; it is a good idea to bring this from home.