THE SHIRA/WESTERN BREACH ROUTE

The intinerary is as follows:

Day 1, January 19-NDARAKWAI CAMP- Altitude is 6,500 feet
The Ndarakwai is 10,000 acres of game-filled country at the base Kilimanjaro. This day includes an evening of relaxing and a light dinner. The area is incredibly scenic with Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru dominating a landscape of many volcanic vents.

Tranfers to Ndarakwai and Oldonyo Orok are included for those clients who book their flight to Tanzania with Rare Air Expeditions.

Day 2, January 20-NDARAKWAI- Altitude 6,500 feet.
There will be time this day for game walks or game drives, a trip briefing, relaxing and enjoy the camp.

Day 3, January 21- MONTANE FOREST-Altitude 7, 000 feet to 9,000 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 3-4 hours
Drive approximately one and half-hours to the National Park forest edge. From here we will walk through the undisturbed forest to where we will camp for the night. With luck, you will be able to see Colobus monkeys and at least signs of elephant on your walk to camp.

Day 4, January 22-SHIRA PLATEAU WEST SIDE-Altitude 11,500 feet
Hiking Time: 6 Hours
Taking our time walking through the forest will help us spot some of the plentiful game and bird life. The day'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, January 23-FISCHER CAMP-Altitude 12,300 feet
Hiking Time: 4 Hours
Our hike today will be about three hours across the Shira Plateau and one hour up the western slope of the Kibo Massif. Camp will be at about 12,300 feet in the upper Health Zone.

Day 6, January 24-LAVA TOWER-Altitude 14,300 feet
Hiking Time: 5 Hours
Today we will hike to camp III at 14,300 feet, just under "lava tower". This will be our first introduction to the Alpine Zone, where the only plant life is the hardiest of grasses and the lichens. We will have a spectacular view of our final ascent up the Western Breach.

Day 7, January 25-ARROW GLACIER-Altitude 15,300 feet
Hiking Time: 3 Hours
With the Western Breach ascent route in full view, we will spend a few hours climbing to the base of the route, making camp at 15,700 feet near Arrow Glacier. Before relaxing in camp, we will take an afternoon hike farther up the route; this will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following day.

Day 8, January 26-SUMMIT CRATER CAMP-Altitude 18,500 feet
Hiking Time: 6-9 Hours
We will wind our way up the Western Breach, a non-technical climbing route for about six hours, arriving at the crater rim. We can explore the inner crater and the ash pit before moving to our high camp on the crater floor.

Day 9, January 27-MWEKA CAMP-Altitude 10,500 feet
Hiking Time: 6-8 Hours
SUMMIT DAY. We will leave camp and immediately ascend to the crater rim-only a few hundred meters from Uhuru Summit. Here we should be able to enjoy the view before the midmorning clouds overtake the summit. After taking in the view from Uhuru Peak, we will begin our descent to Barafu Hut and continue down to our camp near Mweka Hut.

Day 10, January 28-NGORONGORO CRATER SAFARI
It takes three to three and a half hours to make the 4,500 foot descent to the roadhead. Here we will say goodbye to our mountain staff before heading off to The Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater via private charter.

Day 11, January 29-CRATER LODGE, NGORONGORO CRATER SAFARI

Day 12, January 30-THE SERENA LODGE, SERENGETI SAFARI via private vehicle

Day 13, January 31-THE SERENA LODGE, SERENGETI SAFARI

Day 14, February 1-SERENGETI FLIGHT TO KILMANJARO AND THEN ON NAIROBI, NGONG HOUSE

Day 15, February 2-DEPARTURE FLIGHT

Here is a link to an excellent source of information on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro:
Crown of Africa