Some sample itineraries for climbing and trekking adventures in East Africa
Please contact us if you would like additional information. We offer a broad array of different itineraries for most mountain areas, especially Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. In fact, there are too many to list here. If you are interested in other trails, climbs, or time-frames, contact us to begin planning your custom climbing or trekking itinerary.
Mount Kenya
Chogoria Route Peak Circuit (6 Days, 5 nights)
Please note that many other itineraries are available for mount Kenya, including combinations of most routes on the mountain.
Day 1—Depart Nairobi; 3 hour drive to Chogoria village for lunch; drive through the montane forest, arriving at the park (3000 m) gate before dark; overnight at Meru Mount Kenya Bandas (cabins or camping).
Day 2—Walk for 3hours to a camp site and dinner/overnight near Nithi falls (3300m); youu may chose to hike to Lake ELLIS to overnight, instead (additional 7 km).
Day 3—Leave Nithi Falls/Lake Ellis and hike steadily uphill, across a small river valley, and then ascend to Mintos Hut (4300 m) for dinner/overnight; 6-8hrs walk (14 km).
Day 4—Depart before dawn (2-3 am) to make a summit attempt on Point Lenana (4985m), with the goal of arriving at the summit before clouds obscure the view. On a very clear Day, you can see Mount Kilimanjaro. After a short break at Austrian hut beloe Point Lenana, descend to Teleki valley; a short climb (3-4 hours; 8 km) brings you to Two Tarn hut (4490 m) for dinner and overnight.
Day 5—After breakfast hike via Western Terminal and Hausberg Tarn to Kami Hut (4425m); continue past Simba Tarn (4600 m), arriving for overnight and dinner at Mintos Hut (10km total).
Day 6—Descend from Mintos Hut to the Chogoria park gate (22 km total); finish descent in vehicle.
Please note that many other itineraries are available for mount Kenya, including combinations of most routes on the mountain.
Day 1—Depart Nairobi; 3 hour drive to Chogoria village for lunch; drive through the montane forest, arriving at the park (3000 m) gate before dark; overnight at Meru Mount Kenya Bandas (cabins or camping).
Day 2—Walk for 3hours to a camp site and dinner/overnight near Nithi falls (3300m); youu may chose to hike to Lake ELLIS to overnight, instead (additional 7 km).
Day 3—Leave Nithi Falls/Lake Ellis and hike steadily uphill, across a small river valley, and then ascend to Mintos Hut (4300 m) for dinner/overnight; 6-8hrs walk (14 km).
Day 4—Depart before dawn (2-3 am) to make a summit attempt on Point Lenana (4985m), with the goal of arriving at the summit before clouds obscure the view. On a very clear Day, you can see Mount Kilimanjaro. After a short break at Austrian hut beloe Point Lenana, descend to Teleki valley; a short climb (3-4 hours; 8 km) brings you to Two Tarn hut (4490 m) for dinner and overnight.
Day 5—After breakfast hike via Western Terminal and Hausberg Tarn to Kami Hut (4425m); continue past Simba Tarn (4600 m), arriving for overnight and dinner at Mintos Hut (10km total).
Day 6—Descend from Mintos Hut to the Chogoria park gate (22 km total); finish descent in vehicle.
Kilimanjaro
Marangu Route Circuit (8 days, 7 nights)
Day 1—On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, transfer to Nairobi Hotel, where you are met by your guiding team for a briefing; dinner/overnight at the hotel.
Day 2—After breakfast drive to Arusha town for acclimatization at the lodge; dinner/overnight at the hotel.
Day 3—After breakfast transfer to the Marangu Park Gate (1980 m). From the gate, ascend for 5 hours to Mandara Hut (2700 m). Lunch en route; dinner and overnight at the hut (12 km).
Day 4-5—After breakfast ascend for 6 hours through a short stretch of forest and skirt the base of Maundi Crater, crossing meadows, wooded streams, and grassland; view the peaks around the rim of Maundi Crater; the trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut (3720 m), which is set in a rocky valley with a fine stand of alpine vegetation. Spend one full day at the camp to aid acclimatization (11km).
Day 6—Proceed to Kibo hut (4700 m) after breakfast (6 hours hiking); there is no reliable water at Kibo hut; water must be carried to the camp; lunch en rout; dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut (10 km).
Day 7—Start off at 11 pm, after a light breakfast, for a 5 hour hike to the summit, Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa (5895 m); arrive in time to see the sun rise from the crater rim; 3 hour descent takes you back to Kibo Hut; proceed further down for 3 hours to Horombo Hut; lunch en route; dinner and overnight Horombo Hut (21 km).
Day 8—After breakfast descend down to the Marangu gate (27 km), where you receive a certificate; drive back to the Arusha hotel for a long waited hot shower; dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 1—On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, transfer to Nairobi Hotel, where you are met by your guiding team for a briefing; dinner/overnight at the hotel.
Day 2—After breakfast drive to Arusha town for acclimatization at the lodge; dinner/overnight at the hotel.
Day 3—After breakfast transfer to the Marangu Park Gate (1980 m). From the gate, ascend for 5 hours to Mandara Hut (2700 m). Lunch en route; dinner and overnight at the hut (12 km).
Day 4-5—After breakfast ascend for 6 hours through a short stretch of forest and skirt the base of Maundi Crater, crossing meadows, wooded streams, and grassland; view the peaks around the rim of Maundi Crater; the trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut (3720 m), which is set in a rocky valley with a fine stand of alpine vegetation. Spend one full day at the camp to aid acclimatization (11km).
Day 6—Proceed to Kibo hut (4700 m) after breakfast (6 hours hiking); there is no reliable water at Kibo hut; water must be carried to the camp; lunch en rout; dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut (10 km).
Day 7—Start off at 11 pm, after a light breakfast, for a 5 hour hike to the summit, Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa (5895 m); arrive in time to see the sun rise from the crater rim; 3 hour descent takes you back to Kibo Hut; proceed further down for 3 hours to Horombo Hut; lunch en route; dinner and overnight Horombo Hut (21 km).
Day 8—After breakfast descend down to the Marangu gate (27 km), where you receive a certificate; drive back to the Arusha hotel for a long waited hot shower; dinner and overnight at hotel.
Rwenzoris
Rwenzoris Trek, Uganda (8 days, 7 nights)
Day 1—Transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Day 2—Drive to Nyakalengija gate (1646 m); Hike for 4-5 hours to Nyabitaba Hut (2650 m); the trail passes through dense forest, with much wildlife; lunch en route; dinner/overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.
Day 3—From Nyabitaba Hut, hike for 7 hours, crossing the Kurt Shaffer Bridge over the Mubuku River; then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest; continue hiking to Guy Yeoman Hut, entering alpine vegetation (3450 m). Lunch en route; dinner/overnight at the camp.
Day 4—Guy Yeoman Hut to After breakfast walk for 7 hours to Kitandara Hut (3990 m); lunch en route; dinner/overnight at the camp.
Day 5—After breakfast walk for 9 hours, the route ascends to Scott Elliot pass (4372 m) and down to Bujuku Hut (3900 m); optional side-trip to scale Mt Stanley (5109 m). Lunch en route, dinner/overnight at Bujuku Hut.
Day 6—After breakfast descend for 5 hours to John Mate hut (3400 m); dinner/overnight accommodation at the camp.
Day 7—After breakfast, descend for 9 hours to Nyakalenjinga gate for transfer to Kasese; dinner and overnight in Kasese hotel.
Day 8—Drive back to Kampala.
Day 1—Transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Day 2—Drive to Nyakalengija gate (1646 m); Hike for 4-5 hours to Nyabitaba Hut (2650 m); the trail passes through dense forest, with much wildlife; lunch en route; dinner/overnight at Nyabitaba Hut.
Day 3—From Nyabitaba Hut, hike for 7 hours, crossing the Kurt Shaffer Bridge over the Mubuku River; then the trail climbs up through the bamboo forest; continue hiking to Guy Yeoman Hut, entering alpine vegetation (3450 m). Lunch en route; dinner/overnight at the camp.
Day 4—Guy Yeoman Hut to After breakfast walk for 7 hours to Kitandara Hut (3990 m); lunch en route; dinner/overnight at the camp.
Day 5—After breakfast walk for 9 hours, the route ascends to Scott Elliot pass (4372 m) and down to Bujuku Hut (3900 m); optional side-trip to scale Mt Stanley (5109 m). Lunch en route, dinner/overnight at Bujuku Hut.
Day 6—After breakfast descend for 5 hours to John Mate hut (3400 m); dinner/overnight accommodation at the camp.
Day 7—After breakfast, descend for 9 hours to Nyakalenjinga gate for transfer to Kasese; dinner and overnight in Kasese hotel.
Day 8—Drive back to Kampala.
Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon Trek, Uganda (4 Days, 3 nights)
Day 1—Leave Bundari Village after breakfast and hike for 13km to Sasa River Camp (2800 m) for dinner and overnight stay at the campsite or lodge.
Day 2—After breakfast, hike for 5 km to Mude Cave Camp for lunch. Explore the caves and the surrounding area; dinner and overnight stay at the campsite or lodge.
Day 3—Leave after breakfast and ascend up to peak Wagagai (4300 m) and then to Jackson Summit (4200m); descend to Sasa River for dinner and overnight at the campsite or lodge.
Day 4—After breakfast, descend down to the villages (13km) for pickup.
Day 1—Leave Bundari Village after breakfast and hike for 13km to Sasa River Camp (2800 m) for dinner and overnight stay at the campsite or lodge.
Day 2—After breakfast, hike for 5 km to Mude Cave Camp for lunch. Explore the caves and the surrounding area; dinner and overnight stay at the campsite or lodge.
Day 3—Leave after breakfast and ascend up to peak Wagagai (4300 m) and then to Jackson Summit (4200m); descend to Sasa River for dinner and overnight at the campsite or lodge.
Day 4—After breakfast, descend down to the villages (13km) for pickup.