Belvedere Rocks Lookout Hill

Twin Peaks

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15 days (Nairobi)

Destinations visited: Kenya, Nairobi, Tanzania, World

Grading:

Challenging level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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Ascend remote routes on Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro

An ascent on the remote routes of Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro will appeal to the seasoned trekker intent on climbing Africa’s famous Twin Peaks while also appreciating the prolific wildlife and rich diversity of flora for which this region is renowned. Our traverse of Mt Kenya ascends via the lesser known Chogoria Route with fine alpine walking that ensures we are well prepared for an exhilarating circuit of the summit peaks including Point Lenana (4985m). Transferring to Tanzania we prepare for our climb on Kilimanjaro (5985m). We aim to climb the remote and challenging Shira Route following less well-defined trails through dense forest to moorlands characterised by giant lobelia. From the wilderness of the Shira Plateau we start our route underneath the Southern ice fields until we reach to the summit of Kilimanjaro and savour one of the best sunrises in the world.

Highlights

Ascent of Point Lenana on Mt Kenya
Ascent of remote Shira Route on Mt Kilimanjaro

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival and overnight in Nairobi

Upon arrival, please make your way to the group hotel for overnight accommodation. The rest of the day is at leisure in Nairobi.

Day 2 Mt Kenya National Park

This morning we head to Chogoria Village. In the afternoon you will ascend the steep and rutted track to the Bandas (cottages) in woodland near the Chogoria gate (3,017m) of the Mt Kenya National Park. We will stay here overnight. Our gear will be transported by Land Rovers while we acclimatise with our first walk at altitude.

Day 3 Ascend Mt Kenya to Lake Ellis (3500m) (approx. 6 hrs)

The flora and fauna surrounding the Bandas is prolific, with the possibility of seeing game in the surrounding forest (Elephant, Buffalo, Antelope, Colobus Monkey, Augur Buzzard & Verreaux's Eagle). As we walk, the forest gradually drops away and we enter a high moorland zone. Lake Ellis (3500m), where we camp tonight, is a peaceful spot with good views of the main peaks and we arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon we ascend nearby Mugi Hill (3600m) to help with acclimatisation before returning to camp.

Day 4 Trek to Lake Michaelson (4000m) (approx. 6 - 7 hrs)

The initial trek away from the lake ascends gentle moorland to attain a ridge that eventually joins the main Chogoria route at its best viewpoint. After enjoying views of Vivienne Falls and the Gorges Valley we descend to the little visited Lake Michaelson (3,830m) and possibly the most beautiful campsite on the walk. Overhead tower the cliffs of the Temple while Tacazze Sunbirds flit amongst the giant Groundsel and Lobelia and Hyraxes hop around in the rocks.

Day 5 Trek to Simba Tarn (4560m) (approx. 3 - 4 hrs)

The trek now enters the Alpine Zone - after quite a boggy start to the walk the walking surface soon becomes scree. You will climb several steep slopes to the Tooth (4,700m), from where it is a gentle contour to Simba Tarn at 4560m, which you should reach in time for a late lunch.

Day 6 Point Lenana (4985m), descend to Old Moses Camp (3000m)

After a hot drink you will leave at 3:30 am for the steep ascent (2 - 2.5 hrs) of Point Lenana (4,985m) in time for sunrise. Although the climb is straightforward, the final section is hard work at this altitude. From the summit it is often possible to see Mt Kilimanjaro 320km away as well as the nearby climbing peaks of Mt Kenya; Nelion and Batian which should be bathed in golden sunlight at this time of the morning. We descend back to Simba Tarn for a well-earned cooked breakfast, and continue our descent via the Mackinder Valley to Shipton's Camp before joining the Sirimon Route to Old Moses Camp. The walk today is long and exhausting and will challenge even the fittest of walkers. However the thrill of standing on the roof of Kenya, will be sure to make the effort worthwhile.

Day 7 Descend to Sirimon, return to Nairobi

After breakfast we head through the Sirimon Valley and down through the lush forest belt to the Park Gate where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Nairobi at around 10:00am. We drive on to Nairobi where the trip concludes on arrival at the hotel from where we started. We farewell our Kenyan crew here.

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Day 8 Nairobi to Arusha

This morning we are transferred by bus to our Lodge in Arusha. We will cross the Kenya - Tanzania border at Namanga and arrive early afternoon. After an afternoon at leisure we will have a pre Kilimanjaro briefing in the early evening and prepare for our ascent.

Day 9 Drive to Londorossi, commence climb to "Shira One" (3550m) (approx. 4 - 5 hrs)

After completing the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations (2,800 m), and continue climbing steadily on foot through shrub forest and stands of giant heather to reach the rim of Shira Plateau (3,350 m). The views across the surrounding plains open out as we climb and our first camp is in the centre of the plateau at "Shira One" (3,550 m)

Day 10 To Shira Hut 3840m ( approx. 4-6 hours walking)

A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. There are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here, and it is a good rest point too! The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau. We camp near Shira Hut (3,840 m) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro. Close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of Shira Plateau and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds, will complement the day's trekking.

Day 11 To Barranco valley (3900m) (approx 5-7 hrs walking)

A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550 m) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.

Day 12 To Barafu camp (4600m) (approx 6-8 hrs walking)

A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga, the last water point, in a steep valley. After lunch, the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m) by mid afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.

Day 13 Uhuru Peak (5895 m) (approx 10-14 hours)

We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1:00 a.m. so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue descending to reach our final overnight at Millennium Camp (3,800 m). Today's trekking involves from 10 to 14 hours walking which is made to feel more strenuous by the effects of altitude and extreme cold. This section of the trek is one of the steepest and most demanding and should not be taken lightly. It is a great idea to have your own head torch so that your hands are free for balance. Most people are surprised by the extreme cold and the best advice is to follow the clothing list and pack your warm clothes - you will need them!

Day 14 Descend to Mweka (4-6 hours walking)

A sustained descent through lovely forest with lush undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m) then on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. We will be transferred from here to our comfortable hotel in Arusha for a well-earnt shower and overnight.

Day 15 Return to Nairobi where trip concludes

After breakfast we make our return journey by private bus (for groups of 10 -12 people) or shuttle bus (groups of 2 - 9 people) to Nairobi via Arusha. The exact return schedule and connections through Arusha will be confirmed in the process of trip finalisation. You can be dropped off at any of the main city hotels in Nairobi (booked in advance) if travelling by private bus, otherwise the trip concludes at the group hotel from where the trip commenced.

Additional Information

Inclusions

14 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 10 dinners
all park entrance fees valued at US$925
mountain rescue fees
2 nights accommodation at a 3 star hotel in Nairobi
1 night bunkhouse/hut at base of Mt Kenya
2 nights accommodation at a 3 star hotel in Arusha
private transfers (except the shuttle bus between Nairobi and Arusha)
all group camping and catering equipment on the Mt Kenya & Kilimanjaro climbs (sleeping bags and mats are not provided)
kit bag
services of porters, experienced guides and cooks

Summary

4 nights hotels
10 nights camping/ hut

Trip Main Activities

Trekking

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing (depending on the altitude, location and weather), a rainjacket, water bottle, film and camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc. Porters carry all group gear and your kit bag.

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