Luxury Kilimanjaro: Grand Traverse Route View Full Screen Itinerary

Trail Overview

The trailhead (start of the trek) is at high elevation and thus we start slow and easy on this route. The trail begins on the Shira Plateau and the hike across the plateau is said to be one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes in Africa.

After crossing the plateau, we leave the tourist trails and head off across the north side of the mountain, facing Kenya and the famous Amboselli National Park. The spectacular hike along the northern circuit provides opportunities to see some animals; possibly elephant. You will follow cairns which signal the route, there is no path. For the first five days we traverse the plateau valleys and ridges of mountain between 12,000 ft (3,650 m) to 14,000 ft (4,265 m) and on day 6 the trail reaches the northeast side of the mountain, cresting the saddle between Mawenzi, the second highest peak of Kilimanjaro (16,893 ft, 5,149 m) and Kibo. From here we trek to the Outward Bound camp before departing for the summit.

This trek is designed for you to be close to nature and to benefit from plenty of acclimatisation time early on in the trip. It’s the most diverse and complete ‘grand traverse’ of Kilimanjaro and runs from west to east following by far the most remote trails.

The accommodation is in mountain tents and dining is in a mess tent. Toilet tents with convenient sanitary portable flush toilets are set up at all camps.

Starting relatively high on the mountain at about 10,500 ft to 11,000 ft, this route option is great for those who are worried about acclimatisation because you spend more time at altitude.

Summit bid day is anywhere between 13 and 16 hours of walking and can be a considerable challenge. Average trekking duration per day is only 4 hours.

Fully Licensed Kilimanjaro Guides

In 1991, the park authorities at Kilimanjaro made it compulsory for all trekkers to arrange their walk through a licensed agency. Furthermore, they insist that all trekkers must be accompanied throughout their walk by a guide supplied by the agency. Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions are partnered with a fully licenced agency and guiding service company regarded as one of the most respected guiding companies on the mountain. Your team of 30 or more guides and porters will be at your disposal no matter what size of group you climb in.

Difficulties to overcome: 

The obvious: a general good level of fitness. It’s hard to quantify someone’s level of fitness, and each sport is very different. The best form of training and gauging weather you’re capable of this is to actually walk/trek. A few weekends training with walking in the hills trekking would be suitable. This will also serve people very well trying out their kit prior to the expedition a few times. No doubt many people will be popping out and accruing new items, perhaps new boots even. It is important to have well worn in boots for this trip.

Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude. Hugely important on any challenge, especially physical challenges. If you have the general level of fitness mentioned above, coupled with the mental grit and determination you will likely succeed in this sort of event – especially taking a well thought and planned out route I’ve suggested earlier. A good sense of humour will help too.

The main difficulty is the altitude. The walking is not hugely strenuous, with an average of about 3 to 4 maybe 5 hours a day (not including the Summit Day which is a BIG day at nearly 13 to 16 hours). It’s recommended that clients take Diamox a prescription based drug that helps the body realise it’s at altitude and start acclimatizing soon. 

Keeping yourself together on the mountain. It may sound silly, but as you start to physically and mentally crack around the edges it’s easy to let things slip a little. You have to remember to keep drinking, keep washing your hands, applying your lip balm, suncreams etc. As you go on throughout the trek these things play a vital role in wheather you’re successful or not. It would be a great shame to be beaten by sunstroke or dehydration. However, your Guides are pretty good at reminding you of these things. 

Top Tips:

Buy a good Kilimanjaro Guide Book or go to the library and rent one – read it thoroughly if you can many weeks before your trip. The extra knowledge on flora and fauna on the mountain will be enjoyable and add to your experience whilst there. Finding out the geological history and human interaction and connection with the mountain also will add depth to your overall experience.

Remember lip balm. The air is thin and very dry and your lips will start to crack in this desert environment. Breathe through your nose so as to conserve body moisture and keep lips from drying out for longer.

If you have flexibility, September and October are great months to trek – crowds have desperate somewhat from the busier summer months. February is also great however, after the shorter rains, the mountain is snow covered and looks utterly beautiful.

Speak to your Sandgrouse Travel consultant, we will try to coincide your trek with a full moon, if you have flexibility with when you can go it is worth it.

Pack a wide brimmed sun hat.

Bring a buff or Arabic head scarf

Sun cream on your ears.

Drinking lots of water.

Taking enough clean socks – this is an amazing moral boost whilst on the mountain

Well-worn in boots.

Tried and tested kit before leaving for trip

Good organization – planning and preparation well before departure date

Pack tissues or a roll of loo roll. 

Try and learn a few Swahili phrases before you go – it helps break down barriers with your guides and porters and is fun.

Personal medical kit including Imodium pills, pain killers, aspirin. Diamox for altitude.

Alcohol based anti-bacterial hand wash

Good packing – familiarise yourself with packing your bag, good organization.

A quality head torch is essential.

Walking poles/sticks. These act as third and fourth legs and as you tire are a real Godsend.

It is a good idea to lay out all your kit before travel and make sure you tick off the items you think you will need.

Sample Food Menu:

BREAKFAST: Eggs made to order, sausages, toast, hash browned potatoes, banana bread / muffins, granola with cold milk, fresh fruits, fruit juice, hot coffee, lemongrass tea, cocoa.

LUNCH: Chicken breast sandwiches, pasta salad, crudites, salami, fresh fruits.

AFTERNOON TEA: Hot coffee, Lemongrass tea, cocoa, cookies with cheese, popcorn, roasted nuts.

DINNER: Different soups, Chinese rice / Italian-style lasagna, green bean salad, fresh fruit salad served in a watermelon.

TRAIL SNACKS: Mixed nuts or fresh-roasted peanuts, mixed dried organic fruits, fresh locally grown fruit, home-made cookies, candy bars, popcorn. We advise bringing a small selection of your favourite snack bars from home too. 

Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free, Gluten –free and other special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. 

For further information on Mount Kilimanjaro nutrition, search our articles within our magazine and blog: Sandgrouse Traveller. 

On Day two at camp, in the evening you will have a full safety briefing with your head guide and also the medic who is with you almost like your silent shadow the whole trek. The medic is also a trained first aid responder. The head guide is also a trained first aid responder. The medic is trained to a very high standard and carries all the medical gear you will need in the event of an emergency. The briefing consists of a gear demonstration. The safety briefing is hugely important and puts your mind at rest.

Oxygen for emergency use - For groups of 6+, 2 kits (2 x 100L medical oxygen bottle, regulators & masks) are provided.

* Pulse-oximeter - The head guide checks and charts these numbers daily at dinner time, for each climber.

* Hyperbolic Chamber  - a portable altitude chamber, for emergency use

* Automated External Defibrillator (optional) - Included on treks with a night in the Crater Camp

* Stretcher - Converts into a rigid steel-framed litter

* First-aid & medicine kit, comprehensively stocked and kept as per WFR guidelines

* VHF handheld radios - Carried for quick communication between head and assistant guides. An extra battery accompanies each radio.

* Mobile phones - carried by all guides, for daily communications with our base in Arusha.

* Satellite phone - carried by the head guide for emergencies (in areas with no mobile network)

* Medical equipment porter – to stay with the group at all times, to ensure that the safety gear is always nearby and ready to employ.