The Western Breach is considered to be the toughest and most challenging route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But for the very few climbers that are willing to take this challenge, it beholds its very unique beauty and offers aspects of the mountain that no other route has to offer. It is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and leads you to the crater of the
volcano and to the Furtwangler Glacier with an overnight at Crater Camp.
Starting from Moshi to Londorossi Gate, the route traverses the Shira Plateau and then follows other routes up to Lava Tower. After an overnight at Lava Tower the route is heading towards Arrow Glacier Camp through a danger zone that is only passable at night when temperatures are low enough. It’s the only route which requires helmets for safety. The breach itself is a rock slide that is constantly moving. After leaving the danger zone, climbers are rewarded with a spectacular view of Mount Meru and walking by the massive glacier on Kilimanjaro. Another unique highlight of this route is that it is the only route that allows an overnight at Crater Camp and to actually stand at the edge of the heart of the mountain, the Kilimanjaro crater, before summiting Uhuru Peak at 5.895 m. Climbers that have chosen Western Breach have really seen all the miracles that Mount Kilimanjaro has to offer.
The Western Breach is a route that not many companies offer due to special safety restrictions and required expertise and requirements to the mountain guides. Tanzania Horizon Safaris is proud to offer this challenging route to ambitious and adventurous climbers. Please contact us for further information.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalizes packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today’s hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira Camp 1 and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatizing to the new environment.
Crossing the Shira plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning we hike for around 4-5 hours to Moir Camp, where lunch is taken. The afternoon is spent acclimatising and for those with the energy a hike in the late afternoon up to a viewpoint is highly recommended to keep the blood flowing.
The route today diverges from the traditional western routes and heads north, curving clockwise around the Kibo Massif. Here, for the time being at least, there are relatively few other groups. You hike through the alpine desert skirting the edge of the heath zone to Pofu Camp. Most groups arrive for lunch and then take an afternoon acclimatisation hike.
From Pofu you hike a ridge and continue around the northern side of the Kibo Massif to Cave 3, still skirting the edge of the heath zone. Once at Cave 3 there is time to rest and a short acclimatisation walk in the late afternoon.
From Cave 3 you continue around the north eastern flanks of Kibo until you arrive at School Hut in time to check through your gear for the summit bid. After an early dinner you retire for some sleep before setting off for the summit bid.
You will awake before dawn to start your summit attempt, meandering up the switch backs to Gilman’s Point before hiking around the edge of the caldera to Uhuru Peak – The Roof of Africa! After pictures are taken and the views enjoyed, you will head to Crater Camp inside the volcano.
See the famous Ash Pit during a morning hike to Reusch Crater, or summit for a second time as the sun rises. Afterwards, you make your way down via Barafu Camp and keep going through the alpine desert and heath and moorland all the way to Mweka Camp, where you will spend your final night on the mountain.
After breakfast you continue your descend through the rain forest that offer the last views of Kilimanjaro’s snow capped peak where you stood only a day ago. Around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you reach Mweka Gate which is the official exit of Mt. Kilimanjaro Nationalpark, where you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Tanzania Horizon Safaris representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania
Meals: Breakfast Included
• Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi
• 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
• Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
• Park entry fees
• Camping fees
• Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
• 18% VAT on tour fees & services
• Mountain tents
• Sleeping Mats
• Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
• 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
• Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
• Hot water for washing
• Fair wages for the mountain crew
• Government taxes
• Emergency first-aid kit
– Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
– Travel insurance
– Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 80 for the entire trek.
– Flights
– Laundry (Available at hotel)
– Personal items and toiletries
– Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain
Tipping on Kilimanjaro from the trekking group (not per climber):
• Main Guide: $20/day/guide
• Assistant Guide: $15/day/guide
• Cook: $12/day
• Porter: $8/day/porter
Clients/Porters ratio 1:4
You can read more about it here
PRICE OVERVIEW
| Group Size | Price per person |
| 1 person | USD 2690/person |
| 2-3 people | USD 2580/person |
| 4-5 people | USD 2520/person |
| 6-7 people | USD 2480/person |
| 8-9 people | USD 2450/person |
| 10-12 people | USD 2390/person |
Absolutely yes. We will arrange all airport transfers for you from and to the airport so that you don’t have to worry about how to get to your hotel. One of our drivers or guides will come to pick you up and take you back to the airport. This is already included in our offers and services.
Absolutely yes. Our handpicked hotels all offer you to safely store your luggage during your climb. In this way you can leave all gear that you won’t need during your climb at the hotel. That is very convenient if you are planning to go on a safari or to Zanzibar after your hike.
Tanzania Horizon Safaris has worked out a very transparent cancellation policy. In most cases we can offer a voucher if you have to postpone your travel. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Please note that deposits are non-refundable as they have to be used for making reservations for your hotel and transport.
*If a booking is cancelled the client is subject to a cancellation fee as follows:
.jpg){kind=link}