Itinerary

1. Day 1: Machame Gate (1790m) to Machame Camp (3010m)

   • One hour’s drive from Moshi lies the gate to the Machame route, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters and start to climb. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less trodden, so it can get somewhat overgrown in places, and it is often wet and muddy underfoot. 

   Distance covered: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles

   Approx. time taken: 6 hours 

2. Day 2: Machame Camp (3010m) to Shira Camp (3845m)

   • Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. 

   • Looking back, you will be able to see Mt. Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance. 

   Distance covered: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles

   Approx. time taken: 5 hours 

3. Day 3: Shira Cave (3845m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

   • Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. 

   • Traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at a high altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatisation to altitude. 

   Distance covered: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles

   Approx. time taken: 8 hours 

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

   • Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. 

   • We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. 

   • Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. 

   • From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. 

   • For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatisation trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night. 

   Distance covered: 5.5 km / 3.4 miles

   Approx. time taken: 5 hours 

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

   • After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. 

   • On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. 

   • Have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we have to wake up between 11 pm and 12 pm to start the climb to the summit. 

   Distance covered: 3 km / 1.9 miles

   Approx. time taken: 3 hours 

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Mweka Camp (3100m)

   • We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. 

   • We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. 

   • Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). 

   • We begin descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest. 

   Distance covered: 16.4 km / 9.6 miles

   Approx. time taken: 13 – 15 hours 

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

   • Gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates.

   • We are then met by our vehicles and transferred to the hotel in Moshi. Treat yourself with a welcome shower, then celebrate with cold drinks. 

   Overnight at your arranged hotel.

   Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles 

   Approx. time taken: 3 hours