Itinerary

1. Day 1: Machame Gate - Machame Camp

   • Drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
   • Leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, and the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. 
   • Continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

   Elevation (ft):(3,000 m): 5-.6,000 ft / 1,830 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m.

   Distance: 11 km.

   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.

   Habitat:Montane Forest.

   Camp:Machame Camp.

2. Day 2: Machame Camp - Shira Camp

   • After breakfast, leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. 
   • Now travel west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.

   Elevation (ft): 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft / 3,840 m.

   Distance: 9 km.

   Walking Time: 4-6 hours.

   Habitat: Moorland.

   Full Board Shira Cave Camp

3. Day 3: Shira Camp - Lava Tower - Barranco Valley.

   • Take a walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. 
   • Traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, and after hot lunch,, the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) as we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,950m.).

   Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950 m.): 5-7 hours walking.

   12,600 ft / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft / 3,860 m.

   Distance: 15 km.

   Walking Time: 5-7 hours

   Habitat: Semi-desert.

   Full Board Barranco Camp

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp - Barafu Camp

   • After breakfast, leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall (elves 4250m/13,900ft), through the Karanga Valley (elves 4050m/13,250ft) to the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
   • Continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp with views of the summit in the distance.

   Day 4: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

   4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft

   Distance: 9km/

   Walking Time: 6-8 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

   Full Board at Barafu Camp.

5. Day 5: Barafu Camp - Summit - Mweka Camp

   • Continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Reitzel glaciers. 
   • Head towards the northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. 
   • Stop for a short rest at Stella Point and then be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
   • Encounter snow on your 1-hour ascent to the summit from Stella summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
   • Begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

   Elevation (ft): 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,343ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft

   Distance: 6km up / 13km down

   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

   Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

6. Day 6: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Arusha/Moshi.

   • Continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. It can be wet and muddy at lower elevations, and gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
   • Drive back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.

   Day of departure: Transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.

   Elevation (ft): 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

   Distance: 10km/6mi

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Forest

   Meals: B