Itinerary

1. Day 1: Kilimanjaro – Forest

   • Drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through a beautiful and lush forest. This area has a variety of games, including buffalo. We camp at Lemosho Forest Camp, Known as {Big tree Camp} 7,800 ft.

   Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft.

   Distance: 6 km.

   Hiking Time:3-4 hours.

   Habitat: Rain Forest.

2. Day 2: Forest Camp –Shira 1

   • Leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the plateau centre at Shira One (11,500 ft).

   Forest Camp to Shira One Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 11,500ft.

   Distance: 8 km.

   Hiking Time 5-6 hours.

   Habitat: Moorland.

   Full Board at Shira One Camp

3. Day 3: Shira 1 – Shira 2 Or Moir Hut

   • Explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak across the plateau, leading to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. 
   • Stay at Shira 2 camp or continue to Moir Hut, a little-used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills, making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth. 
   • Spend the night at Shira 2 camp or Moir Hut, a relatively long hike and significant altitude gain, today is a short day, and you arrive at Shira 2 camp in time for lunch. A good day for acclimatization with the option of afternoon walks with your guides.

   Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut.

   Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800 ft.

   Distance: 14 km.

   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours.

   Habitat: Moorland.

   Full Board at Shira 2 camp.

4. Day 4: Shira 2 – Barranco Camp Via Lava Tower.

   • Leave the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach after lunch near the Lava Tower (14,900 ft).
   • Descend to the bottom of the Barranco Valley to camp at Barranco Camp (12,790 ft), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.

   Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 13,000ft.

   Distance: 7 km.

   Hiking Time: 4-6 hours.

   Habitat: Semi Desert.

   Full Board at Shira 2 or Moir Hut camp

5. Day 5: Barafu Camp – Karanga

   • Climb up the Barranco Wall, which leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. The terrain changes to scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and there is only a short distance to Karanga Camp (13,100 ft), the last water point on the way to the summit.

   Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft.

   Distance: 5km.

   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours.

   Habitat: Alpine Desert.

   Full Board at Karanga Camp.

6. Day 6: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp

   • Follow an easy path on compacted scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the Barafu Hut (14,800 ft) for lunch. There is a short acclimatization walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the early morning final ascent.

   Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft.

   Distance: 4 km.

   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours.

   Habitat: Alpine Desert.

   Full Board at Barafu Hut Camp.

7. Day 7: Barafu Camp – Crater

   • Unlike other night-time ascent routes, your hike selection affords you a daytime ascent to Kibo crater. The going is slow, but with constant encouragement from your climb team, the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and short walks with one of your guides.

   Barafu Camp to Crater camp.

   Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft.

   Distance: 6 km ascent / 12 km descent.

   Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent.

   Habitat: Arctic.

   Full Board at Mweka hut Camp.

8. Day 8: Kilimanjaro – Mweka

   • Visit the shortest final summit big on the route after a night in the crater. A short distance to the summit from the crater (around 1 hour) means that timing arrival with the sunrise is much easier and quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. 
   • Descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp, passing back through the heath zone. Endemic Proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds, are plentiful.

   Overnight stay in Mweka Camp (breakfast- lunch – dinner).

9. Day 9: Mweka Camp - Arusha Or Moshi

   • After breakfast, 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).
   • The Vehicle will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.

   Mweka Camp to Arusha or Moshi.

   Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft.

   Distance: 10 km.

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours.

   Habitat: Rain Forest.

   Half Board.