Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi to Londorossi Gate

   • Attend a briefing after breakfast at your hotel given by your chief guide.

   • Drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2,250 m / 7,380 ft, 2.5 hours).

   • Understand the park rules and regulations and then the trail commences to the forest with a 4WD vehicle towards Lemosho Glades (2,390 m 7,830 ft, 11 km, 45 minutes) and walk along the forest trails to Mti Mkubwa campsite for dinner and overnight. 

2. Day 2: Mtimkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) to Shira Camp

   • Wake up early morning, and after breakfast, the trail gradually steeps and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed, then it gains the Shira Ridge at about 3600 m / 11,810 ft and drops gently down to Shira One campsite near the streams on the Shira Plateau. 

   Dinner and overnight at Shira One Campsite.

3. Day 3: Shira Camp (1) 3,500 m/11,485 ft to Shira Camp

   • A very moderate walk across the plateau leads you to Shira Camp Two on moorland meadows by a stream. However, various walks are available on the plateau just to make this an excellent acclimatization day.

4. Day 4: Shira Camp 2 – 3,840 m/12,600 ft – to Lava Tower

   • Have breakfast and precede hiking east up to a steeping path above the vegetation toward Kilimanjaro's looming mass. After several hours of walking now commerce, you’re a walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro's earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower.

   • Make a lunch stop near Lava Tower, and descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. This hike has plentiful photo opportunities, especially if the walls are adorned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be aware of any signs of altitude sickness.

5. Day 5: Barranco Camp – 3,900 m/12,800 ft – to Karanga Camp

   • After breakfast, continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, and then you climb this magnificent obstacle, which is more accessible. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi into the African sky.

   • Unwind with a hot lunch at the camp.

   • Spend your afternoon at leisure, resting or exploring. After two long days, please note this short day is very important for your acclimatization since your summit push is about to start a while to come.

6. Day 6: Karanga Camp – 4,200 m/13,780 ft to Barafu Camp

   • Hike east over intervening ridges and valleys this morning to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route.

   • Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to Barafu Hut, where you will receive a hot lunch. Karanga Valley is the last water point on this route, as there is no water at Barafu Camp. Even though Barafu is the Swahili word for ice. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp, near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

   • Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and drink lots of fluids.

   • After an early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of valued sleep.

7. Day 7: Summit Day- Barafu Camp

   • Wake up around 11:30 PM, and after some hot tea and biscuits, you will drag your feet off into the night. 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers.

   • Stop at Stella Point 5,685 m/18,650 ft for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point, you join the top part of the Marangu Route but do not stop here too long, as it will be tough to start again due to cold and exhaustion. Depending on the time of year and current storms, you may stumble upon snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak.

   • Enjoy your accomplishment on the summit, and know you are creating a day you will remember for the rest of your life.

   • Finish your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, and you will have a well-deserved but short rest. Collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and, sooner or later, into the forest to Mweka Camp, 3,100 m/10,170 ft. This camp is in the upper forest, so you can anticipate mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared, and the camp office will sell drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beers.

8. Day 8: Mweka Camp -3,100 m/10,170 ft to Mweka Gate

   • Receive a well-deserved breakfast.

   • Embark on a short scenic 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Please note no tips are given on the way until all your gear and the rest of the crew have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate.

   • Sign your name and add details in a register at Mweka Gate. This is also where successful climbers typically receive their summit certificates which a bottle of champs can follow. Climbers who reach Stella Point are issued green certificates, and those who reach Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates.

   • From Mweka Gate down to Mweka Village, 3 km, you will be served a delicious hot lunch.

   • Be driven back to your hotel for a long past-due hot shower and a comfortable night in a nice hotel in Moshi.