7-Day Kilimanjaro Trek from Arusha with Mawenzi and Kibo Summit Route

• Drive from Arusha to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park's Machame Gate, passing through the village of Machame on the lower slopes of the mountain.

• Leave Machame Gate on foot and trek through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge.

• Further along, continue on a muddy and slippery trail. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here.

• Arrive at Machame Camp.

• After breakfast, leave the glades of the rainforest behind and continue on an ascending path, crossing a small valley.

• Walk along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route then turns west into a river gorge.

Dinner and overnight at the Shira campsite.

• From the Shira Plateau, continue east up a ridge, passing the junction toward the peak of Kibo.

• Further on, continue trekking as the direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, also called the "Shark's Tooth".

• Arrive at the second junction, which leads up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft.

• Continue down to Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 ft. Rest, have dinner, and stay overnight.

• Although the day ends at roughly the same elevation as where it began, it is essential for acclimatization and helps prepare for summit day.

• After breakfast, leave Barranco Camp and continue on a steep ridge, passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite.

• After breakfast, leave Karanga and reach the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.

• Continue up to Barafu Hut. This point completes the South Circuit and offers views of the summit from different angles. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for summit day.

• Start the day early at 2 am and continue to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.

• Head in a northwest direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

• At Stella Point (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and, if the weather permits, be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise.

• From the summit, descend by continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite.

• Stop at Barafu for lunch. Gaiters and trekking poles are necessary to negotiate the loose gravel on the way down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.

• Later in the evening, enjoy the last dinner on the mountain and get some well-earned sleep.

• After breakfast, continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate and receive summit certificates.

• From the gate, continue for another hour to Mweka Village, where a vehicle will be waiting for the drive back to the hotel in Arusha.