You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. You will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and perform an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear will be recommended and provided on a rental basis. 

Accommodations: Arusha Planet Lodge

Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)

You will be picked up at your hotel around 8am and transferred to the Lemosho Gate, located on the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, we will still start a steady climb through the forests of the Lemosho Glades, eventually reaching Big Tree Camp where we will be spending the night.

Distance covered:  7 kilometers | 4.3 miles

Approximate time taken: 4 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Lunch | Dinner

Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)

We will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination is the Shira 1 Camp, where we can take in views of Kibo Peak floating above the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude throughout the day, parts of the route can prove fairly steep.

Distance covered: 8.5 kilometers | 5.3 miles

Approximate time taken: 7 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)

We get the opportunity to view the Northern Ice fields from the Western side of the mountain with some rare views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization as we enjoy great panoramic views. We eventually reach our destination of Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon, we will take an acclimatization walk and then head back to camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Distance covered: 8 kilometers | 5 miles

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)

Our trek starts with an ascent displaying far-reaching panoramic views. We ascend into the climatic zone of the Upland Desert and onto the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. We eventually reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs and boasting extensive views of the plains below.

Distance covered: 10 kilometers | 6.2 miles

Approximate time taken: 7 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)

Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the Southeastern slopes of Kibo. This rock climb isn’t too technical, but can be long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten Glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we face a steep climb from Karanga valley to Karanga Camp at 3963m. For those feeling strong enough, we have an optional mid-afternoon acclimatization trek to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

Distance covered: 5.5 kilometers | 3.4 miles

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)

After a night of rest and breakfast, we set off on our trek to Barafu camp at 4640m. Our climb will take us across desolate scree slopes, surrounded by no vegetation at all. This is a tough and steep walk made a bit more difficult by the altitude. Upon arriving at camp, we enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is extremely important to stay hydrated and keep warm during this period. We will enjoy an early dinner and rest as we will rise between 11pm-12am to begin our climb to the summit.

Distance covered: 3 kilometers | 1.9 miles

Approximate time taken: 3 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Barafu Camp (4640m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Millennium Camp (3790m)

We start our journey around midnight, walking steeply upwards towards the summit glaciers. We climb scree for 4-5 hours, but we will gain incredible height over a short distance. The views in this area are absolutely spectacular. We aim to be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) just as the first rays of the sun hit us. We will be surrounded by magnificent ice cliffs within the crater and the views of the jagged Mawenzi Peak and beyond are absolutely breathtaking. After another hour of walking, we arrive to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m).

We begin our descent, returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for well-earned rest.

Distance covered: 13.4 kilometers | 8.3 miles

Approximate time taken: 12-15 hours

Accommodations: Camping

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)

This downhill gentle trek takes us through a rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we will complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We will be met by our vehicles and return to our Lodge in Arusha, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before our big celebration. 

Accommodations: Arusha Plant Lodge

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

We leave this day open in order to relax before your flight home. Depending on flight times, you can explore Arusha Town to grab some souvenirs before your departure.

Or, better yet… you can continue your adventure with a Tanzanian safari!