Itinerary

1. Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2100m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m

   • After eating breakfast at your hotel, your Tanzania tour guide will brief you on the day.
   • Drive two hours from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2100m). In the village near Londorossi Gate, receive a packed lunch and mineral water for the hike. Then, the final 45 minutes of the drive leading up to the gate will be on a bumpy forest track requiring 4WD vehicles. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).
   • Get ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rainforest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys. Along the way, stop for an afternoon lunch break and arrive at Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”) Campsite (2750m) in the early evening.

   Hiking time: 3 hours

   Habitat: Montane forest

2. Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m) to Shira 2 Camp (3840m)

   • After early morning breakfast, begin your ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather moorland zone. Cross many streams and walk over a plateau that leads to Shira 2 Camp (3840m). At this campsite, be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East.

   Enjoy evening snacks and then dinner prepared by the chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.

   Hiking time: 6.5 hours

   Habitat: Moorland

3. Day 3: Lava Tower (4630m) to Barranco Camp (3950m)

   • Following an early morning breakfast, leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape. 
   • After 5 hours of walking east, come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Eat packed lunches served at the Tower, and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower, weather permitting.
   • Following lunch, descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage to allow their bodies to adjust to the conditions of the high altitude. The descent to the camp takes around 2 hours to reach. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). 

   Enjoy dinner served as you view the sun setting.

   Hiking time: 7 hours

   Distance: Approximately 15 kilometres

   Habitat: Semi-desert

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Barafu Camp (4550m)

   • After early morning breakfast, it is time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall. Although it may look intimidating at the first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. 
   • Follow the trail that then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley and intersects with the Mweka Route.
   • Continue hiking for an hour and reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). Eat an early dinner served, so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. 
   • Get a detailed briefing on how to prepare for summit night. Go to sleep by 7 pm.

   Hiking time: 7 hours

   Distance: Approximately 13 kilometres

   Habitat: Alpine desert

5. Day 5: Barafu camp (4550m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Mweka

   • Wake up at around 11:30 pm for tea and biscuits and begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and ascends over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb. In about 6 hours, reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. 
   • After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment.
   • Spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Barafu Camp takes about 3 hours. At camp, take a rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun.
   • After eating, continue descending down to Mweka Hut (3100m). 
   • Hike on the Mweka Trail, which will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rain forest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rain forest, so fog and rain should be expected. 
   • Relish dinner, and rest soundly at camp.

   Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka

   Distance: Approximately 7 kilometres ascent and 23 kilometres descent

   Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

6. Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) to Mweka Gate (1980m)

   • Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters.
   • After celebrating, descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates, and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. 
   • After receiving certificates, descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometres). 
   • Be served a hot lunch and then drive back to Moshi for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

   Hiking time: 3 hours

   Distance: Approximately 15 kilometres

   Habitat: Forest