Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Londorossi Gate (2,250 m/7,380 ft) to Lemosho Glades (2,000 m/6,560 ft) to Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) 18 km, 4-5 hours: Montane Forest

   • Drive to the Londorossi Park Gate.

   • From here, follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a possible campsite with your Kilimanjaro mountain guide. 

   • From the Glades, walk for 3 hours along beautiful forest trails to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

   18 km, 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Montane Forest

2. Day 2: Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) to Shira Camp 1 (3,500 m/11,485 ft)

   • Climb the trail, which gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge and drops gently to Shira Camp 1, located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

   12 km, 5 hours

   Habitat: Semi-Desert

3. Day 3: Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) to Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft)

   • After breakfast, hike east up a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro's looming mass.

   • After several hours, walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower.

   • After lunch, stop near Lava Tower and descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp.

   • Enjoy the numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned 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 careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.

   15 km, 7 hours

   Habitat: Semi-Desert

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft)

   • After breakfast, continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall.

   • Then, climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is.

   • With Kibo's glaciers soaring overhead, descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp,  look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky.

   • After a hot lunch in camp, the afternoon is at leisure for resting or exploring.

   • After two long days, this short day is very important for your acclimatisation since your summit push is about to start.

   7 km, 4 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft)

   • In the morning, hike east over intervening ridges and valleys 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 the Barafu Hut, where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain.

   • See your tent 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 a lot of fluids.

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

   13 km, 8 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft)

   • Rise around 11:30 pm, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, shuffle off into the night. Your 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.

   • At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point, join the top part of the Marangu Route but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue.

   • Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak.

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

   • After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp. This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon.

   • Relax with dinner and washing water prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beer.

   7 km up, 23 km down; 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down

   Habitat: Scree and seasonal snow

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft)

   • After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. But do remember to tip your staff at the gate.

   • At Mweka Gate, sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates, and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates.

   • From the Mweka Gate, continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1-hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles.

   • In the Mweka Village, enjoy a delicious hot lunch and drive back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and a comfortable night at your hotel in Moshi.

   15 km, 3 hours

   Habitat: Forest