Itinerary

1. Day 1: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp

   • Begin your day with a 50-minute drive to Machame Gate where registration formalities will be completed.
   • Head through villages and coffee and banana plantations to Umbwe Gate. The trail ascends sharply on a forestry track that winds up the dense rainforest.
   • Note as the path narrows and steepens while you climb the ridge between two rivers surrounded by huge trees. Umbwe Camp is perched between trees and thick undergrowth.

2. Day 2: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp

   • Follow the rockier terrain with sparse undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees while proceeding.

   • As you gain elevation, glimpses of Kilimanjaro can be seen. 

   • Watch as the path flattens when you approach Barranco Valley. From Umbwe ridge, the route descends to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest.

3. Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   •  Begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall.

   • Then, climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff.

   • From the top of the Barranco Wall, cross a series of hills and valleys until you descend sharply into Karanga Valley.

   • One more steep climb up leads you to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatisation.

4. Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   •  Leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.

   • Continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles.

   • Here, make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

5. Day 5: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

   • Very early in the morning (around midnight), begin your push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme.
   • Ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent but short breaks.
   • Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak.
   • Finally, arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
   • From the summit, make your descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful.
   • Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

6. Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

   • On the last day, continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy.
   •  From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.