Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi to Machame Gate to Machame Camp (5,400 ft to 9,400 ft)

   • Meet up with your guide and begin the tour.

   • Drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, which takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

   • Leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down; the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. Continue a short distance until you reach the Machame Camp.

   The distance covered will be 11 km, and Hiking Time will be around 5-7 hours.

2. Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (9,400 ft to 12,500 ft)

   • Leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge.

   Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

   The distance covered will be 5 km, and the Hiking Time will be around 4-6 hours.

3. Day 3: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (12,500 ft to 13,000 ft.)

   • Continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. Change your direction to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after the tower, come to the second junction, which brings you up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

   • Proceed to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. 

   • Rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. 

   Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is significant for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day.
   The distance covered will be 10 km, and the Hiking Time will be around 6-8 hours.

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (13,000 ft to 13,100 ft)

   • Leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatisation. 

   The distance covered will be 5 km, and Hiking Time will be around 4-5 hours.

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (13,100ft to 15,300ft)

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

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

   • Make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

   The distance covered will be 4 km, and the Hiking Time will be around 4-5 hours.

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut (15,300 ft to 19,345 ft to 10,000 ft)

   • Start very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am) and continue your way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

   • Stop for a short rest and be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. 

   • Reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro called Uhuru Peak. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

   • Start your descent, continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. 

   Enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

   The distance covered will be 5 km ascent and 12 km descent. Hiking Time will be around 7-8 hours for ascent 4-6 hours for the descent.

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Moshi (10,000 ft to 5,400 ft)

   • Continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help.

   • Reach Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.

   The distance covered will be 10 km, and the Hiking Time will be around 3-4 hours.