Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi- Mount Kilimanjaro

   • Meet with the tour guide at your accommodation in Moshi and drive to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. The drive takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. 
   • Arrive at the park gate and walk through the rainforest 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 to reach the Machame Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
   Distance: 11 km
   Hiking time: 5-7 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest

2. Day 2: Machame Camp- Shira Camp

   • Have breakfast, then leave the glades of the rainforest 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. 
   • Arrive at the Shira campsite for dinner and overnight stay.

   Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
   Distance: 5 km
   Hiking time: 4-6 hours
   Habitat: Moorland

3. Day 3: Shira Camp- Lava Tower- Barranco Camp

   • From the Shira Plateau, continue to the east ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." 
   • Reach the second junction, which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.
   • Continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Have dinner and spend the night here. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is crucial for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

   Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
   Distance: 10 km
   Hiking time: 6-8 hours
   Habitat: Semi Desert

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp- Karanga Camp

   • Have breakfast, then leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. 
   • Arrive at the Karanga campsite, have dinner and stay the night here. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

   Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
   Distance: 5 km
   Hiking time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp- Barafu Camp

   • Have breakfast, then 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. 
   • Arrive at the Barafu campsite, set up camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

   Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
   Distance: 4 km
   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
   Habitat: Alpine Desert

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp- Summit- Mweka Hut

   • Wake up early in the morning, around 2:00 am, and hike to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. 
   • 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.
   • At Stella Point (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and watch the magnificent sunrise.
   • Walk on the snow from Stella Point and ascent to the summit. 
   • Arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
   • Descent 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 our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

   Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
   Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
   Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
   Habitat: Arctic

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp- Moshi

   • Have breakfast, then continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. The lower elevations can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will be of use. 
   • From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. 
   • Drive back to your hotel in Moshi.

   Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
   Distance: 10 km
   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest