Itinerary

1. Dya 1: Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp

   • Meet your tour guide at Arusha/Moshi and depart for Londorossi Gate, which will take about 4 hours. Drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at trailhead, you will have lunch and then hike through the undisturbed forest which winds to the first campsite, Forest camp Know as Big tree Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
   Distance: 6 km
   Hiking Time:3-4 hours
   Habitat: Rain Forest
   Full board at Forest camp.

2. Day 2: Forest Camp to Shira One Camp

   • After your breakfast, you will continue on the trail leading out of the forest up into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards.

   • As you climb up through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, you will reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

   Dinner and overnight at Shira One Camp.

3. Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut

   • Go for a gentle walk to the east towards Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland. Stay at Shira 2 camp or continue to Moir Hut, a little-used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills, making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

   Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 13,800 ft

   Distance: 14 km

   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

   Habitat: Moorland

   Full Board at Shira 2 camp.

4. Day 4: Moir Hut/Shira 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

   • Soon after your breakfast, your direction of walking will change to the South East towards the Lava Tower leading to the “Shark’s Tooth". Shortly after reaching the tower, you will come to the second junction which brings you up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

   • Continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. You will take some rest and enjoy dinner.

   Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 13,000ft

   Distance: 7 km

   Hiking Time: 4-6 hours

   Habitat: Semi Desert

   Full Board at Shira 2 or Moir Hut camp.

5. Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   • After your breakfast, you will leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day, and it is meant for giving your body more acclimatization time.

   Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft

   Distance: 5km

   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

   Full Board at Karanga Camp.

6. Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • After breakfast, you will 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.

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

   Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft

   Distance: 4 km

   Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

   Full Board at Barafu Hut Camp.

7. Day 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

   • From midnight, 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 Kilimanjaro trekking.

   • At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will 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. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

   • Celebrate, take pictures, and make memories before descent straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, you will stop at Barafu for lunch. You may need 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.

   • Later in the evening, you will enjoy your 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

   Full Board at Mweka hut Camp.

8. Day 8: Mweka Camp to Moshi

   • After breakfast, you will continue with your descent down to the Mweka Park Gate.

   • Your vehicles will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.

   Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft

   Distance: 10 km

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Rain Forest

   Half Board