Itinerary

1. Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Forest Camp.

   • Depart Arusha/Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which will take about 4 hours.

   • Drive to the Lemosho Trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead).

   • Have lunch upon arrival at the trailhead and then commence through the undisturbed forest, which winds to the first campsite, Forest Camp (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, known as {Big Tree Camp}

2. Day 2: Forest Camp to Shira One Camp.

   • Continue after breakfast on the trail leading out of the forest into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we climb through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we will reach the Shira Ridge before gently dropping 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.

   • Ready for a gentle walk east toward 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. Various Lent Hills offer various walks, 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 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp Or Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco

   • Start a walk soon after breakfast; our direction will change to the South East towards the Lava Tower. Our direction will change to a place called the “Shark’s Tooth”. Shortly after the tower, we come to 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. You will have a rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight.

   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.

   • Eat your breakfast, and you will leave Barranco.

   • Continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day, and it is meant to give 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.

   • Leave Karanga after breakfast 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 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.

   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.

   • Continue from midnight (1200 am) to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head northwesterly 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.

   • Stop at Stella Point (18,600 ft) for a short rest, and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). You may encounter snow from Stella Point on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.

   • Reach the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa at Uhuru Peak. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

   • Celebrate, take pictures, and make memories before descending to the Mweka Hut campsite.

   • 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.

   • Enjoy our last dinner on the mountain later in the evening 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.

   • Continue with our descent to the Mweka Park Gate after breakfast.

   • Spot our vehicles waiting 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.