Itinerary

1. Day 1: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

   • Meet the tour guide and start from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. The journey passes through the village of Machame, located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
   • Walk through the rainforest on a winding trail leading up to a ridge. 
   • Hike for some distance until reaching the Machame Camp.

   Elevation (ft): 5,400 ft to 9,400 ft

   Distance: 11 km

   Hiking time: 5-7 hours

   Habitat: Rainforest

2. Day 2: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

   • Have breakfast, leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a little valley as you walk along a steep rocky, snow-covered ridge. The route now turns west towards a river gorge.

   Overnight stay and dinner at the Shira campsite. 

   Elevation (ft): 9,400 ft to 12,500 ft

   Distance: 5 km

   Hiking time: 4-6 hours

   Habitat: Moorland

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

   • Leave from Shira camp and continue eastwards to a ridge, passing by a junction close to the Kibo peak. As you continue, your direction changes towards the Lava Tower, also known as the "Shark's Tooth".
   • Come to the second junction, which brings up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.
   • Continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000 ft with your Kilimanjaro hiking guide. 
   • Stop by to get much-needed rest and dinner and have an overnight stay.

   Elevation (ft): 12,500 ft to 13,000 ft

   Distance: 10 km

   Hiking time: 6-8 hours

   Habitat: Semi-desert

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   • Have breakfast, leave Barranco Hut and continue hiking along a steep ridge that leads to the Karanga Valley campsite. 

   Dinner and overnight stay. 

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

   Distance: 5 km 

   Hiking time: 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Alpine desert

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • Have breakfast, leave Karanga and reach the junction which connects Karanga with the Mweka Trail.
   • Continue up to Barafu Hut. At this point, you will have completed the South Circuit, which offers panoramic views of the summit from different angles. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. 

   Dinner and overnight stay. 

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

   Distance: 4 km

   Hiking time: 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Alpine desert

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

   • Start your trek around 2:00 a.m. to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers.
   • Head northwest and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim, which is the most challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), stop for a short rest and to witness mesmerizing sunrise. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit.
   • Reach the highest point, Uhuru Peak, on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Enjoy soaking in the beautiful views from atop the mountain.
   • Start the descent straight to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest. So, mist and rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and then retire for the day.

   Elevation: 15,300ft to 1345ft (and down to 10,000ft) 

   Distance: 5 km ascent and 12 km descent

   Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent and 4-6 hours descent

   Habitat: Alpine desert

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Moshi

   • Have breakfast and continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive the summit certificates.
   • Get aboard a vehicle that will drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.

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

   Distance: 10 km

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Rainforest