Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

   • Reach Arusha via Namanga border town for immigration formalities.

   • Arrange for your climbing gears with a briefing from your guide.

   Overnight at Arusha budget hotel.

2. Day 2: Arusha to Machame Gate to Machame Hut (9,300’)

   • Pick up from your hotel in Arusha at 8.00 am for an early start to Kilimanjaro National Park.

   • Reach the Machame Park Gate. From the gate, begin your trek following an easy track for the first hour through the dense forest. The path continues to follow the ridge, rising steadily with several steep sections. 

   Reach Machame Hut is at a distance of 10 km, and the hiking time will be around 5-7 hours.

3. Day 3: Machame Hut to Shira Hut (12,300’)

   • Walk from the Machame Hut and cross the stream onto its west bank and follow the path up the steep rocky ridge crises-crossing a few times before reaching Shira Hut at the base of a semi-circular wall of rocks.

   Ascend 900 meters (3,000’) in 5-7 hours and about 6 km (3.72 miles) of walking.

4. Day 4: Shira Hut to Barranco Hut (12,800’)

   • Climb further from Shira Hut and hike to Lava Tower (15,000’).

   • Proceed to Barranco via the Great Barranco Wall. This route offers panoramic views of Kibo through Karanga Valley as you hike high, dropping back down to Barranco after lunch.

   Today’s hike will take most of the day overnight at Barranco Campsite, located at 3950m.

5. Day 5: Barranco Hut to Karanga Valley (14,800’)

   • Climb up from Barranco Hut Camp, through the edge of great Barranco. 95 percent of the walking that day will be at an elevation of 4250 m. Break your day at Karanga Valley Campsite at the height of 4,000m.

   • Gain a little more elevation today. Acclimatise and rest for the summit attempt the following day. This day will take you around 4 to 6 hrs. of walking.

6. Day 6: Karanga Valley to Summit to Barafu Hut (4,600m)

   • Start trekking early before sunrise (1-2 am) as the walk today will take 10-14 + hours. Avoid the mist that sets in later in the day; the scree and snow will still be safely frozen. The 1,100-meter (3,600’) ascent in just over 3 km (1.86 miles) will take you about 6-8 hours to reach the summit.

   • Stay for some time at the summit of the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, at over 5,898 meters (19,340').

   Descend via the Barafu Route roughly 2,500 meters (8,200’) in 12 km (7.44 miles) in about 4-7 hours to Mweka Camp.

7. Day 7: Mweka Hut to Mweka Gate (6,000’) to Arusha

   • Descend about 1400 meters (4,592’) through the forest on a jungle path for about 10 km (6.2 miles) in 3-4 hours.

   • Reach Mweka Gate for transfer to Arusha.