Itinerary

1. Day 1: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Cave Camp

   • After breakfast, drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour).

   • Commence the climb through the rainforest with packed lunch enroute towards Umbwe Cave Camp.

   Overnight stay at camp.

   Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft

   Distance: 11km/7mi

   Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

   Habitat: Montane Forest

   Meals: L/D

2. Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp

   • After breakfast, leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland towards Barranco camp.

   Dinner and overnight stay at camp.

   Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft

   Distance: 6km/4mi

   Walking Time: 4-5 hours

   Habitat: Semi-desert

   Meals: B/L/D

3. Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   • After breakfast, leave Barranco camp and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.

   • Reach Karanga Camp for dinner and overnight stay.

   Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft

   Distance: 5km/3mi

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

   Meals: B/L/D

4. Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • Begin hiking from Karanga towards Barafu Camp, completing the south circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Reach Barafu, make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

   Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft

   Distance: 4km/2mi

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Alpine Desert

   Meals: B/L/D

5. Day 5: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

   • Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), continue towards 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 will be the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

   • At Stella Point, stop for a short rest and enjoy the view of the magnificent sunrise. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

   • From Stella Point, encountering snow on the route is possible during the 1-hour ascent to the summit.

   • Reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

   • From the summit, begin the descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp.

   • Stop at Barafu for lunch.

   • Use gaiters and trekking poles for navigating through the loose gravel going down.

   • Arrive at Mweka Camp and make the most of the last evening on the mountain.

   Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft

   Down to 3090m/10,150ft

   Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down

   Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

   Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

   Meals: B/L/D

6. Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi

   • After breakfast, continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive summit certificates.

   • From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village.

   • Transfer back to the hotel in Moshi.

   End of tour.

   Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

   Distance: 10km/6mi

   Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

   Habitat: Forest

   Meals: B