Shira Camp One, perched at around 3,510 metres on the Lemosho Route of Mount Kilimanjaro, is an important early stop for trekkers as they begin to gain serious altitude. Set on the edge of the Shira Plateau, this campsite opens up to wide, open vistas of the surrounding highlands and, on clear days, impressive views towards the rugged Shira Cathedral – a dramatic rock formation rising from the ancient volcanic caldera.
Here, you’ll transition from the lush lower slopes into the more open heath zone, where hardy shrubs, proteas and other alpine plants dominate the landscape. Shira Camp One is a perfect place to acclimatise, take short exploratory walks, and soak up your first real sense of Kilimanjaro’s vast scale. Facilities are basic – usually pit toilets and designated tent sites – but the reward is a quiet, atmospheric camp that feels truly “on the mountain”.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Shira Camp Two, perched at around 3,847 metres on the Lemosho Route of Mount Kilimanjaro, sits on the eastern edge of the vast Shira Plateau and offers some of the most dramatic views on the mountain. From this exposed vantage point, trekkers are treated to sweeping panoramas over the Kilimanjaro Valley, with unforgettable sunrises behind the peaks and fiery sunsets dropping away over the plains below.
This is often the first camp where climbers really feel the effects of altitude, making Shira Camp Two a key acclimatisation stop on the way to the summit. The surrounding alpine moorland is dotted with hardy shrubs, giant groundsels and other high-altitude plants, creating an otherworldly landscape to explore on short acclimatisation hikes. Facilities are basic – typically pit toilets and designated camping areas – but the reward is an authentic high-mountain experience in one of Kilimanjaro’s most scenic locations.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Barranco Camp – At the Foot of the Famous Barranco Wall (3,900 m)
Nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro’s Barranco Wall, Barranco Camp sits at an altitude of around 3,900 metres (12,795 ft) in the high moorland zone. Used on popular routes such as Machame, Lemosho, Shira and Umbwe, it’s one of the most dramatic overnight stops on the mountain, with towering rock faces above and sweeping views down towards the plains below.
The camp offers designated tent pitches and simple bathroom facilities (pit latrines), providing a much-needed rest point after a long acclimatisation day from Lava Tower. Thanks to the area’s relatively reliable rainfall and humidity, the surrounding valley supports distinctive heath and moorland vegetation, including giant groundsels and other high-altitude flora, and it’s not uncommon to spot small birds and other hardy fauna adapted to this environment.
Barranco Camp is also the staging ground for tackling the Barranco Wall the following morning – a fun, non-technical scramble that many trekkers highlight as one of their favourite sections of the climb. From sunset views of Kibo’s ice fields to the star-filled night skies, this high, atmospheric camp is a memorable milestone on the journey to Kilimanjaro’s summit.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Karanga Camp – Vital Acclimatisation Stop Above the Karanga Valley (3,963 m)
Sitting at an elevation of 3,963 metres above sea level, Karanga Camp invites hikers to rest, refuel and regroup before the final push towards Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit. Perched above the Karanga Valley on routes such as Machame and Lemosho, this camp is a crucial acclimatisation point, giving your body time to adjust to the thinning air while you enjoy sweeping views across the rugged high-altitude landscape.
Facilities at Karanga Camp are simple but functional, typically including a ranger’s hut and shared pit latrines, along with designated tent areas for trekking groups. The surrounding high moorland is stark yet beautiful, with hardy alpine vegetation, big skies and, on clear evenings, spectacular sunsets over the plains far below – a memorable pause before you continue towards Barafu Camp and your summit attempt.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Camp
Barafu Camp – High Alpine Base for Your Kilimanjaro Summit Push (4,673 m)
Situated at an elevation of 4,673 metres at the base of Kibo in Tanzania, Barafu Camp is the final overnight staging point before your summit attempt on Mount Kilimanjaro. Perched on a rugged, exposed ridge of loose volcanic scree, it feels every bit like a true high-altitude base camp, with sweeping views over the clouds and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi in the distance.
Trekkers typically arrive here in the afternoon to rest, hydrate and prepare gear before setting out around midnight for the push to Uhuru Peak. Facilities are basic and functional – designated tent areas, a ranger’s hut and simple pit latrines – but the real focus at Barafu is acclimatisation and mental preparation. In the thin, cold air, with the ice-capped summit looming above, Barafu Camp marks the exciting final threshold between the long ascent and the ultimate goal of standing on the roof of Africa.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Mweka Camp – Final Night on Kilimanjaro’s Mweka Descent Route (≈3,100 m)
Mweka Camp is conveniently located on the Mweka Route on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of around 3,100 metres above sea level. Used almost exclusively by climbers descending after their summit, it serves as the ideal final overnight stop before continuing down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate.
Set just above the treeline in the moorland zone, the campsite offers tent pitches on open, gently sloping ground, with views back up towards Kibo on clear days and dense forest dropping away below. Facilities are simple and functional, typically including:
Designated tent areas for trekking groups
A small ranger hut / registration point
Basic pit latrine toilets
After the long summit day and descent from Barafu or high camp, Mweka Camp provides a welcome chance to rest tired legs, rehydrate and acclimatise to the thicker air before the final walk out. In the evening, trekkers often celebrate their summit success, soak up the last mountain sunset and enjoy a final night under canvas before heading back to civilisation at Mweka Gate.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
