Lemosho Forest Camp (Mti Mkubwa) – First Night in Kilimanjaro’s Rainforest (≈2,800 m)
Lemosho Forest Camp, also known as Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”), is the first overnight stop on the Lemosho Route up Mount Kilimanjaro. Sitting at an elevation of around 2,750–2,820 metres, this atmospheric campsite is tucked deep in the lush montane rainforest on the western flank of the mountain.
Trekkers reach Lemosho Forest Camp after a gentle afternoon hike from the Lemosho trailhead, walking under a dense canopy alive with birdsong and the rustle of black-and-white colobus monkeys in the trees. Tents are pitched in small clearings between mossy trunks and ferns, giving the camp a quiet, almost enchanted feel as evening mist rolls through the forest.
Facilities are simple but adequate, usually including:
Designated tent pitches in woodland clearings
Pit latrine toilets
A ranger hut and cooking/dining tents provided by your trekking crew
As your first night on the mountain, Lemosho Forest Camp is all about easing into the trek – getting used to the altitude, settling into camp routine and enjoying the sights and sounds of Kilimanjaro’s rainforest before you climb higher towards the Shira Plateau.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
Shira Cave Camp is a popular overnight campsite on Mount Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau, used on the Machame, Lemosho and Shira Routes as trekkers transition into the high moorland zone. It sits at roughly 3,750–3,840 metres on the western side of the mountain, well below Gilman’s Point (which is on the crater rim near the summit, much higher up).
The camp takes its name from a nearby lava cave that climbers used as shelter in the early days of Kilimanjaro ascents, though overnighting in caves is no longer allowed for safety reasons. Today, trekkers pitch their tents on open, gently sloping ground dotted with volcanic rocks and hardy shrubs, with a Kibo peak backdrop that glows beautifully at sunrise and sunset.
Shira Cave Camp falls within the heath / moorland vegetation zone, characterised by heathers, tussock grasses and giant groundsels. It’s an excellent place for acclimatisation walks and for feeling the first real sense of “being on the mountain” as you leave the forest behind. Facilities are simple but functional, typically including:
Designated tent sites
Park ranger hut / registration point
Pit latrine toilets
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
Millennium Camp – Peaceful Final Night Stop on Kilimanjaro’s Descent (≈3,820 m)
Millennium Camp is perched on a ridge at the base of the southeastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of around 3,820 metres (12,530 ft). Tranquil Kilimanjaro+1 Used mainly on the Mweka descent route by climbers coming down from Barafu after summiting, it offers a welcome, lower-altitude rest point where the air feels noticeably richer in oxygen after the thin, icy heights above.
The campsite can only accommodate tents, with no permanent huts, and features basic facilities such as pit latrines and a ranger’s hut for registration and safety checks. Tranquil Kilimanjaro+1 Set in the upper heath / moorland transitioning towards rainforest, the area is dotted with heathers, mossy trees and wide views over Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes, making it a tranquil spot to reflect on your summit achievement.
For trekkers descending via routes like Mweka, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe or Northern Circuit, Millennium Camp is an ideal final night on the mountain – a comfortable staging post before the last walk down to Mweka Gate and the return to hot showers, fresh clothes and well-earned celebration.
1 Night
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Campsite
