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
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
