On arrival, you will be met by the driver who will transfer you to the lodge for your first night. The lodge itself is based on a hillside with views from the first floor stretching to Kilimanjaro and has regular visits from black and white colobus, blue monkey as well as a wide variety of bird species - a great place to relax and get ready for your adventure to come.
You have an early start today with a full briefing from your guide at 7:30am at the lodge. He will brief you thoroughly on what to expect and will also conduct a kit check.
You will then depart to Kilimanjaro National Park - at the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today's hike is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on the trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.
START – 6,890FT / 2100M
END – 8,695FT / 2650M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira 1 Camp and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising to the new environment.
START – 8,695FT / 2650M
END – 11,844FT / 3610M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH
Crossing the Shira plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning you will hike for around 4-5 hours to Moir Camp, where lunch is taken. The afternoon is spent acclimatising and if you have the energy, a hike in the late afternoon up to a viewpoint is highly recommended to keep the blood flowing.
START – 11,844FT / 3610M
END – 13,780FT / 4200M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
From Moir, you will traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone. Today is a “walk high, sleep low” day. You ascend into alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is in two days time at base camp – a great acclimatisation day!
START – 13,780FT / 4200M
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM
TIME – 7-9 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
From Barranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels, you ascend the Barranco Wall and hike glacial valleys to Karanga Camp. Today is a relatively short day’s hike and lunch will be at Karanga camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising. In the evening, a practice walk for the summit is taken to make sure you are completely comfortable with the kit you are going to summit in.
START – 12,796FT / 3900M
END – 13,108FT / 3995M
DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and, at times, strong winds rip over this camp; yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening.
START – 13,108 / 3,995M
END – 15,332FT / 4673M
DISTANCE – 2.5 MILES / 4KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence are the name of game to reach the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m) and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point (Alt: 18,865ft, 5750m) affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down, however. The first stage is to get back to the base camp for a quick change of clothes and refuel before the long hike downhill to Mweka Camp. The downhill is hard on the knees and walking poles at this stage are highly recommended. You should reach Mweka Camp before dusk for your final night on the mountain.
START – 15,332FT / 4673M
END – 10,171FT / 3100M
DISTANCE – 11 MILES / 18KM
TIME – 14-16 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC, HEATH
After breakfast you descend once again through afromontane forest and around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a representative to congratulate you and to find out how the trip went.
START – 10,171FT / 3100M
END – 5,381FT / 1640M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After a well-earned rest, take time to enjoy breakfast before a transfer to the airport for your departure home.
*The transfer will be arranged at according to your flight schedule. If it is a late departure, we can enquire on a late check-out or to arrange for a day room at the lodge.
