On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania, you exit the arrivals terminal where you are met by your driver and transferred to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, a drive of around an hour.
Later this afternoon, your trek leader will meet you at the Lodge and run you through a full climb briefing and gear check.
Overnight: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge – Dinner, bed and breakfast basis
This morning you are transferred to the starting point of the Kilimanjaro climb, the Lemosho Trail where you meet the rest of your crew.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful and scenic route to climb, you pass through tropical montane rain forest to the snows of Kilimanjaro. You will be climbing with a team of excellent guides, a cook, camp staff and porters.
Accommodation throughout is in mountain tents, and all camping equipment is provided to a high specification, including sleeping bags, linen, thick foam mattresses to ensure as comfortable a night sleep as possible, a toilet tent, tables and chairs, 2-way radio and mobile telephones to maintain communication with the Arusha base.
You set off at a leisurely pace into the afro-montane forest. Lunch is taken on the trail and camp is reached by mid-afternoon.
Overnight: Lemosho Forest Camp (2,860m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 7,380ft / 2250m
end - 9,385ft / 2860m
distance - 3 miles / 5km
Time - 7 hrs
After an early start you ascend the forested slopes through Podocarpus and Juniper forests, onto the heath zone and the moorland of the Shira Plateau, one of the most fascinating areas of the mountain. Lunch is taken on the trail and you arrive in camp by mid-afternoon.
Overnight: Shira 1 Camp (3,850m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 9,385ft / 2860m
end - 11,680ft / 3560m
distance - 4 miles / 7km
Time - 7 hrs
Crossing the Shira Plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning you hike for around 3 – 4 hours to the lunch point.
After lunch you ascend to Moir Huts Camp, arriving mid-afternoon. This is a good day for acclimatisation with the option of an afternoon walk with your guides.
Overnight: Moir Huts (4,161m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 11,680ft / 3560m
end - 13,451ft / 4099m
distance - 5.5 miles / 9km
Time - 5.5 hrs
From Shira you traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone.
As you continue, your direction changes to the south-east towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth". You may choose to do an optional ascent of Lava Tower before descending down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3,910m.
Here you rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. This day is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day. You are rewarded for your efforts with spectacular views of the Barranco Valley.
Overnight: Barranco Camp (3,910m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 13,451ft / 4099m
end - 12,800ft / 3900m
distance - 6 miles / 10km
Time - 8 hrs
An early start is recommended today to hike to the Barranco Wall. After about 2 hours you reach the top and then hike over glacial valleys to Karanga Camp.
The selection of Karanga is strategic – significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatisation. Sunsets here are particularly spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering 1000 meters above you.
Overnight: Karanga Camp (4,100m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 12,800ft / 3900m
end - 13,450ft / 4099m
distance - 3 miles / 5km
Time - 4 hrs
Today is another half day walk through to Barafu Camp.
About 2 hours from Karanga you come out on the Barafu path (part of the Mweka Trail). It is a further 1 - 2 hours to the camp at Barafu.
The last stage to Barafu Hut is quite steep, and as always you are advised to take it as easy as possible. Being as relaxed as possible both mentally and physically is the best advice (physical relaxation is often as difficult as mental relaxation!)
Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds whip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of the Mawenzi volcano are the norm.
This afternoon presents an opportunity for you to rest up before your assault on the summit. Late in the afternoon you will be briefed for the final ascent.
Overnight: Barafu Camp (4,600m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 13,450ft / 4099m
end - 15,100ft / 4602m
distance - 2.2 miles / 4km
Time - 3 hrs
You depart for the summit at around midnight. Patience and persistence is the name of the game to reach the summit.
You will ascend in a north-westerly direction through heavy scree toward Stella Point, arriving there in about 6–7 hours. At Stella Point you may rest if necessary before taking on another 1-2 hour stretch along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) the highlight of your trip - from here you catch the sunrise from the rooftop of Africa! You are there!
You then leave behind the glistening glaciers and snowy peaks and make your way back down via Stella Point to Mweka Camp.
Overnight: Mweka Camp (3,100m) – All meals, water and soft drinks
start - 15,100ft / 4602m
end - 10,171ft / 3100m
distance - 10 miles / 16km
Time - 14 hrs
This morning you make the final descent through montane forest and at around midday after saying farewell to your crew you reach the Mweka Gate. This is a leisurely 2-3 hour walk.
From here you are transferred to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge for a well-deserved shower and an overnight stay. This is a good opportunity to recoup and reflect on the achievements of the week just past.
Overnight: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge - All meals
start - 10,171ft / 3100m
end - 5,900ft / 1798m
distance - 6 miles / 10km
Time - 3 hrs
This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your home-bound flight and depart Africa.
End of arrangements
