Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Your Kilimanjaro head guide will come to the hotel for a full briefing, equipment checks and to help you hire anything additional you need.
Moshi to Lemosho Trailhead (2,400m/7,900ft) to Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft)
Elevation Gain: 400m/1,500ft
This morning you will drive from Moshi to the Londorossi gate, taking approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Here you will complete entry formalities. From Londorossi your drive continues for around 1 hour to the Lemosho trailhead along a 4WD track. Upon arrival at the trailhead you will eat lunch and then commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys. The path undulates, steeply in places, to arrive at the first camp after 2-3 hours of trekking.
Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft) to Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft)
Elevation Gain: 700m/2,400ft
Today your trek will begin in the forest; however, you will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock. This is a full day ascending through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Finally, the trail begins to ease as you reach the edge of the plateau. You will camp at Shira One after 5-6 hours of trekking. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is incredible.
Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft)
Elevation Gain: 300m/1,000ft
Your third day on the mountain consists of a trek across the Shira Plateau with an optional climb to Shira Cathedral (3,880m). Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth. The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp. Trekking time without the optional excursion is approximately 3 hours. Including the optional acclimatisation to the peak of Shira Cathedral will add approximately 1 hour.
Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft) to Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,650ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft)
Elevation Gain: 750m/2,400ft
Elevation Loss: 700m/2,250ft
Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridge lines of high desert to Lava Tower. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4-5 hours. This tower is a 300-foot-high volcanic plug. If time and energy allow, scramble to the top of the tower for fabulous panoramic views. From Lava Tower begin a steep descent into the Barranco Valley, passing large flowering plants, the scenecios. This is good practice for your descent from the summit and will take 1-2 hours. Although you will end your day at almost the same elevation as you started, today is very important for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare for summit day. Barranco Camp is in a beautiful, sheltered valley below the imposing Barranco Wall.
Barranco Camp (3,850m/12,600ft) to Karanga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) via Barranco Wall (4,200m/13,800ft)
Elevation Gain: 350m/1,150ft
Elevation Loss: 250m/820ft
After breakfast, we leave Barranco Camp and begin our climb up the Barranco Wall. This is an impressive scramble where you will be rewarded with fantastic views back towards camp. The porters climbing the wall are also an impressive sight. From the top, at 4,200m, you will follow an undulating path around the mountain side. On a clear day there are spectacular views of Kibo to your left and Mount Meru to your right. After descending into the Karanga Valley your climb takes you up a short steep path to Karanga Camp. Walking time approximately 3-4 hours.
Karranga Camp (3,950m/13,000ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
Elevation Gain: 650 metres / 2,150 feet
Today you will spend the morning climbing steadily on to Barafu, which is Swahili for ice! This camp is located on the ridge below the summit cone. You have now completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. This walk will take around 3 hours meaning that you will arrive at Barafu in time to spend the afternoon resting and enjoy an early dinner in preparation for the summit climb. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.
Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet
In the early hours of the morning you will begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak. This part of the climb takes approximately 6-8 hours. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day and therefore you will want clothing for both extremes. Just when you think you’ve had enough of climbing in the dark the sun will rise and you will be rewarded with a rich red sky framing Mawenzi. At Stella Point (5,750m) you join the crater rim. From here, climb gently to Uhuru Peak which is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. From the summit the descent will take you straight down to Mweka Hut, with lunch served on the way. This part of the descent takes about 6 hours. Later in the evening enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft) to Moshi
Elevation Loss: 1,280m/4,220ft
Descend straight to the gate through lush forest looking for monkeys along the way. Trekking time 2-3 hours. Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.
Today you will be transferred back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in time for your flight.
