After breakfast, we gently hike across the plateau leading to Shira 2 Camp which is situated on moorland meadows by a stream. This is a great opportunity to explore the area around the Plateau. Many short hikes acclimatization days.

Elevation: 3500m/11500ft to 3850m/12600ft

Distance: 8km/5miles

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast, we leave Shira Plateau and head east along a ridge, towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes southeast towards Lava Tower – a 300ft tall volcanic rock formation. We then pass the Arrow Glacier and arrive at the Barranco Camp. Although not much elevation has been achieved, this day is extremely important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 3950m/13,000ft

Distance: 8km/5miles

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast, we leave Barranco camp and continue along a steep ridge up to the Barranco Wall. We then head through the Karanga Valley and join the Mweka Trail.

Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft

Distance: 5km/3mi

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast, we take a slow and steady pace to Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4673m/15,350ft

Distance: 4km/2miles

Climbing Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

It’s summit night and you will be woken up between 12 to 2 am. Then have a light breakfast. You will start your hike to the summit. You’ll be feeling nervous and excited, but we take it slow and head on through Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Taking north-west direction and ascending through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mental and physical part of the Trek, some people may feel really tired and want to quit here, but our guides will always be there to motivate you.  Finally, reaching Stella Point, we will stop for a short rest to watch a magnificent sunrise.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow on 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, congratulations you have now reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit, we descend straight down to Barafu camp for resting and lunch.  After that, we head to Mweka Camp and enjoy a celebratory evening on the mountain.

Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak

Elevation: 4673/15,350ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Distance: 5km/3miles

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

Elevation: 5895m/19,341ft to 3000m/10,150ft

Distance: 13km/8miles  

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Arctic, Alpine Desert, Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast, we continue to descend down to Mweka Gate. Once you get to the gate and sign out, you will meet your team and you can now say goodbye to your mountain team before being transferred to the hotel. After checking in at the hotel, your guide will present you with your summit certificate.

Elevation: 3000m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6miles

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

Meals: Breakfast