Day 1-2: Moshi
After arriving at Kilimanjaro airport, you check into our hotel. You spend two nights in Moshi allowing you time taking it easy and getting to know your guides as they give you a detailed climb orientation and gear check
Day 3: Starting point ~ Mti Mkubwa 9,170-ft/2,795-m • 2.5 miles/4 km • 3 hours
At the Londorossi gate on the western slope, you check into the national park, then hike along a little used track through the montane forest. In places the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the trail. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. In the tree canopy look for the purple flash of the Hartlaub’s Turaco, as well the black and white Colobus monkeys. You camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).
Day 4: Mti mkubwa ~ Shira Plateau 11,500-ft/3,505-m • 5.2 miles/8.4 km • 7-8 hours
After breakfast you leave the glades, and start climbing towards the heath and moorland zone. After traversing the steep ridge, you descend into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones – now eroded – and is filled with lava flow and eons of silt from Kibo Peak. Weather and volcanic action have decimated the crater rim. Today you get your first views of Kibo peak.
Day 5: Shira Plateau ~ Moir Camp 13,650-ft/4,160-m • 6.3 miles/10 km • 7-8 hours
You hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Moir camp, tucked away at the end of a massive gorge, at the foot of a giant lava flow. On the way to camp you enjoy a hot lunch at Fisher Camp, which is only a couple hours from our destination.
Day 6: Moir hut ~ Barranco 12,950-ft/3,950-m • 6.2 miles/9.9 km • 6-7 hours
- First thing in the morning you start climbing toward Lava Tower lower camp, at 15,200-ft/4,633-m, where you stop for lunch, allowing your body to acclimatize. Descending through the giant Senecio habitat, you arrive at our camp beautifully located at the foot of the Barranco Wall. This is where the Machame and Lemosho routes converge, so you’ll meet meet other climbers ascending the Machame Route.
Day 7: Baranco ~ Karanga 13,200-ft/4,023-m • 3.6 miles/5.8 km • 4-5 hours
- Today’s big challenge is to hike up the Barranco Wall, a 500-ft lava flow. It’s not technical, but challenging nonetheless. Once on top of the wall, the climb becomes easier and extremely beautiful with fantastic views of the crags and crevasses of the jagged peaks of Kibo on your left. Lastly you descend into the Karanga Valley and up the other side, for overnight camp.
Day 8: Karanga ~ Barafu 14,950-ft/4,556-m • 2.1 miles/3.4 km • 3-4 hours
- It’s all uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at Barafu camp. Barafu means “ice” in Swahili, and it is extremely windy and cold at this altitude. You start to feel the effects of altitude, breathing hard as you climb. There is a buzz of excitement in the air, as climbers anticipate the toughest day – and the summit – just ahead. The clouds move in an out, revealing the eroded peak of Mawenzi, painted with magical colors of the African sun.
Day 9: Barafu to Summit to Millennium Summit:
19,340-ft/5,895-m • 2.75 miles/4.5 km • 7-9 hours
* Millennium: 12,590-ft/3,837-m • 6.3 miles/10.1 km • 5-6 hours
- We start climbing just before sunrise, and continue during daylight on the most demanding part of the mountain, reaching the Crater rim after lunch. Mawenzi Peak is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle beneath you, and the crater’s ice-walls looming ahead. Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft.) is another 1-2 hours. CRATER CAMP OPTION – Add one more day to your climb and camp in Kilimanjaro’s remarkable crater after your summit. $850 per person. The descent is invigorating. We continue back down to Barafu Camp for a rest, then down to Millennium camp where we spend our last night.
Day 10: Millennium/Moshi Mweka Gate:
5,500-ft/1,676-m • 7.5 miles/12 km • 6 hours
Drive Moshi After breakfast it’s a 2 hour hike to Mweka camp. Then a 4 hour hike through the rainforest takes you down to the gate where you enjoy your final lunch and a celebration with your guides and porters. From the gate you drive with your guides back to the hotel for a well-earned shower. Day 11 ~ Wildlife Safari or Fly Home If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
