Day 0. Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation at Natron Palace Hotel B&B. Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, and gear check, and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.
Day 1 Arusha – Londorossi Gate (2250 m) – Big Tree Camp (2780 m)
Up and away. You will drive to Londorossi Gate where you will be registered by the national park authorities. Then you drive to the dense rainforest to where you will start. A moderately steep path leads to the Big Tree Camp (2780 m). Look out for monkeys and interesting birds along the way. The tents will be already set up and hot tea and washing water will be waiting.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Big Tree Camp (2780 m) – Shira Camp 2 (3900 m)
Today’s long trek starts on a small trail that continues through the trees and gradually ascends to reach the Shira plateau. Enjoy the views of the mountain and plains below. The path continues to cross the Shira Ridge (ca. 3600 m) and you will stop for lunch at Shira Camp 1 after another few hours. In the last section (approximately 3 hrs), you will climb another 250 meters in altitude and pass the surreal Senecia-plants growing to over 8m in height. Reaching the camp after the long day, you will relax with coffee and tea and be nourished with a 3-course meal tonight. As the sun sets you might see the summit glowing in the afternoon sun.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Shira Camp 2 (3900 m) – Lava Tower (4640 m) – Barranco Camp (3960 m)
You will gain 700m in altitude but descend to sleep at Barranco – 60 m higher than last night’s camp. This will help with acclimatization as you will go up to 4600 m before descending again. Today begins with a long uphill in the direction of the Lava Tower Hut (4640m) and you will notice how the landscape changes to a rocky alpine desert. Later, the path descends again to the Barranco Valley with its giant Senecas and Lobelias. After six to seven hours you should arrive at the most beautiful camp on the mountain – the Barranco Camp.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Barranco Camp (3960 m) – Karanga Camp (4035 m)
Today will start with the daunting Barranco Wall. Soon you will realize it looks worse than it is, but there are tricky sections where you will need to hold on tight. Admire the views from the top.
The rest of the route follows along the mountain ridge into the Karanga valley and out.
You reach Karanga Camp after lunch and you will have fantastic views of the southern glacier of Kibo as well as of the Kibo summit.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Karanga Camp (4035 m) – Barafu Camp (4640 m) Kilimanjaro climb
A few hours of hiking through a desolate and rocky moon-like landscape lie ahead. It will be a relatively easy day leading steadily uphill. The goal for today is the Barafu campsite on a narrow ridge in full view of Mawenzi peak. You will walk along a trail that passes through the afro-alpine desert until you reach your destination for today –Barafu Camp at 4640 m. Use the rest of the day to relax and pack your daypack for tonight’s summit attempt. Drink and eat enough if you can and try to sleep. The guide will wake at midnight to start your walk to the summit.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Barafu Camp (4640 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m) Kilimanjaro Climb
It is dark and cold as you set off just after midnight. You will climb the frozen volcanic dust by headlamp going towards Stella Point on the crater rim – about six hours. The sun should be rising when you arrive here. Just an hour or two more and you will be standing on the highest point of the crater: Uhuru peak. On top of the world! Take a short break for pictures and celebratory hugs before you tackle the steep and dusty descent. By now the volcanic ash will have thawed… You will stop for a short tea break at Barafu and then continue downhill for about three hours to Mweka camp (3080 m). This is your overnight stop. Refuel by drinking lots of fluids and have a good helping at supper time.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Mweka Camp (3080 m) – Mweka Gate (1630 m) Kilimanjaro – Arusha
A traditional farewell ceremony from the porters begins the day. After about three hours of comfortably descending through the greenness of the forest, you should reach the Mweka Gate where the driver will be waiting. Back at the lodge, a hot shower, cold drinks, a debrief and your certificate of achievement are waiting. Well done!
