ARRIVAL
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro international Airport, you will be greeted by our transfer driver and taken to the hotel in Moshi. The rest of the day will be at leisure and you may choose to relax at the hotel or perhaps explore the town of Moshi (taxi might be required). In the evening, you will attend a briefing in preparation of your upcoming trek.
DAY 1: MOSHI – LONDOROSSI GATE (2250M) – BIG TREE CAMP (2780M)
After breakfast you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to Londorossi Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. The drive takes about 2–2½ hours. Your head guide will arrange the formalities. Once the registration process is completed, a further 15 km drive follows over dirt track into the dense rainforest until you reach the drop off point where your trek begins. The trail follows a moderately steep track which leads you through the unique flora and this section. You’ll see the endemic and colorful Impatiens Kilimanjaro en route, and possibly some rare primates too. Your destination for today, Big Tree Camp (2780m), is about 3 or 4 hours away and your mountain crew will have already set up your tents before you arrive. You can rest and enjoy the beautiful forest surroundings in which you will camp tonight.
DAY 2: BIG TREE CAMP (2780M) – SHIRA CAMP 1 (3500M)
The destination for today will be Shira Camp 1, which sits at an altitude of 3500 meters. You will start the day on a thin trail through the rainforest, but soon you enter a terrain of heath and moorland where Lobelia plants and Erica trees regularly punctuate the landscape. Not long after climbing around the northern slopes of the Shira Ridge you will arrive at Shira Camp 1, where you can put your feet up and enjoy a hearty meal. The camp offers magnificent views across the plateau towards Kibo.
DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP 1 (3500M) – MOIR CAMP (4175M)
After a good breakfast, you continue your trek over the Shira Plateau. Once again the landscape changes and you will pass big Senecios that can grow to an astonishing height of about 9 meters. Leaving behind the remains of Fischer Camp, we head towards our camp for the night, Moir Camp at 4175 meters. After a short rest you can go towards the top of the ridgeline for further acclimatization. The ridgeline is only about 2 km away and about 130 meters higher than the camp. After arriving back at camp dinner will be served.
DAY 4: MOIR CAMP (4175M) – POFU CAMP (4030M)
Today we set out onto the remote northern circuit of the mountain. You will tackle the hardest part of the day right at the beginning: a bleak and imposing slope rising up to 4300 meters. Continuing up and down through the undulating valleys on the northern face of Kibo, you’ll reach the first Pofu Campsite after 3 to 4 hours. Our destination is now only about an hour away. We will pass through an area of rock slabs before arriving at the second Pofu Campsite. If the cloud cover opens up, you might get a glimpse of Kibo and the views over the plains that stretch out far below can be exceptional.
DAY 5: POFU CAMP (4030M) – THIRD CAVE CAMP (3935M)
After breakfast you leave the camp behind and proceed on a trail leading through the remote valleys around the northern slopes. The vegetation becomes increasingly sparse during this stretch, which takes about 5 hours in total. Although there are no steep passages to tackle today, you may well still be tired by the time you reach Third Cave Camp.
DAY 6: THIRD CAVE CAMP (3935M) – SCHOOL HUT (4715M)
Although your body will have had a good amount of time to acclimatize over the last days, you are likely to feel the altitude weighing down on you as you steadily climb higher towards School Hut (4715 m). Make sure to drink lots of water and stick to your guide’s slow pace. Take a few breaks to rest when possible and enjoy stunning views across the saddle to Mawenzi. After 4 to 5 hours you will arrive at School Hut. In preparation for the final stretch to the summit, you will have an early dinner before going to bed to rest for a few hours before the final climb.
DAY 7: SCHOOL HUT (4715M) – UHURU PEAK (5895M) – MWEKA CAMP (3080M)
Your guide will wake you up around midnight and after some hot tea and snacks you will start the slow ascent towards the crater rim of Kibo. After a brief stop at Hans Meyer Cave (5520 m), you will make your way to Gilman’s Point (5681 m) on the crater rim. The sun should be just beginning to rise as you continue via Stella Point (5730 m) to the highest summit of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters. You can now witness the awe-inspiring views from the highest point on the African continent – a truly unforgettable experience. After taking some pictures you will head back to Stella Point and then on to Barafu Camp. The descent will be fast and dusty. At Barafu Camp you can take a well-earned rest and have a warm meal to replace the lost energy before continuing your descent. You will spend the night at Mweka Camp (3080 m) which should be reached after about 3 to 4 hours.
DAY 8: MWEKA CAMP (3080M) – MWEKA GATE (1630M) – MOSHI
After breakfast the final day of your adventure begins with a traditional farewell ceremony with all the members of your crew. Walking down the last 2 to 3 hours to Mweka Gate gives you another opportunity to experience the beauty of the rainforest. Once you have reached the gate our driver will take you back to hotel in Moshi. You may choose to enjoy a swim in the pool or enjoy a drink or two at the bar to celebrate your remarkable achievement.
DEPARTURE
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport or alternatively you can extend your trip in Tanzania and go on safari.
