Day 1
Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers Habitat: Semi-desert Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the tower, and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower, weather permitting. At this point in the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects of the altitude, including headaches and shortness of breath. After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800-meter descent gives hikers a huge advantage in allowing their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water will be served, and dinner will be served as hikers view the sunset.
Day 2
Hiking time: 6 hours Distance: Approximately 9 kilometers Habitat: Moorland After an early morning breakfast, you will start your ascent, leaving the rain forest and entering the heathland moorland vegetation. You will cross many streams and walk over a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau that leads to Shira Camp (3840m). At this campsite, you will be next to a stream and have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers in the East. Similar to the first night, your tents will be set up prior to arriving at camp, and the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks and then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this exposed camp.
Day 3
Hiking time: 7 hours Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers Habitat: Semi-desert Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi-desert and rocky landscape. After 5 hours of walking east, you will come face to face with the Lava Tower (4630m). Packed lunches are served at the tower, and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower, weather permitting. At this point in the hike, it is normal for hikers to start feeling the effects of the altitude, including headaches and shortness of breath. After lunch, you will descend from Lava Tower (4630m) to the Barranco Campsite (3950m). The 6800m descent gives hikers a huge advantage in allowing their bodies to adjust to the conditions of high altitude. The descent to camp takes around 2 hours. It is located in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall (“Breakfast Wall”). Drinking and washing water will be provided, and dinner will be served as hikers view the sun setting.
Day 4
Hiking time: 4-5 hours Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers Habitat: Alpine desert After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! Although it may look intimidating at first glance, hikers state that this Class 2 hike is usually much easier than they anticipated. At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. This is an ideal hiking day for acclimatization.
Day 5
Hiking time: 2-3 hours Distance: Approximately 4 kilometers Habitat: Alpine desert Following breakfast, you will leave Karanga Camp (3959m). The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for an hour, you will reach Barafu Hut. This is the last water stop for the porters because there is no accessible water at Barafu Camp (4550m). The word “barafu” in Swahili means “ice” and this camp is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks, so it is important for hikers to familiarize themselves with the campsite before dark. An early dinner will be served so hikers can rest before attempting the summit the same night. Your guide will brief you in detail on how to prepare for summit night. Get to sleep by 19:00!
Day 6
Barafu camp (4600m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m), – Mweka (3100m) Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. In about 6 hours, you will reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim. After enjoying the magnificent sunrise, you will continue ascending for about 2 hours on a snow-covered trail to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend a short time on the summit, taking photographs and drinking tea, before the descent to Barafu begins. After eating, you will continue descending to Mweka Hut (3100m). The Mweka Trail will lead you through the scree and rocks to the moorland and eventually into the rainforest. Mweka Camp (3100m) is located in the upper rainforest, so fog and rain should be expected. You will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at camp.
Day 7
Hiking time: 3 hours Distance: Approximately 15 kilometers Habitat: Forest Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guide, assistant guides, chef(s), and porters. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to Mweka Gate. The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who reach Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates, and hikers who reach Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, hikers will descend into the Mweka village for 1 hour (3 kilometers). You will be served a hot lunch, then you will drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.
