Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

  • 10 Days
  • 10 People Max

    4 - 10 guests

  • Activity Level 5
    • Activity Level 5

      The Upper Limit

      I'm ready to put in the hard work to reap the rewards. I'm a seasoned adventurer, not afraid to get my boots wet.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Arusha
  • Trip End: Arusha
Mount Kilimanjaro Trek Kibo Trip

Hike to the roof of Africa and summit Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro

The Mount Kilimanjaro Trek is the ultimate trekking experience in Africa. This 10-day adventure will reward you with extreme landscapes, epic sunrises, unpolluted starry skies, and an unforgettable personal feat. You'll hike to the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro on a route that allows more acclimatization time and more spectacular scenery. Traverse across the most incredible parts of the mountain and stay in the blissful Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge before and after this epic adventure.

   This trip is operated by Active Adventures.

Mount Kilimanjaro Trek ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Arusha Trip End: Arusha
  • Day 1Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport

  • Day 2Hike to Lemosho Forest Camp

  • Day 3Hike to Shira Camp

  • Day 4Hike to Moir Camp

  • Day 5Hike to Barranco Camp

  • Day 6Hike to Karanga Camp

  • Day 7Hike to Barafu Camp

  • Day 8
    Summit Day, Hike to Mweka Camp

  • Day 9Return to Arusha

  • Day 10Depart Tanzania

  • Day 1

    Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport

    Your trip will begin at Kilimanjaro Airport, near to Arusha – Tanzania’s gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro! You’ll be met in the airport by a friendly face from Active Adventures and they’ll take you back to your accommodation, Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge. Arusha boasts a breathtaking mountain backdrop with the towering Mount Meru, at 4565m tall, to the North. This evening your guide will meet you at the lodge to run through the days to come, making sure you’re all set to begin your hike with a thorough gear check. Tonight, you’ll have dinner here, but if you have some time beforehand, there is plenty to do – you can paddle across the lake and try your hand trout-fishing, have a dip in the spectacular pool or enjoy your sundowners on the veranda watching the changing colours of the Kilimanjaro Glacier. Elevation: 1798 meters (5900 feet)

    Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, Arusha (Dinner)

  • Day 2

    Hike to Lemosho Forest Camp

    Today the hike begins! We’ll set out from the Lodge in vehicles to the starting point of the Lemosho Trail. Here you’ll meet the rest of the hiking crew and set off at a leisurely pace into Afromontane forest. Look out for colobus and blue monkeys whilst you walk, and if you don’t see them on the trail, you’ll probably hear them this evening. We’ll stop for lunch and have a bite to eat along the way, aiming to be at camp by mid-afternoon. We’ll take things nice and slow today to ease us into the days ahead.

    Lemosho Forest Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Lemosho - 2860 meters (9385 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 7 kilometers (4 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation + 550 meters (1805 feet)

  • Day 3

    Hike to Shira Camp

    After some breakfast at camp, we’ll head off again, getting another step closer to reaching the summit. From the forested slopes of Lemosho we’ll ascend through Podocarps and Juniper forest and break out of the tree line. We’ll enter the heath zone and from here we’ll soon reach the extinct volcanic crater known as the Shira Plateau. This World Heritage site boasts deep valleys and the remains of weathered lava flows. We’ll take lunch on the trail and arrive in camp around mid-afternoon.

    Shira Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Shira Camp - 3560 meters (11,680 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 7 kilometers (4 miles), 5-7 hours, elevation + 960 meters (3149 feet)

  • Day 4

    Hike to Moir Camp

    Today we’ll be crossing the Shira Plateau, this is one of the most scenic parts of the trip! Be sure to look out for the giant lobelia, growing amongst the Erica shrubs. We’ll hike for around 3-4 hours before arriving at camp for lunch. Altitude may start to play a role from here on out and everyone reacts differently, so easing into our new environment is important. For those with the energy, we’ll hike in the late afternoon to an epic viewpoint. This will keep your blood flowing and it’s great for acclimatizing in preparation for the rest of your trip.

    Moir Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Moir Camp - 4099 meters (13,451 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 10 kilometers (6 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation + 590 meters (1936 feet)
    Hiking: Optional: 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), 1-2 hours, elevation +/- 250 meters (820 feet)

  • Day 5

    Hike to Barranco Camp

    From our camp, we’ll traverse across the slopes of Kibo, one of the three volcanic cones that make up Kilimanjaro. You’ll notice the terrain changing into a semi-desert and rocky landscape. Throughout the year the extreme temperature ranges and conditions in this zone make it hard for flora or fauna to survive. We’ll stop for our lunch near to Lava tower, at an impressive 4,600 meters above sea level, before descending to camp. As we descend we’ll make the most of the opportunity to take breathtaking photos of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. Although you’ll begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent in between at a higher elevation is great for acclimatization. Barranco Camp is incredibly scenic with epic sunsets to finish up another top-notch day on the trails.

    Barranco Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Barranco Camp - 3900 meters (12,800 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 11 kilometers (7 miles), 7-9 hours, elevation + 400 meters (1312 feet) / - 700 meters (2296 feet)

  • Day 6

    Hike to Karanga Camp

    As summit day creeps closer we’ll start preparing, with an early start to the day to hike the Barranco Wall. After 2 hours of ascending we’ll reach the top and then hike over spectacular glacial valleys to our next camp. We’ve been in some incredible spots for sunsets so far, but this spot is particularly famous for them – with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields which tower 1,000 meters (over 3,000 feet) above us! We’ll be hiking for around 5 hours today and we’ll get to experience the very best that the alpine desert landscape of Mount Kilimanjaro has to offer.

    Karanga Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Karanga Camp - 4099 meters (13,450 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 5 kilometers (3 miles),4-5 hours, elevation + 500 meters (1640 feet) / - 700 meters (2296 feet)

  • Day 7

    Hike to Barafu Camp

    We won’t be walking very far today; we’ll save that for the final summit! We’ll spend less than half of the day hiking and have our lunch at our next camping spot – this will give us plenty of time to relax before our early start. Today's walk will be through an increasingly inhospitable landscape with the Southern Glaciers looming to our left. We’ll be based in desolate alpine desert for the night, the feeling here is otherworldly and in the evenings, incredible views of Mawenzie Volcano are the norm. We’ll get an early night in preparation for our summit push tomorrow, only one final climb to go!

    Barafu Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Barafu Camp - 4602 meters (15,100 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation + 678 meters (2224 feet)

  • Day 8


    Summit Day, Hike to Mweka Camp

    We’ll be departing just before midnight for the final stretch to the summit – yes, you read that right, just before midnight! It is going to be a hard wake-up call, but your guides will have some hot drinks on hand to get you going. Patience and persistence are the names of the game here, and our aim is to reach Stella Point on the crater rim by dawn. As the first rays of light start to appear and the sun peeks over the horizon, we’ll be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises we’ve ever seen. The break of dawn will give us a much-needed energy boost and with the sun on our faces, we’ll make our way along the final stretch of our summit attempt to Uhuru Peak. After a moment to take it all in we can begin to celebrate, we’ve made it to the top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world, 5895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level! What an incredible achievement! What goes up must come down and our goal after celebrating at the summit is to reach Mweka camp in time for dinner. Congratulations! Uhuru Peak (Summit) Altitude: 5895 meters (19,341 feet)

    Mweka Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro (Elevation: Mweka Camp - 3100 meters (10,171 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 18 kilometers (11 miles), 14-16 hours, elevation + 1222 meters (4009 feet) / - 2795 meters (9170 feet)

  • Day 9

    Return to Arusha

    We’ll start the day with some breakfast at the camp and then begin our descent through the Afromontane forest. We’ll stop for some lunch on the way down and when at the bottom, we’ll say goodbye to the crew that helped us on our journey. Once we get back to civilization and our transport, we’ll be bound for the lodge. As soon as we get back, we’ll all head to our rooms for a well-deserved shower. We’ll meet again for dinner and reflect on our epic adventure together to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro! The highs, the lows, and all of the laughs in between (and we’ll enjoy a sundowner or two).

    Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, Arusha (Elevation: Ngare - 1798 meters (5900 feet)) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 10 kilometers (6 miles), 3-4 hours, elevation - 1460 meters (4790 feet)

  • Day 10

    Depart Tanzania

    After breakfast in the lodge, it’s time to leave Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro behind us. We’ll transfer you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your flights (or your joining hotel if you’re staying in Arusha). We’ll say our emotional goodbyes after bonding on our Mount Kilimanjaro adventure and head off on our separate journeys. For those of you that have opted to add-on our Serengeti Safari trip, your guide will meet you this evening and run through your safari briefing.

    No Accommodation (Breakfast)

Mount Kilimanjaro Trek Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year
USD $6499/per adult
26 Jun 2023
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Interactive Trip Map: Click on the map icons to read details for each day

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Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full.

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. 

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply.

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Useful Info

Is tipping expected in Tanzania?

Tips for your guides (and porters and climbing team) and meals are included in the trip price though if you head out for a meal that is not included in the tour, 10% is the going rate.

Where does the trip start?

On the first day of the trip we can pick you up from the arrivals hall at Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA) at any time on day one, or we’ll meet you at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge hotel foyer in the evening.

The lead guides from the climb crew will meet you at the lodge for a briefing and sorting out all of the equipment to ensure everybody is ready to start the climb the next day. Please have all your gear ready for your guides to check over.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) in time for flights departing at any time or anywhere in Central Arusha.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: If you’re flying in on the first day of the trip, we recommend arriving into Kilimanjaro Airport before 5pm.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we can provide transport to meet your departing flight at any time after breakfast.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

As an Activity Level 5 trip, you’ll need a solid level of fitness for the Kilimanjaro trek. Hiking in altitude is hard work and so the more preparation you do the better – but not to the point of over exerting yourself or stressing your body especially a few days before the climb. Therefore, the best bet is to work exercise into your daily routine and where possible try to have extended walks where you can wear in your boots, carry your rucksack and get used to some light weight on your shoulders and increase your aerobic ability. Advance preparation means you’ll enjoy the active and outdoor nature of your trip all the more.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

Who will be guiding me on this trek?

While in Tanzania you’ll be accompanied by your experienced trekking trip leader, who’s there to keep you informed about Tanzania and make sure that everything runs smoothly; a qualified trekking guide, who’ll provide additional local knowledge of the flora and fauna and a team of walking guides and porters! Each Camp you stay at will also have a team of people ensuring you are well fed and catered too.

Established in 2003, the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) is a legally registered Tanzanian not-for-profit organization. Their mission is to improve the working conditions of the porters on Kilimanjaro. Active Adventures fully supports this project and adhere to their guidelines and values.

What accommodations do we stay at on this trek?

The lodge on the first night will provide private twin-share rooms with ensuites and every other night you will be in a Twin-share
tent with a mattress (3 inch foam) & pillow provided. Each campsite will have a mess tent and toilet tent as well.

We recommend bringing enough clothing to only have to do laundry where necessary during your trek. Fast drying clothing is recommended while walking (see our recommended packing list), and the cold mountain air makes it hard for things to dry. There will only be opportunities to do laundry at the lodge n Arusha so we recommend hand-washing only the vital items you need while on trail.

How much luggage can I bring on this trek?

You'll need one piece of luggage plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage can be anything from a backpack, to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase and a good quality trekking daypack 25-30 litres (2000 cubic inches) is required for the days on the trail.

Included in your trip fare are the services of our group porters who carry your overnight gear, including your sleeping bag, leaving you to walk at your own pace with your day gear in your daypack. Porters will carry a maximum of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) per person, equivalent to around 50 litres of space - this does not include your sleeping bag.

We’ll give you an Active Africa porter bag to put your gear into to give to your porter (in Arusha).

What important gear should I bring?

Once you've booked your trip, you'll have access to a gear list in your portal on exactly what to bring along. The gear list is carefully thought out to provide you with everything you need to be warm and happy, or cool and relaxed, whatever the weather! So it is best to bring everything we recommend along, if you don't bring everything you need, we can't guarantee your comfort. The most important items are:

A good, comfortable, well worn-in pair of hiking boots for your trek as you’ll use them most days. We recommend boots with good ankle support and a solid tread/sole. We’ll be hiking over rocky and uneven terrain so we want you to be prepared with suitable equipment.

A waterproof, windproof and breathable rain jacket and rain pants. A jacket that’s not too light (it won’t keep you dry and you’ll get cold), not too heavy (or you’ll get too hot while hiking) and with a decent hood. If you don’t already own a waterproof jacket, we recommend chatting to your local outdoor retailer and adding one to your kit.

A good quality, custom made, 4 seasons ‘super-down’ jacket, with 800 loft/fill is suitable for conditions on the trail, it will need to be of mountaineering standard as it can get very cold on the trail, especially as you trek further into the mountains. We provide one for you so no need to bring your own!

Hiking poles to help protect your knees on the descents, assist over rocky and uneven terrain and give greater support when carrying a backpack. We provide these for you so no need to bring your own!

Do you provide any gear on this trip?

Yes we provide a good quality, custom made, 4 seasons ‘super-down’ jacket; a warm down sleeping bag with an inner sheet included, rated to -26°C (-14°F); and a set of hiking poles. The jacket has 800 loft/fill which we know is suitable for conditions on the trail. 

 

Do you provide porters on this trek?

Yes included in your trip fare are the services of our group porters who carry your overnight gear, including your sleeping bag, leaving you to walk at your own pace with your day gear in your daypack. Porters will carry a maximum of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) per person, equivalent to around 50 litres of space - this does not include your sleeping bag.

We’ll give you an Active Africa porter bag to put your gear into to give to your porter (in Arusha).

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travellers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travellers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travellers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Will altitude affect me on this trek?

Your ‘Kibo’ trek begins at an altitude of 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) at Arusha, and will take you up to 5,895 metres (19,340 feet) at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Unless you’ve travelled to and slept around this altitude in the past there’s no reliable way to predict how well you’re going to cope. While most people experience some mild symptoms, these are usually limited to a few days while your body adjusts and acclimatises.
Generally, very few people on our trips are badly affected by altitude, as we make sure everyone takes it easy in the beginning and gets into the swing of things slowly.
There are some things you can do when you arrive like avoiding dehydration, eating light meals, get plenty of rest and don’t over exert yourself -all these things might assist with your acclimatisation. There’s also a medication, acetazolamide (Diamox®) which you can take to help speed up acclimatisation, we strongly recommend that you discuss this with your doctor (see “Suggested Contents of Medical Kit” below).
While on the trek, if you do feel any adverse effects (headache, nausea or loss of appetite, dizziness/light headedness), please be sure to let your guide know so they can help take care of you. Often - paracetamol (acetaminophen), having something to eat and drink and resting up is all you need to do to alleviate the symptoms. along with drinking water and taking it easy.

Health check & Regular medication

We strongly recommend seeing your local travel doctor for a full medical checkup prior to travelling to Tanzania for the ‘Kibo’ trek. Trekking in general, especially at altitude can expose you to health risks and pre-existing medical conditions might get worse at altitude.
If you’re taking any regular medication, it’s essential you see your regular doctor well before the trek and get adequate
supplies for the trip. It’s also recommended that you get a letter from your doctor listing your regular medications and stating you’re carrying them for your personal use. This is also useful if you need to get replacement medications if you’re unlucky enough to lose your medication.

We carry comprehensive first aid kits and all our guides have received in depth emergency first aid training. However, our guides cannot dispense prescription medication to clients. We expect clients to bring a personal first aid kit with supplies to deal with common problems including blisters, cuts, grazes, aches and pains, travelers diarrhea, coughs and colds and altitude illness. Medications will need to be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account individual allergies and regular medications. We have provided a list of suggested items to discuss with your doctor.

Suggested contents of personal medical kits
Plasters & Dressings
Blister prevention tape, dressings etc
Strapping tape
Small bandage
Iodine swabs/solution or other antiseptic
Cough lozenges
Acetaminiphen/Paracetamol and/or ibuprofen
Acetazolamide (for prevention & treatment of altitude
illness). Suggested dose:125mg twice daily commencing 24
hours before going to altitude > 2500m
Oral rehydration solution (ORS)
Loperamide
Azithromycin (broad spectrum antibiotic, good for travellers
diarrhoea). Suggested dose 500mg once daily for 3 days.
Ondansetron (or other anti-emetic)
Antihistamine
Any regular medication (if required)
Spare prescription glasses (if required)

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Mount Kilimanjaro Trek