Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

Today the hike begins! We’ll set out from the Lodge in vehicles over 3 hours of driving to Lemosho Gate at an elevation of 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) - one of the starting points of the Lemosho Trail. Here you’ll meet the rest of the hiking crew and set off at a leisurely pace into the beautiful Afromontane Forest through windy trails. At these lower elevations the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here. 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 Mti Mkumbwa Camp (2,895 meters / 9,500 feet) by mid-afternoon. We’ll take things nice and slow today to ease us into the days ahead.

Mti Mkumbwa Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 7 kilometers (4 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation +795 meters (2610 feet)

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 Giant Heather Moorland Zone and from here we’ll soon ascend to the extinct volcanic crater known as the Shira Plateau. This World Heritage site boasts deep valleys and the remains of weathered lava flows. Enjoy the dramatic views of the plateau whilst appreciating the distant views of Mount Meru, another extinct volcanic mountain. We’ll take lunch on the trail and arrive in Shira I Camp (3,505 meters /11,500 feet) around mid-afternoon. Temperatures begin to drop here, so get those layers on!

Shira I Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 7 kilometers (4 miles), 5-6 hours, elevation +610 meters (2,000 feet)

Today we’ll be crossing the Shira Plateau, this is one of the most scenic parts of the trip! Slowly and gently, you’ll walk eastwards toward Kibos glacier peak. 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 Moir Camp (4,205 meters /13,800 feet) 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 do an optional acclimatization 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 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles), 5-6 hours, elevation + 610 metres (2,000 feet)
Hiking: Optional acclimatization hike: 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles), 1-2 hours, elevation+/-250 meters (820 feet)

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 with a 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 4,630 meters/15,090 feet 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 (3,900 meters / 12,795 feet) is incredibly scenic with epic sunsets to finish up another top-notch day on the trails.

Barranco Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 11 kilometers (7 miles), 7-9 hours, including lunch stop, elevation + 425 meters (1,395 feet), elevation -730 meters (2,395 feet)

As summit day creeps closer we’ll start preparing, with an early start to the day crossing the floor of the Great Barranco Valley to hike the Barranco Wall (4,200 meters/13,780 feet). This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your mountain crew as they zip over this wall with what appears such ease. After 2 hours of ascending we’ll reach the top and then hike over spectacular glacial valleys to our next camp – Karanga Camp (3,955 meters / 13,105 feet). We’ve been to 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 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 6 kilometers (4 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation + 300 meters (985 feet), elevation - 245 meters (800 feet)

We won’t be walking very far today as we near the mountain peak; we’ll save that for the final summit! We’ll spend 4 - 5 hours of the day completing the Southern Circuit, hiking past Barafu Camp. The scenic climb to Barafu Camp is mostly on a moraine with breath-taking views of Mawenzi Peak towering to the right, and Kibo Peak overhead. We’ll continue hiking to Kosovo Camp (4,800 meters / 15,750 feet), a special, high campsite on the Arctic Zone of the mountain located on the southwest of Kibo Peak. Today's walk will be through an increasingly inhospitable landscape with the Southern Glaciers looming to our left. Arriving early to our next camping spot will give us plenty of time to relax before our early start. We’ll be based in the desolate alpine desert with its few scatterings of lichens and mosses for the night, the feeling here is otherworldly, and in the evenings, incredible views of Mawenzi Volcano are the norm. We’ll get an early night in preparation for our summit push to begin around midnight, only one final climb to go!

Kosovo Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 5 kilometers (3 miles) | 4-5 hours, elevation + 845 meters (2,770 feet)

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. Kosovo Camp being a high camp, we’ll have a head start over other tekkers and be able to avoid crowds on the summit night, allowing for a better experience on the summit night. This is the most physically and mentally challenging part of the trek, and patience and persistence are the names of the game here as you trek through heavy scree, with our aim 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 1 hour 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, 5,895 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 begin a steep descent to Millennium Camp in time for dinner, with a short stopover at Millenium Camp 2,075 meters / 12,530 feet) for lunch and a brief rest. Congratulations!

Millenium Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak: 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), 6-7 hours, elevation +1,095 meters (3,590 feet)
Hiking: Uhuru Peak to Millenium Camp: 9 kilometers (5.5 miles), 6-7 hours, elevation -1,095 meters (6,810 feet)

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 appreciate and say goodbye to the crew that helped us on our journey, collect our certificates and make a celebratory toast with some bubbly. Once we get back to the national park gate and our transport, we’ll be bound for Chanya Lodge (1,370 meters / 4,500 feet). 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).

Chanya Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Hiking: 13.5 kilometers (8.5 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation -2140 meters ( 7,020 feet)

After breakfast at the lodge, it’s time to leave Moshi 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 Usa River and joining our safari). 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.

(Breakfast)