Itinerary
- Day 1
Moshi to Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Start with breakfast and a pre-hike briefing in Moshi, then drive for an hour to Machame village where your guides and porters will organize all your gear. You'll get lunch packs and mineral water before heading into a 7-hour hike through lush rainforest. The trail takes you to Machame Camp at 9,350 ft/2,850 m, where you'll arrive late in the afternoon.
- Start point
- Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Keys Hotel)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch packs provided)
Included Activities
- Pre-hike briefing on summit climbing and acclimatization
- Hike from Machame Gate to Machame Camp (7 hours)
Landmarks Machame Gate Kilimanjaro National Park - Day 2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Leave the rainforest behind and climb up a steep, rocky ridge onto the Shira Plateau. You'll pass through heather and open moorlands, cross a large river gorge, and eventually reach Shira 2 Camp at 12,500 ft/3,810 m. This 4-6 hour hike covers about 5 km with an elevation gain of roughly 3,150 ft/960 m.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp (4-6 hours)
Landmarks Shira Plateau - Day 3
Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Follow a ridge heading east and southeast toward the distinctive 300-foot Lava Tower volcanic rock formation. Once you reach 15,190 ft/4,630 m, you'll descend through the beautiful Senecio Forest down to Barranco Camp at 13,000 ft/3,960 m. Starting and ending the day at similar elevations gives your body time to acclimate properly.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower (4-5 hours)
- Hike from Lava Tower to Barranco Camp (2-3 hours)
Landmarks Lava Tower Senecio Forest - Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Descend into a ravine at the base of the Great Barranco Wall, then tackle a steep 900-foot non-technical cliff climb. After that, navigate through a series of hills and valleys with sharp descents into Karanga Valley, followed by another steep climb to reach Karanga Camp at 13,106 ft/3,995 m. This shorter day helps with acclimatization.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4-5 hours)
Landmarks Great Barranco Wall Karanga Valley - Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Leave Karanga Camp and head to the junction where the Mweka Trail connects. Continue moving upward through rocky sections until you reach Barafu Hut at 15,331 ft/4,673 m, completing the southern circuit. From here, you'll see peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo clearly. Rest at camp, have dinner, and prepare for your summit attempt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Delicious dinner in preparation for summit day)
Included Activities
- Hike from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4-5 hours)
Landmarks Mawenzi Peak Kibo Peak - Day 6
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Your summit attempt starts just past midnight with short, frequent breaks as you ascend in darkness. You'll reach Stella Point at 18,900 ft/5,761 m and catch sunrise over Mawenzi Peak. After that, continue to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 ft/5,895 m, the roof of Africa. On the way down, you'll stop for lunch at Barafu before heading to Mweka Camp. Trekking poles help on the rocky terrain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Brief lunch stop at Barafu during descent), Dinner (Last dinner on the mountain)
Included Activities
- Summit hike from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak (7-8 hours)
- Descent from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp (4-6 hours)
Landmarks Stella Point Uhuru Peak - Day 7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi
Descend from Mweka Camp through rainforest to Mweka Gate where you'll collect your summit certificate. The lower sections can be muddy and wet depending on recent rainfall. After the gate, it's about an hour more to Mweka Village where a vehicle transfers you back to your hotel in Moshi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (3-4 hours)
- Collection of summit certificate at Mweka Gate
Landmarks Mweka Gate
