Itinerary
- Day 1
Londorosi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After breakfast, you'll drive about 2 to 3 hours to Londorosi gate for registration and permits, then push on for another hour to the Lemosho starting point. A picnic lunch happens along the way, and that's when you'll meet your guides, cooks, and porters who'll be with you the whole climb. From there, it's a short trek to camp at 9,100ft/2,774m, so you're easing into things on day one.
- Start point
- Arusha, Tanzania (pangani street, 07:00 - 09:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at Lemosho starting point)
Included Activities
- Registration and entrance permit at Londorosi gate
- Meet climbing crew including guides, cooks, and porters
Landmarks Londorosi Gate Lemosho Starting Point Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 2
Lemosho to Shira 1 Camp
You're looking at a solid 6 to 7 hour hike covering about 7km to Shira 1 camp at 11,500ft/3,505m. After roughly 2 hours of walking, you'll enter the moorland zone on Shira plateau's west side where old lava flows show up all around you. The pace includes regular breaks to help your body adjust to the altitude, then it's time to settle in at camp for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch stop during hike), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Shira 1 camp via moorland zone and Shira plateau
- View old lava flows on Shira plateau
Landmarks Shira Plateau - Day 3
Shira 1 to Moir Hut
This day takes you across Shira plateau (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for 4 to 6 hours, covering about 9km. You'll reach Fishers Point for a picnic lunch, then hike another 1 to 2 hours through moorland terrain to Moir Hut camp at 13,800ft/4,206m. The camp sits at the base of a massive lava flow, which is pretty impressive when you arrive.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch at Fishers Point), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike across Shira plateau UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Hike through moorland zone to Moir Hut
Landmarks Shira Plateau Fishers Point - Day 4
Moir Hut to Barranco Camp
Expect 6 to 8 hours of hiking through alpine desert, covering 9km of terrain that's honestly quite varied. You'll tackle steep hills and rocky sections, then continue climbing steadily toward Lava Tower, a 150m high volcanic plug that dominates the landscape. Around noon there's lunch, then you descend for about 2 hours down a dusty rocky trail to Barranco Camp at 13,044ft/3,976m. Heads up: some hikers get mild headaches here due to altitude.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch around noon near Lava Tower), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Lava Tower and visit volcanic landmark
- Hike to Barranco Camp through alpine desert
Landmarks Lava Tower - Day 5
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
This is a shorter day at 4 to 6 hours for 6km, but don't underestimate it. You'll scramble up the Great Barranco Wall using hands and feet over steep sections and rock boulders for 1 to 2 hours. From the top, you get views back down to Barranco Valley and the camp you just left. From there, it's more up and down walking to Karanga Valley (the mountain's last water source) and your ridge camp at 13,106ft/3,993m.
- Meals
- Lunch (Hot lunch at Karanga Camp), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scramble up the Great Barranco Wall
- Hike to Karanga Valley and camp
Landmarks Great Barranco Wall Karanga Valley - Day 6
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Plan on 3 to 5 hours covering 4km in steep uphill terrain with countless boulders and broken rock through the upper alpine desert. You'll work up a steep ridge followed by about 1.5 hours scrambling over rocky ground to reach Barafu Camp at 15,330ft/4,673m. Eat an early dinner and try to get solid sleep because you're waking around 11pm for the summit push.
- Meals
- Dinner (Early dinner at Barafu Camp)
Included Activities
- Hike to Barafu Camp through upper alpine desert
- Day 7
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and Mweka Hut
Around 11pm, you're up for tea and snacks, layering up with warm clothes, then heading out around midnight. The first 2 to 3 hours involve steep rocky climbing, then you zigzag toward the crater rim aiming for Stella Point at 5,756m, which you should hit around 6am where sunrise often greets you. Continue to Uhuru Peak at 19,340ft/5,895m, spend 10 to 15 minutes for photos and views, then descend about 3 hours back to Barafu Camp to rest and have brunch. Later you drop down to Mweka Hut at 10,065ft/3,068m for the night.
- Meals
- Snack (Tea and snacks before summit push (around 11pm)), Brunch (Brunch at Barafu Camp after descent from summit)
Included Activities
- Summit to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m)
- Reach Stella Point at crater rim
- View sunrise from summit or during ascent
Landmarks Uhuru Peak Stella Point - Day 8
Mweka Hut to Mweka Gate and Arusha
After breakfast, meet your Eastland Adventures crew for group photos and climbing songs before the final push down. You'll descend 3 to 4 hours through rainforest covering about 10km to Mweka Gate. If you're lucky, blue monkeys and black and white Colobus monkeys show up along the trail. After signing out at Kilimanjaro National Park and grabbing your summit certificate, the drive to Arusha hotel lets you shower off and enjoy a celebratory Kilimanjaro beer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Group photos and climbing songs with crew
- Descent through rainforest to Mweka Gate
- Sign out at Kilimanjaro National Park
- Receive summit certificate
Optional Activities
- Wildlife viewing during rainforest descent (blue monkeys, black and white Colobus monkeys)
Landmarks Mweka Gate Kilimanjaro National Park
