Optional trip packages before/after this safari:
- Seeing the Mountain Gorillas
- Staying for 2-3 days at The School of St Jude
- Enjoying a beach getaway to Zanzibar
- Go on a Gorillas, Water safari and Chimps tour in Uganda
- Tour Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Depending on your personal travel itinerary before the climb, a “Pre-climb Briefing” and “Packing list/Equipment Check” will be done a day before the climb starts (or a few days before if possible), just in case anything has to be hired or bought at the last minute for your climb.
Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m)
Elevation Gain: 650metres, 2133 feet
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
At 7am you will be picked up and driven to Londorossi Gate at around 12pm. Spend an hour at the gate to complete entry formalities. After registering at the gate, drive to the trailhead and enjoy picnic lunch before starting the trek to Mti Mkubwa (Big tree) Camp. Pass through the rain forests of Kilimanjaro viewing trees and bring along the way. Arrive at the campsite in the late afternoon and relax for the rest of the day.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,750m/) to Shira 1 Camp (3,480m)
Elevation Gain: 730 meters, 2,397 feet
Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
Hike through the forest en route to Kilimanjaro’s moorland and enjoy the stunning variety of beautiful wildflowers. As the trail flattens out, take in your first views of Kibo peak. After lunch climb the Shira Plateau, created when Kibo’s lava flows filled up the Shira crater. Stop at Shira 1 Camp, where you will relax for the rest of the day.
Day 3: Shira I (3,480m) to Shira II Camp (3,860m)
Elevation Gain: 380 meters, 1,180 feet
Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
This is an acclimatization day that allows you to take day hikes that explore the Shira Plateau. Look to the west at sunset and you may catch a glimpse of the twin eruptions from the craters of Ol Donyio Lengai (The Mountain of God), an active volcano 100 kilometers distant
Day 4: Shira II Camp (3,860m) to Barranco Camp (3,950m)
Total Elevation Gain: 810 meters, 2,660 feet
Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
Although this up and down day ends with an elevation gain of only 110 meters, by early afternoon you will have climbed 690 meters to a height of 4,530 meters before beginning your descent to Barranco Camp. This day is crucial for acclimatization. After breakfast, continue east on the Shira Plateau for two hours before reaching the junction for the Machame Route. Continue through the barren landscape for another thirty minutes before stopping for lunch. Shortly after lunch, reach the highest point of the day before descending quickly to Barranco Camp. From the high point see the Lava Tower, a 300-foot lava formation jutting from the mountainside. Optional detour via Lava Tower. The descent to Barranco Camp will take you through a valley that is home to many unusual plants including the Senecio Kilimanjai. Barranco Camp is widely considered to be the most scenic campsite on the route. It is set in a canyon among forests of Senecio Kilimanjai beneath the Heim glacier. From the campsite, enjoy magnificent views of Mount Meru, Heim Glacier, Kibo’s southern face and the imposing Barranco Wall.
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3,950m) to Karanga Valley (4,200m)
Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet
Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with an hour-and-a-half scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places, you may have to use your hands to aid your climb. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the green Karanga River Valley. Karanga Camp is located on the ridge above the river valley.
Day 6: Karanga Valley (4,200m) to Barafu Camp (4,600m)
Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet
Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During the hike you will pass the Heim, Kersten and Decken glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, there are stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks along the way. Try to sleep after finishing dinner as you will need to wake before midnight to start your summit ascent.
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4,600m) to Summit (5,895m) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet
Hiking time: 6 hours to Crater rim, 1 hour to summit, 3 to 4 hours to Barafu, 4 hours to Mweka.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
Due to the steep ascent at high altitude, this is the most challenging day of the ascent. Leave Barafu Camp early in the morning to begin your hike to the top of Kibo Crater. It is important to remember to snack during the ascent to keep your energy up. You will likely lose your appetite during the hike and begin to feel new effects of altitude sickness. Reach Stella Point shortly before or at sunrise. Continue on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The hike to the summit is slow and will take approximately 1 hour from Stella Point. After reaching the summit, descend to Barafu Camp for a rest and brunch. Around 1pm, descend to Mweka Camp. Reach Mweka Camp at approximately 6pm.
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3,100m) to Mweka Gate (1,500m)
Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet
Hiking time: 4 hours
Breakfast and lunch provided.
After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Mweka Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the decent as the trail can be slippery. Afterwards you will be driven back to your hotel in Arusha for enjoying long over shower and relaxing the rest of your day. You have earned it!
Breakfast and dinner provided at the lodge.
This safari package includes:
- All park entrance, camping (or hut) and rescue fees,
- All meals and filtered drinking water while on the mountain,
- Guide (Wilderness First Responder certified), cook and porter salaries and fees (porters are paid
- according to national park recommendations),
- Camping equipment including mountaineering sleeping and mess tents (North Face, Marmot and
- Mountain Hardware), foam mattresses, toilet tent, chairs and tables,
- Emergency oxygen bottles,
- Transfer to/from Kilimanjaro National Park,
- Flying Doctors evacuation insurance
- Toilet tent
This safari package does not include:
- The climb does not include gratuities, soda/alcohol, energy snacks and drinks such as Power Bars,
- Personal camping equipment such as sleeping bags, visa fees, hotel in Arusha, airport transfers,
- travel/health insurance, airfare, or items of a personal nature.