Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be picked up and transferred to Springlands Hotel or similar for overnight.
Overnight at Springlands Hotel or Similar (bed and breakfast)
Altitude: 2,200 m – 2,780 m
Hiking distance: 7 km
Hiking time: 5 hours
After breakfast, drive to the Londorosi Park Gate. The drive is about 5 hours. The drive through the Shira plateau is one of the best opportunities to see big game on Kilimanjaro. Walk up to Mti Mkubwa camp. Arrive at the campsite, set up camp, and enjoy dinner.
Altitude: 2,780 m – 3,500 m
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 4–5 hours
Wake to breakfast and begin the short hike from Mti Mkubwa to Shira camp. This usually takes no more than 5 hours, but a calm pace is required for adequate acclimatization. The west face of the Kibo volcano looms above the campsite. Have lunch, set up camp, rest, or take a day hike. This hike traverses the lower moorland, where large shrubs and wildflowers dominate the landscape.
Altitude: 3,500m – 3,840 m
Hiking distance: 5 km
Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Wake to breakfast, break camp, and briefly hike to Shira Camp 2. This makes it a perfect acclimatization day. Enjoy and take in the views.
Altitude: 3,840 m – 3,960 m
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours
The route now turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5-hour walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower. Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point where, for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.
Altitude: 3,960 m – 4,640 m
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 7–8 hours
Exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Ensure you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up, and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19:00 and try to get some precious rest for no more than 5-hours.
Altitude: 4,640 m – 5, 895 m – 3,090 m
Hiking distance: 17 km
Hiking time: 15+ hours
Rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You head northwesterly and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m), you stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment, and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight.
Altitude: 3,090 m – 1,650 m
Hiking distance: 10 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
After Breakfast, from the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. From the Mweka village, drive to Springlands Hotel, and you will be served a hot lunch and a long overdue shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
Overnight at Springlands Hotel or Similar (bed and breakfast)
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.
