Overview

• Elevation: 5,249 ft to 9,514 ft
• Distance: 11 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Your guide and trek support crew arrive at your hotel in the morning. Introductions and a last brief equipment check precede your drive to the Umbwe Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. This entrance, situated at 1,640 m above sea level, is where your trek starts. The head-guide will finalize the permits and registration for search and rescue services. Your first day trekking is meant to bring you to Umbwe Camp for your first mountain overnight. Climbing up to 2,930 m is a long haul with a significant increase in altitude, so find the right pace for the whole group and stick with it. As this part of Umbwe route goes through rainforest with its probability of rain showers- do not forget your raincoat. Your support crew will have prepared the camp and dinner by the time you get there.

This being your first day at high altitude we strongly recommend the following:

• Do not consume any alcohol and minimize your caffeine intake
• Drinking no less than 4 liters of water per day is a good way to keep yourself hydrated. Take it in small amounts but frequently
• We encourage our clients to use Diamox in the mornings prior to the day’s climb. This reduces altitude sickness symptoms. Consult your doctor on the use of Diamox before leaving home on this trip

Nightly discomfort often accompanies acclimatization. However, while such symptoms as headaches and nausea are common, make sure you inform your guide of them immediately.

Overview

• Hiking time: 6 hours
• Distance: Approximately 6.3 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Shortly after leaving the camp the forest starts ending and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, you will have sightings of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley. From Umbwe ridge, the route descends slightly to Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which will provide you with a memorable sunset while drinking coffee outside and dinner is being prepared. Barranco Camp

Overview

This will be acclimatization day. After a late breakfast you will start hiking from Barranco to lava tower in which you will go high and come down to sleep lower. It will take about 3-4 hours walk and back to Barranco for late hot lunch. Enjoy the rest of the day in this wall. Dinner and overnight.

Overview

• Hiking time: 6 hours
• Distance: Approximately 6 km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall, we make our way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Karanga Camp

Overview

• Hiking time: 4 hours
• Distance: Approximately 3.4km
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

After breakfast, we turn left up the ridge and the route ascends 640m towards Barafu Camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles 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.

Overview

• Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak | 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp
• Distance: Approximately 4.5 km
• Ascent and 10.8 km descent
• Vegetation: Forest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head northwest and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. Most climbers find the 6-hour walk to Stella point as the most mentally and physically challenging.

At Stella Point (5739m), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions but its best not to stop for too long as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue.

The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a short rest before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late evening. Barafu Camp

Overview

• Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
• Habitat: Forest
• Distance: Approximately 8.5 km
• Meals: Breakfast,

It will be a short 3 to 4 hour scenic hike back to the gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems, which could make the descent longer than planned. At Mweka gate, successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) they also gat certificates with different looking those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate you will meet our transfer car in which your bags will be lorded. The guides will get you the certificates while your team will be singing some Kilimanjaro sons plus traditionally songs you. With a cold drinks and served a delicious hot lunch. Afterwards, we drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and enjoy the night.