SEPT 11: ARRIVE AT KILIMANJARO AIRPORT
Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to your overnight lodge in Arusha.
Overnight: Kibo Palace

SEPT 12 : ORIENTATION DAY
We will meet you for a climb orientation and also do an equipment check with each person. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight: Kibo Palace

SEPT 13: MACHAME HUT CAMP (10,000’) (day 1 on the mountain)

Drive from Arusha to Machame gate (10,000ft) for registration, and meet the rest of the crew (Cooks and Porters) ready for the climb.  We will start the climb through rainforest and the giant heathers for 6 hrs to our first overnight camp.

SEPT 14: SHIRA CAMP (12,480’) (day 2 on the mountain)

Short day but rather steep rocky and dusty trails. It's a slow hike with plenty of breaks and enough time to acclimatize. Most of the route is rather bare of vegetation providing little shade from heat. You will cross many ridges and see the first of many Senecias.

SEPT 15: BARRANCO CAMP (13,000’) (day 3 on the mountain)

 Start with climbing over boulders and very few rocks, then steady uphill climb to Lava tower and stop for lunch around noon. For those interested we may climb up the Lava tower which is 14850ft (You may start to get a mild headache due to altitude change). From Lava tower we will go down for about 2 hrs through dusty and rocky trails to the Barranco Camp at 13000ft.

SEPT 16: KARANGA VALLEY CAMP (13,450’) (day 4 on the mountain)

Start scrambling up the Barranco wall for an hour and half which is steep and you will be using your hands to reach and steady yourself like rock climbing, although it's not as challenging as rock climbing. At the top of the wall you can see the Barranco valley and the campsite you spent a night before. You will walk up and  down the greener valley which is the last water point to the mountain.

SEPT 17: BARAFU HUT CAMP (14,200’) (day 5 on the mountain)
Short but steep uphill climb across barren landscape with lots of boulders and shattered rocks. You will see the Decken glaciers on your left. Keep going a very steep ridge until we reach a rocky section for more scrambling for about hour and half. Our next camp will be on large rocks with very steep cliff faces. We will go to bed very early because we will have to wake up at 11.00p.m for the summit

SEPT 18: SUMMIT DAY and MWEKA HUT (10,500’) (day 6 on the mountain)
We will start the climb at around midnight. We will start with very steep rocks for 1 hour, and then will enter a snow covered area where you can see glaciers above. If it's a moonlight night, you may turn off your headlamp and walk in the moonlight, it is a wonderful experience. Next 2 hours to Stella Point, we will take a break every 15 minutes as a struggle gets more mentally and physically challenging. Then we will get to Stella Point where the Lava fields are like loose sand. It's very funny and frustrating because you will take a step up and slide back gaining 0 distances and if not careful slide back 2 steps and gain negative 2 steps. After break we will climb to UHURU PEAK for 1 hr just as the sun appears over the Mawenzi peaks. We will be at UHURU PEAK (19370ft) around 6.00am or 7.00a.m ready for pictures, big hugs and cheers! We will start our descent which is steep and rigorous via Stella Point to Barrafu hut Camp. We will stop for lunch at Barafu Camp and a good rest before we proceed down to Mweka camp, a very comfortable hike, but very dusty and long.

SEPT 19: ARUSHA (Day 7 on mountain & hike out)
Hike about 4 to 5 hours down to the park gate. Enjoy lunch and then say goodbye to the mountain staff. Drive back to Arusha.
Overnight: Kibo Palace


Contact us for more information on this trip.