Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or the Arusha bus terminal, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Moshi or Arusha. This is the perfect time to rest, recover from travel, and prepare for the trek. That evening, you will meet your local mountain crew for a briefing covering safety, gear, and itinerary details to ensure a smooth start to your adventure.

After breakfast, you will depart from your hotel in a private vehicle to Londorossi Gate, the entry point to Kilimanjaro National Park. Following registration and formalities, you will continue by 4×4 to Morum Barrier Gate before beginning your first hike. The trail climbs gently through heathland, offering breathtaking views of Kibo Peak over the plateau. This initial trek is short, designed to introduce you to high-altitude hiking while enjoying the serene Shira Plateau. Dinner and overnight are at Shira 1 Camp, allowing you to rest and acclimatize.

Today’s hike takes you across the stunning Shira Plateau, traversing relatively level paths through unique moorland vegetation, including towering giant lobelias. The route offers some of the most beautiful vistas of the trip, with clear views of Mount Meru, the Great Rift Valley, and Lake Natron on good weather days. This stage also serves an essential acclimatization purpose, gradually preparing your body for higher altitudes. After about four hours of hiking, you will reach Shira 2 Camp, where the Lemosho and Shira routes converge, ready for dinner and an overnight stay.

The day begins with a hike over the Shira Plateau, climbing steadily towards the impressive Lava Tower. This trek gains approximately 800 meters in elevation but finishes at a lower camp to follow the “climb high, sleep low” acclimatization strategy. Along the way, you will pass through the Barranco Valley, characterized by unique alpine plants and breathtaking vistas. The day concludes at Barranco Camp, nestled below the dramatic Breach and Great Barranco Wall, where you enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in tents.

After breakfast, the climb begins with the famous Great Barranco Wall, a challenging scramble rewarding you with stunning views over the southern glaciers of Kibo. The trail then descends slightly to Karanga Valley Camp before continuing along a ridge to reach Barafu Camp, your base camp for the summit ascent. The terrain on this day is a mix of scree, ridges, and valleys, offering panoramic views of Kilimanjaro’s peaks and glaciers. Dinner and overnight are at Barafu Camp, with rest and preparation for the night-time summit push.

Summit day begins around 11:30 pm with tea and biscuits before starting the night ascent under headlamps. The trail climbs through scree and occasional snowfields to Stella Point (5,725 m) on the crater rim, where trekkers witness a spectacular sunrise over the surrounding peaks. From Stella Point, it’s roughly an hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895 meters. After celebrating your achievement, you descend back to Barafu Camp for rest and refreshments, before continuing to Mweka Camp for dinner and a well-earned sleep.

The final day begins with a gentle descent through tropical rainforest to Mweka Gate, where your mountain crew bids you farewell in a traditional ceremony and presents your summit certificate. A private transfer then returns you to your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi, giving you time to relax, celebrate, and reflect on your accomplishment.