Your day starts early with breakfast, followed by a 45-minute drive from Moshi
(910m) to the Machame Gate (1828m). The guides and porters prepare and pack
the supplies and your equipment at the gate. After registering at the gate office,
you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong
possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy
and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about halfway and
will reach the Machame camp (3020m) in the late afternoon. Your porters (arriving
at the camp site long before you) will have erected your tent on arrival. In the evening
the porters will bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent and the c o o k w i l l
prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures
can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.

Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included

You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of
the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short
lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able
to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due
west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 847m. The porters
will once again supply you with a small bowl of washing water, before serving dinner. The
night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures
dropping to well below freezing.

Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included

The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower,
where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 5 hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated
area. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the
first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and
headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping
area. After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at 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 your dinner
to be prepared.

Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included

After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make
your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end usually turns out to be easier
than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just
how beautiful Mount 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. This
is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and
after another hour or so, you should reach Barafu Hut. The last water stop on the route is
the Karranga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. The summit is now a
further 1214 m 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.
Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included

You will get up around 23h30, You will head in a north westerly direction and ascend through heavy
scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is
mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point 5739m you will 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 will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2hour
ascent to Uhuru Peak. Do not stop here 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 well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before head-
ing 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.

Main Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic
hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could
make the descend longer than planned. It is strongly recommended not to pay
your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely.
Visit the tips page for more info. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details
in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those
climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those
who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate
you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike.
In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch, After lunch you drive
back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations.

Main Destination: Moshi (Town)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)