Day 1 Moshi – Londorossi Gate (2250m) – Big Tree Camp (2780m)

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Path follows through forest on a clear path with a moderate incline. You might see monkeys.

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Start: Lemosho Starting Point (2385m)
Finish: Big Tree Camp (2780m)
Altitude: ↑ 400m
Walking Time: 2-3h

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Up and away. A two and a half hour’s drive to Londorossi Gate where you will be registered by the national park authorities. Then you drive another 15 km into the dense rainforest to where you will start. A moderately steep path leads to the Big Tree Camp (2780m). Look out for monkeys and interesting birds along the way. The tents will be already set up and hot tea and washing water will be waiting.

 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 2 Big Tree Camp (2780m) – Shira Camp 1 (3500m)

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Continuously rising and falling terrain above the rainforest with wonderful views of the Shira Ridge and the Kibo Summit.

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Start: Big Tree Camp (2780m)
Finish: Shira Camp 1 (3500m)
Altitude: ↑ 720
Walking Time: 4-5h

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After breakfast you will follow a thin trail through the rainforest before leaving the green area behind heading into moorland. Erica and Lobelia plants will start to take over the landscape. After about 3-4 hours you will reach Shira Camp 1 where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 3 Shira Camp 1 (3500m) – Shira Camp 2 (3900m)

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Short trek with moderate rising through heat and moorland zone. Great views by crossing Shira Ridge.

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Start: Shira Camp 1 (3500m)
Finish: Shira Camp 2 (3900m)
Altitude: ↑400m
Walking Time: 3-4h

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After breakfast you continue your trek, which today will be less tiring than the day before. You will cross Shira Ridge which will allows for great views of the Rift Valley and Mt Meru. The ever changing landscape will again surprise you with a different terrain, you will walk on ground where lava once flowed. You will also pass the big Senecien that can grow to more or less 9 meters in height. Shira Camp 2 will be your destination for the night at (3900m), 400m more than night before.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 4 Shira Camp 2 (3900m) – Lava Tower (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

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A long trek through the heath and moorland zone with impressive vegetation on the way to the Lava Tower.

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Start: Shira Camp 2 (3900m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3960m)
Altitude: ↑ 740m  ↓ 680m
Walking Time: 6-7h

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After breakfast you will start your walk up to Lava Tower with a long ascent above the Shira Plateau. You will climb quite a bit in altitude, roughly 740m. You will have a rest here before descending again. This is a so called acclimatising day, where you will climb high but sleep low, giving you a good idea of how your body reacts to altitude. The landscape will once again change as you pass through the Barranco Valley with its big Senecias and smaller Lobelia plants. After a long 6 – 7 hours you will reach your beautiful camp for the night the Barranco Camp. The crew will be there waiting with a well deserve evening meal before settling in for the night.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 5 Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4035m)

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Steep climb over the Barranco Wall with a rewarding view of Kibo’s southern glacier, continuously up and down.

 

Start: Barranco Camp (3960m)
Finish: Karanga Camp (4035m)
Altitude: ↑ 100m ↓ 60m
Walking Time: 3-4h

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Straight after breakfast you will make your way up the famous Barranco Wall. This is most probably the steepest part of the entire route. Safety is very important to us so please follow the guideline of your guides who will get you to the top safely. You might have to use your hands every now and then to get a better grip but rest assured there are no alpine climbing passages. Once at the top you will walk along the mountain ridge and if the weather allows you will have a great view of the southern glacier of Kibo as the Kibo summit. After 3 – 4 hours you will reach Karanga Camp for your overnight.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 6 Karanga Camp (4035m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

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Small path through rocky alpine desert, not technically demanding.

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Start: Karanga Camp (4035m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4640m)
Altitude: ↑ 600m
Walking Time: 3-4h

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Barafu Camp is your destination for today at (15,220 ft) 4640m. You will start after breakfast and should reach it in about 3 to 4 hours. The scenery for today will be mostly afro-alpine dessert. Once at the camp you will have a filling early dinner before settling in for a good rest in preparation for tomorrow exciting climb.

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Day 7 Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

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Very steep, long and possibly cold climb to Stella Point. Fantastic panorama at the crater ridge and at the summit. Descent relatively steep and long. Altitude might influence the climb.

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Start: Barafu Camp (4640m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)
Altitude: ↓ 1250m  ↓ 2810m
Walking Time: 10-14h

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Your day will begin at 00:00. After hot tea and biscuits you will start your 5-7 hours walk to Stella Point, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. Here you will have a short rest if necessary before continuing another 1-2 hours to reach the highlight of the trip the Uhuru Peak (5895m). This is truly a once in a lifetime experience as you stand at the top of Africa watching the sunrise light up the surrounding summits and landscape. After taking much needed pictures you will make your way down back to Barafu Camp for a 1-2 hours rest. Once everyone is well rested you will continue down to Mweka gate (3080m), an approx. 3 hours walk. The rest of the evening is yours to relax, you’ll have a nice evening meal and a good night’s sleep.

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Breakfast, Dinner 

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Day 8 Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m) – Moshi

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Easy and relatively short descent with a good path through lush rainforest.

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Start: Mweka Camp (3080m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1630m)
Altitude: ↓ 1450m
Walking Time: 2-3h

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After breakfast, before starting your final stretch, you will enjoy a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain guides. A 2 – 3 hours walk will take you through the rainforest back the Mweka Gate. Our driver will be there waiting for you and take you back to the Sal Salinero Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to freshen up, relax, and take in all the excitement of the last couple of days.

Breakfast

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