9 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing

0700hrs: After a heavy breakfast at the hotel, meet with your Trekking guide and porters for a pre trekking briefing and then drive (90mins drive) to Londorosi entrance gate of Kilimanjaro National Park for registration and final packing before the actual walk begin. Past the gate the guests will further drive about 12kms to a starting point of trek. A walk on this day the guest may will encounter some wild animals like buffalos and elephants which are not a problem with professional escort.

At the gate the guests can hire any missing necessary hiking gears before the climb, therefore it’s a place for final checkup prior to start trekking Mt Kilimanjaro.

Londorosi gate elevation: 2100m/6888ft above sea level

Forest camp elevation: 2820m/9250ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 4hrs

Terrain: Rain forest

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Forest Camp/Mti mkubwa (Big tree) camp (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700hrs: After breakfast the guests will leave the forest camp to continue on an ascending path crossing through the heather and moorland. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 700m. After lunch along the way the guests will cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau which is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak.

Forest camp elevation: 2820m/9250ft above sea level

Shira Campsite elevation: 3840m/12595ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 6hrs

Terrain: Gentle steep low alpine zone

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Shira Campsite 1 (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700hrs: After breakfast at the camp the guests will further proceed gently east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the Shira plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

Shira Campsite 1 elevation: 3840m/12595ft above sea level

Moir Campsite 1 elevation: 4200m/13776ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 6hrs

Terrain: Gentle steep high alpine zone

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Moir Campsite 1 (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700hrs: After breakfast at the camp the guests will continue slowly to the next stop on the mountain with an altitude lower than the previous camp. From Moir hut we walk east on the plateau, following the trail leading to the Lava Tower (Sharks tooth). Shortly before the tower we branch off onto the path to the Umbwe Ridge and Barranco Hut for rest, dinner and overnight. Climbing high and sleeping low is a good way to acclimatize the body to altitude.

Moir Campsite elevation: 4200m/13776ft above sea level

Barranco camp elevation: 3950m/12950ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 6hrs

Terrain: Rocks, ridges and valleys.

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Barranco Camp (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700HRS: After breakfast at the camp the guests will slowly proceed to the next camp ahead approaching the roof of Africa. On this day you will be presented with the relatively steep Barranco ‘Breakfast’ climb, a 257m scramble up the Barranco Wall. Be prepared to use all four limbs as you traverse the wall to the top of the Karanga Valley. From here you will follow a path that sojourns through many inclines and declines to Karanga Camp.

Barranco camp elevation: 3950m/12950ft above sea level

Karanga Campsite elevation: 3960m/13000ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 4hrs

Terrain: Rocks, ridges and valleys.

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Karanga Camp (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700hrs: After breakfast at the camp the guests will proceed to the next stop up the mountain. On this day it’s a relatively short and easy trek. Starting at Karanga Camp, the trail quickly joins the Mweka route and heads up to base camp Barafu. We recommend you use the easy day to enjoy the scenery, rest the muscles, and prepare your mind for the summit push.

Karanga camp elevation: 3960m/13000ft above sea level

Barafu camp elevation: 4680m/15350ft above sea level

Approximate slow trekking time: 3hrs

Terrain: High alpine zone.

Option: Exercises to higher altitude for acclimatization and back at the camp

Overnight: Barafu Camp (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0000HRS: On this night the guests will wake up around midnight for a coffee and some snacks and get prepared to conquer the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. At approximately six to eight hours slow walk the guests will reach Uhuru Peak (the highest point in Africa at 5895m/19340ft above sea level) passing through Stella Point (5685m/18640ft above sea level). The walking distance between the two points is one hour. Admire the beautiful views of the Kibo Crater and the glacier fields.

A scintillating/Dazzling/Brilliant/Sparkling experience…

After a brief celebration with pictures at Uhuru peak early in the morning of a sixth day, the guests will slowly start to walk down descending past Barafu camp to Mweka Camp for rest, dinner and overnight.

Barafu camp elevation: 4600m/15000ft above sea level

Stella’s point elevation: 5685m/18640ft above sea level

Uhuru peak elevation: 5895m/19340ft above sea level - Destiny

Approximate slow trekking time: 6-8hrs

Terrain: Steep and scree.

Option: Turn back at Stella’s Point if too tired but the aim is to reach Uhuru Peak

Overnight: Mweka Camp (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)

0700HRS: After breakfast at the camp the guests will further descend down to Mweka gate. On arrival at the gate the guests will further celebrate and receive certificates from the park management confirming their Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing.

The car will be waiting for them and further drive to Airport planet lodge for lunch, day room use, shower and packing.

Depending on flight details the guests will be transferred to Kilimanjaro international airport for their flight back home.

Alternatively, as an extra package the guests may will include a safari tour package or Zanzibar beach for relaxation before returning home.