Day 1. – Lemosho Glades (6,890ft) to Mti kubwa Camp ( 9022 ft)

After breakfast, drive to Londorossi gate (it’s about 2hours drive ) for registration, then drive for another 45minutes passing through a forest to Lemosho Glades ( which takes another 45 minutes drive). From here you trek through the rain forest for 3hours to Mti Mkubwa camp site. Dinner and overnight Mti Mkubwa camp.

Day 2. – Mti kubwa Camp ( 9022 ft) to Shira Camp 1 ( 11, 500 ft) 

After breakfast, start the climb and cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is at the beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch, you 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. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you’ll get your first close views of Kibo. Dinner and overnight at Shira 1 camp.

Day 3. – Shira Camp 1 ( 11, 500 ft) to Shira 2 Camp (12,598 ft ) 

After breakfast continue climbing east, across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Shira Two camp. This camp is large and exposed with beautiful views of the town of Moshi and the Heim Glacier. Dinner and overnight at Shira 2 camp.

Day 4. – Shira 2 Camp (12,598 ft) to Barranco Camp (14,928 ft)

This is your first day of “walk high, sleep low”, intended to help you acclimatize to the altitude. The grade is gradual as you make your way up to Lava Tower, but the way down to Barranco Camp is steep. Your camp is in the beautiful Barranco valley with large lobelia and Senecio trees dotting the landscape. Dinner and overnight at Barranco camp.

Day 5. – Barranco Camp (14,928 ft) to Karanga valley camp (3963 m/13,000 ft) 

You start the morning with a climb up the great Barranco wall, with some parts requiring a bit of scrambling over the rocks. Then it is about a 2-hour walk down to Karanga valley where you will have lunch and rest. Dinner and overnight at Karanga camp.

Day 6. – Karanga valley camp (3963 m/13,000 ft) to Barafu Camp (14,928 ft)

Today hike down into the Karanga valley, and then back up to Barafu camp. Dinner and overnight here. You need to go and rest early so that you can start off well on your big night to the summit.

Day 7. – Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (10,171 ft)

This is the longest day. At around 12:30 am, you will begin your summit attempt. The path up to Stella Point zigzags back and forth along a gravel path. This portion takes about 6 hours. This can be quite boring as most of the hiking is in darkness with little to see. Then you scramble over a few rocks and continue up to Uhuru Peak. After a few victorious photos, it’s time to head back down to Barafu for a short rest before making your way down to Mweka camp. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.

Day 8. – Mweka Camp (10,171 ft) to Mweka Gate (6,496 ft)

Enjoy your last views of the mountain as you descend through the moorland and rain forest zones on your way to Mweka Gate. The path will be muddy, especially if it rained recently. At the gate, you will receive your completion certificate if you made it to Stella Point, Gilmans or Uhuru Peak. Then it’s back to Arusha hotel for a long hot shower.