After breakfast in your hotel you will be given an overall briefing from your guide. At 9am you will be met by our staff, who will drive you several hours to the Western side of Mt. Kilimanjaro and to the Londrossi Gate, where our guides and porters will prepare and pack the equipment and supplies Once at the gate you will be given a packed lunch and after registration with the Kilimanjaro Park office, we will drive for another 45mins to Lemosho Glades where your trek will begin with ascending into the rainforest. You will ascend for approx. 3 hours in dense rain forest which could be very wet and muddy so be ready with your gaiters and trekking poles. During the trek we will have a break and you can enjoy the rest your packed lunch. We will reach the Mti Mkubwa Camp also known as 'Big Tree' Camp in late afternoon. After arrival, you will be taken to your camp and tent which has already been set up by the porters who ran ahead, where you will be greeted with boiled drinking water and hot washing water. Once you have freshened up and settled in, a hot dinner will be served in the mess-tent.

ELEVATION        2.360m to 2.895m
DISTANCE          6km
TREK TIME        3-4 hours
CLIMATE            Mountain Forest

Todays hike is a long one.  There are some steep stretches as you traverse around and over the lava flows that make up the outer flanks of the Shira crater. You'll leave the forest zone a short while out of the camp and enter the heathland with the giant heather trees and St John's wort bushes.. The vegetation thins out to moorland habitat at the crater rim. then a short descent followed by a fairly flat stroll to camp. The camp is  on the western side of the Shira plateau. Late afternoons will often bring breath-taking first views of Kibo.

After breakfast you will continue on your hike across and up the Shira plateau to Shira Camp 2 at 3,850 meters. Here you will join trekkers from the Machame Route whilst enjoying stunning view across the valley below and Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above. The plateau is exposed so be prepared for a cold night with temperatures getting below zero.

Elevation              3505m to 3895m -
Distance                10 km
Trekking-Time   5-7 hours -
Environment      Moorland

 We leave the forest behind now and a gentle grade walk takes you across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Shira Cave with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.

Elevation    3810m - 4200m
Distance     14 km
Time           6-7 hours
Habitat       Semi desert.

We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (15,400ft). After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Pofu Camp.

Elevation       4200m to 4000m
Distance       12 km, Hiking
Time              7-8 hours
Habitat         Semi desert.

From Pofu Camp we cross numerous small valleys as the trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp.

Elevation            4020m to 3960m
Distance              7 km
Trekking Time    6 hours
Habitat                Semi desert.

There is a steady ascent to reach the saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here we continue upwards and reach School Hut in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the summit day.

Elevation              3960m to 4790m
Distance               6 km,
Trekking Time   5 hours
Habitat                Alpine desert.

We start the final and most demanding part of the climb around 1 a.m on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point We rest here for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. We then head on to Uhuru Peak, passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. We retrace our steps along the crater rim to Stella Point and then descend down through Barafu Camp to reach Mweka Camp

Elevation               4790 to 5895m to 3100m
Distance                 18 km
Trekking Time     10-14 hours
Habitat                   Stone scree and moorland.

Once again you will be woken for your final celebratory breakfast where our team will thank and congratulate you in their unique, special way! We will then set off for the final 3 hour scenic descent to Mweka Gate. After lunch you will dropped off at the hotel where you can relax under a long, well deserved hot shower.

ELEVATION                 3.100m to 1.800m
TREKKING-TIME      3-4 hours
DISTANCE                    10km
CLIMATE                      Rainforest

If your time in Africa ends today our transfer team will drive you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure. If you have booked with KCC for a safari or a few days to dissolve into the pristine sandy beaches and tropical waters of Zanzibar, we will be there to help you comfortably transition from your climb into your next Tanzanian adventure.