Day 1
Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Londorossi Gate
(2,250 m/7,380 ft) to Lemosho Glades (2,000 m/6,560 ft) to Mkubwa Camp
(2,750 m/9,020 ft) 18 km, 4-5 hours Montane Forest
Drive from Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate. From
here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes)
to Lemosho Glades and a possible campsite. From the Glades, walk for 3
hours along beautiful forest trails to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree)
campsite.
Day 2
Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) to Shira Camp 1 (3,500 m/11,485 ft) 12 km, 5 hours Semi-Desert
The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant
heather moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600 m/11,810 ft
and drops gently to Shira Camp 1 located by a stream on the Shira
Plateau.
Day 3
Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) to Lava
Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft) 15 km, 7
hours Semi-Desert
After breakfast, you will hike east up a steepening
path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaros looming mass.
After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the
prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky
remnant of Kilimanjaros earlier volcanic activity is several hundred
feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the
sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop
near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the
Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft.
There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the
walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the
Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a
memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. On this day, be careful
to notice any signs of altitude sickness.
Day 4
Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) 7 km, 4 hours Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the
great Barranco Wall, then you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns
out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim
Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really
is. With Kibos glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush
Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp, you can
look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African
sky. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting
or exploring. After two long days, this short day is very important for
your acclimatization, since your summit push is about to start.
Day 5
Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) 13 km, 8 hours Alpine Desert
In the morning, you hike east over intervening
ridges and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent
route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a
sparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut where you will
receive a hot lunch. The last water on the route is in the Karanga
Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the
Swahili word for ice. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above
Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched
on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize
yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare
your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and drink a lot
of fluids. After an early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of precious
sleep.
Day 6
Summit Day! Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft)
to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) 7
km up, 23 km down 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down Scree and seasonal snow
You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some
steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6-hour
climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel
glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part
of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you
stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise.
At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not
stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due
to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may
encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On
the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are
creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After
your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a
well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and
scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka
Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can
expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water
will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks,
chocolates, and beer!
Day 7
Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 15 km, 3 hours Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short,
scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don't give your porters any
tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do
remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your
name and add details in a register. This is also where successful
climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella
Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak
receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down
to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is
too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a
delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi for an
overdue hot shower and comfortable night at your hotel in Moshi.
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