Day One
Umbwe Gate (1614m) – Umbwe Cave camp (2850m)

Hiking time: 6 Hours
Distance: Approximately 10.3 km
Habitat: Forest (Montane)

After breakfast, you will be driven to the Machame gate where registration formalities will be completed. From the Machame gate you will be transferred to the Umbwe Gate (1641m), passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. The air is thick with moisture and the path is usually muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers, with huge trees surrounding you. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro towering above you in the distance. The camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the Umbwe Cave Camp (2 850m).

Day Two
Umbwe Cave camp (2850m) – Barranco Camp (3985m)

Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 6.3 km
Habitat: Moorland

Shortly after leaving the camp the forest starts thinning and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth, and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you – etched against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley.
From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while your dinner is being prepared.

Day Three
Barranco camp (3984m) to Lava Tower (4642m) to Barranco camp (3984m)

Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 7.4 km
Habitat: Semi-desert

Enjoy breakfast at the Barranco camp and then head up to Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4642m after about a 3-hour trek. Lunch is served at a designated area. This is definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start experiencing symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch, you descent again by almost 658m to the Barranco camping area.

After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner to be prepared.

Day Four
Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4681m)

Hiking time: 4 hours
Distance: Approximately 3.4km
Habitat: Alpine desert
Breakfast at Karanga camp and after breakfast turn left up the ridge and the route ascends 640m towards Barafu Camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night.
Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge.
Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed as early as possible and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

Day Five
Barafu camp (4681m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3090m)

Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp
Distance: Approximately 4.5 km ascent and 10.8 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night.
You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
For many climbers, the 6-hour walk to Stella’s point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route.
At Stella Point (5739m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).
From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.
The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions.
Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue.

Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life!

The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours.

Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear,
before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m).

The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest.
The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

Day Six – summit attempt
Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m)

Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
Habitat: Forest
Distance: Approximately 8.5 km

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned.

It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info.

At the Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch, you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!

Day Seven
Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m)

Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
Habitat: Forest
Distance: Approximately 8.5 km

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned.

It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info.

At the Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village, you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch, you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!