Departure from Arusha will be at around 7:30 am for Machame gate (ca. 4 hrs transfer), where you will complete the entry formalities and have lunch.
: You start trekking through dense mountain rain forest to Machame camp, located just above the forest zone, in the heather zone, with views of the summit. 5-7 hrs. trekking.

Trek up a steep path leading into the more arid moorland, passing tall grass, rocks and bearded heather. Continue through every landscape of lava

: rocks, caves and foamy streams framed by exotic plants

until you reach the Shira plateau, where camp is set. 5- 6 hrs. trekking.

You proceed steadily upwards over vast ridges to “Lava Tower” for lunch (ca. 4 hrs.). Lava Tower, a 300 ft volcanic plug, marks an exposed pass at 15,000 ft. In the afternoon, you descend the steep trail into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set in a valley enclosed on 3 sides with the massive walls of the valley itself and the massif of Kibo. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, – an eerie landscape known for

its rare plants such as the Giant Groundsels (Seneciao Kilimanjari) and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia.

Total trekking time: 6-7 hrs.

If you opt for the 6-day itinerary, we trek 3-4 hours and stop in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. Then, in the afternoon, the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape sparser as we approach Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small,

: exposed flat area on a ridge and is the usual base camp from which you will make the summit attempt at midnight tonight. It’s essential to eat and especially. drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep

A hot drink will arrive very early this morning. A midnight wake-up call will be the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hrs. of trekking). At around 1 am, you start trekking; temperatures usually range from just below freezing at midnight to somewhere between -12 deg. C (10 deg. F) to -23 deg. C (-10 F.) on the summit just before dawn.

The winding path of endless switchbacks will slowly take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers at early dawn, and behind you the spires of Mawenzi are silouhetted against the red glow of the sun rising behind the clouds.

: After about 6 hrs of slowly walking uphill, you arrive at the edge of the crater: Stella Point, at 19,000 ft (5790 m) on the crater rim, is the end of the steep part of the hike. From here, it’s a gentle slope to Uhuru Peak (ca. 1 hr), the true summit of Kili at 19,340 ft (5896 m). The strength it takes to ascend this final piece is for many monumental. After a short time at the summit, we start descending. The path goes down a steep scree slope back to Barafu Camp for some rest, before you have to

summon your strength again to descend further to Mweka Camp for the last night on the mountain.

It’s an easy 2-3 hours trek through rain forest to go down the final parts of the trail back to the Mweka Gate. After receiving your certificates, lunch and saying goodbye to many of your crew, we’ll bring you

to the KIA lodge, where you can use day rooms for a shower, change cloths etc. In the afternoon, return to Arusha (or Moshi).