This non-technical Kilimanjaro camping route is relatively new and one of the most popular routes currently chosen for ascending Kilimanjaro for its scenery, views and route profile. The route starts in the remote west Kilimanjaro area through the forest reserve and generally is much quieter due to it’s distant starting point. The route approaches the Kibo cone through the Shira Plateau and eventually joining the southern circuit passing the small ‘scrambling’ (using your hands and legs) section at the Barranco wall which truly gives you that mountain climbing feeling without any special equipment or experience.
All taxes and VAT applicable
1 night at a pre climb and 1 night at a post climb lodge in Moshi on bed & breakfast basis (sharing or single with supplement)
Four season tent (sharing or single with supplement) set up and serviced by a specialist tent crew
All National Park conservation, park entry, camping or hut and rescue fees as applicable to the planned tour
Trained, certified, and experienced English-speaking mountain guide(s)
1 x luggage porter carrying luggage of 15kg per person
Trained and experienced personal mountain cook and waiter & all meals on the mountain and eating utensils, cutlery, bowls, cups, chairs, tables, shared dining tent etc
Pre-climb briefing and equipment check with the guide / tour consultant in Moshi
1 transfer from a Moshi based lodge to park gates per group / 1 transfer from park gates to a Moshi based lodge per group
Luggage storage while on trek
Boiled drinking water on trek (from 1st camp onwards)
1 Emergency oxygen cylinder per group and first aid kit
Twice daily health checks with guides and a high-grade medical oximeter
Shared public toilet facilities at huts or public campsites
1 x approx. 100Ltr rubberized hold all bag / packsack
Basic sleeping mattress per person
Tips and gratuities for the crew
Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
International or domestic flights
Insurance for your tour
Visa's for your entry into Tanzania
Any items of a personal nature not indicated as included
Any personal equipment not indicated as included including sleeping bags, walking poles, duffel bags etc.
Water on first day of hike
Metal & hard plastic water bottles, water bladders etc. (note: soft plastics are not permitted on the mountain)
Today has no planned activities and is only an arrival day for you to reach your base lodge in time for a pre-climb briefing (time to be confirmed) with your mountain guide. A shared shuttle airport transfer is included from Kilimanjaro International Airport (time and flight to be confirmed) to Moshi.
Approx. driving distance: 1-2 hours
Approx. trekking time: None
Approx. trekking distance: None
Start altitude: Unknown
End altitude: Unknown
Highest Altitude reached: Unknown
Altitude gain: Unknown
Meals included: None
You will be transferred by road from Moshi (09:00am) to Londorossi gate. After registration you continue on the 4x4 track till the trail head where you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora / fauna, and you may experience rain this afternoon which is common in this zone making the path slightly slippery. A short and winding path takes you steadily to the first camp.
Approx. driving distance: 2-3 hours
Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi
Start altitude: 2100m or 6890ft
End altitude: 2780m or 9120ft
Highest Altitude reached: 2780m or 9120ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +680m or +2230ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
This morning you quickly leave the forest zone on a steep path as the dense vegetation slowly eases into the Heather and moorland zone. The remainder of the day takes you on a steady hike across the Shira ridge where views of the Shira peak (the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones) gives you the spectacular jagged scenery of this eroded peak.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 4-5 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi
Start altitude: 2780m or 9120ft
End altitude: 3505m or 11500ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3505m or 11500ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +725m or +2380ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Today hike takes you gradually across the Shira Plateau within the heather and moorland and an optional extra hike to the Shira Cathedral peak (3880m) before gradually taking you to Shira two camp. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones and has been shaped by lava and volcanic activity to create a stunning jagged peak and offering a unique western view of Kibo, the highest of the peaks and your final destination on the tour.
Approx. driving distance: 0 hours
Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi
Start altitude: 3505m or 11500ft
End altitude: 3845m or 12615ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3872m or 12705ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +340m or +1115ft / -27m or -90ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Your hike today takes you towards to Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the edges of the alpine desert to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). Today helps you to acclimatize and also is a great indicator to see how your body can handle the higher altitude. From the Lava Tower you begin your steep descent anti clockwise around Kibo and into the Barranco Valley passing the large flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The day ends around the same elevation as you started on the edge of the heather and moorland.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 6-8 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi
Start altitude: 3845m or 12615ft
End altitude: 3960m or 12990ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4630m or 15190ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +785m or +2575ft / -670m or -2200ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
This morning you will leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and is rewarded with a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp. Karanga valley is the last water point.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi
Start altitude: 3960m or 12990ft
End altitude: 4040m or 13255ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4250m or 13945ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +290m or +955ft /-210m or -690ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Today you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. Kibo cone starts to near and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at your summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt tonight.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi
Start altitude: 4040m or 13255ft
End altitude: 4640m or 15225ft
Highest Altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +600m or +1970ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
In the early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in a zig-zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa. You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert, heather and moorland and eventually stopping at Mweka camp in the rain forest zone for a well-deserved rest.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: 14-18 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 19km / 12mi
Start altitude: 4640m or 15225ft
End altitude: 3700m or 12220ft
Highest Altitude reached: 5895m or 19431ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: +1255m or +4206ft / -2195m or -7211ft
Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner
Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Mweka gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your crew who all generally head directly home from the end gate.
Approx. driving distance: 1 hour
Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours
Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi
Start altitude: 3080m or 10105ft
End altitude: 1630m or 5350ft
Highest Altitude reached: 3080m or 10105ft
Altitude +gain / -loss: -1450 or 4755ft
Meals included: Breakfast
Today has no planned activities and is only a departure day for you head home (time and flight to be confirmed), continue with your next tour activity or book extra nights to recover. Speak to a tour consultant for all of your options.
Approx. driving distance: None
Approx. trekking time: None
Approx. trekking distance: None
Start altitude: Unknown
End altitude: Unknown
Highest Altitude reached: Unknown
Altitude gain: Unknown
Meals included: Breakfast