Rise early at Machame Camp and, after breakfast, climb an hour or so to the top of the forest. From here it an additional two hours of hiking at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you will continue up a rocky ridge into the Shira Plateau, where you will be able to see in an easterly direction the western breach. Your overnight at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Hiking time: Six hours
Distance: About 9km
Habitat: Moorland. 

 The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after an approximately five hour walk. Lunch will be served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scream path to the tower. This is definitely the toughest day so far! It is normally around this point where some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches for the first time.

After lunch you descend by almost 680m to the Barranco Camping area after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at the Lava Tower. Here the true acclimatization benefits of this day become clear. This descent to Barranco Camp takes about two hours and offers great opportunities to lay below the breach and Great Barranco wall. Take in a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner.

Hiking time: Seven hours
Distance: About 15 km
Habitat: Semi desert. 

 After spending a night at the Great Barranco wall (a very imposing sight at first), you will make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which normally turns out to be an easier hike than what you anticipated. When you arrive just below the hem glacier, you will truly appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The summit is now just an additional 1345m up, and you will make the final ascent this same night. Prepare your equipment, walking stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include a headlamp replacement and camera batteries (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 around 1900hrs and try to get some precious sleep! 

 You will rise around 2330hrs and then head in a northwesterly direction, ascending through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This eight hour walk to Stella Point is, for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging part of the climb. At the point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and then be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise.

From Stella Point you will make a two-hour descent to Uhuru Peak (the summit). The time you will spend on the summit itself will depend on the weather conditions. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about three hours. Here you will enjoy a well-earned but short rest before collecting the rest of your gear and heading to Mweka Camp (3100m).

Hiking time: Eight hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 7-8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: About 7km ascent
Habitat: Stone scream and ice-capped summi. 

 After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short and scenic three-hour hike back to the park gate. At the Mweka gate you will sign your name and details in a register book. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch. You will now drive back to Moshi.

Distance: About 15km
Habitat: Forest.