Elevation (ft.): 10,200 ft. / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft. / 3,840 m.

Distance: 9 km.

Walking Time: 4-6 hours.

Habitat: Moorland.

Full Board Shira Cave Camp

After breakfast, we depart the rain forest's glades and proceed uphill, traversing the valley over a precarious rocky ridge. The route now takes a river gorge to the west, where it continues until we reach the Shira campground.

Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950 m.): 5-7 hours walking.

12,600 ft. / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft. / 3,860 m.

Distance: 15 km.

Walking Time: 5-7 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert.

Full Board Barranco Camp

Today's hike includes a gradual ascent and sweeping vistas. After a hearty lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m), we drop to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley as we travel around the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing beneath the Lava Tower and the last portion of the Western Breach (3,950 m).

Barranco Camp to Barafu Hut Camp {4600m} 6-8 hours.

4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft

Distance: 9km/

Walking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Full board at Barafu Camp.
After breakfast, we depart from Barranco and travel over a ridge to the Barranco Wall (elves: 4,250 m/13,900 ft), via the Karanga Valley (elves: 4,050 m/13,250 ft), and finally to the intersection where the Mweka Trail intersects. We keep going until we reach Barafu Camp. You have finished the South Circuit, which gives numerous perspectives on the top. With views of the summit in the distance, this is where we set up camp.

Elevation (ft.): 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,343ft Down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 6km up / 13km down

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Reitzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Elevation (ft): 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6mi

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

Meals: B

After breakfast, we continue the descent to the Mweka Park Gate, where you can pick up your summit certificates.It could be muddy and damp at lower altitudes. Trekking poles and gaiters will be useful. Most likely, shorts and t-shirts will suffice (keep rain gear and warmer clothing on hand).
To transport you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi, an Amazon Safaris vehicle will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate.
Transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport on the day of departure.