Arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport - Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver guide and mountain guide will be there waiting to pick you and transfer to Arusha for overnight. The rest of the day is free to rest and walk around Arusha town. Also you can ask the mountain guide to go through your check list for mountain gear you are supposed to bring with you.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- Maura Homestay
- Meals & Drinks:
Umbwe Cave Camp (2850 meters)
From Arusha trekkers are transferred to the Umbwe Gate at 1,600 meters. Here you will start your trek with your guide and porters in tow. The route follows a forestry track through the rainforest before steepening between the Lonzo and Umbwe Rivers. If the weather is clear you will get a good view of Kibo in the distance.
It takes approximately 5-7 hours to reach Umbwe Cave Camp at 2,850 meters; 10.5km / 6 miles from your starting point. The camp sits between large evergreen trees and thick undergrowth, with Umbwe Cave a short walk away. On arrival your tents will already be assembled and dinner will be served in your mess tent.
Umbwe Gate (1,600 meters) to Umbwe Cave Camp (2,850 meters)
Distance: ~10.5km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforest.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Barranco Camp (3900 meters)
Today you will notice the landscape changes rapidly from rainforest to moorland, with rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation. The path follows the narrow Umbwe Route ridge until it begins to flatten close to the Barranco Valley.
The Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) sits in the valley under the shadow of the Great Barranco Wall with Kibo visible in the distance. You will notice the camp is pretty busy. This is because you will be joining hikers from the Machame, Lemosho and Shira Route here.
Umbwe Cave Camp (2,850 meters) to Barranco Camp (3,900 meters)
Distance: ~6.5km / 3.5 miles
Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Karanga Camp (3960 meters)
Today the trek will start with a steep climb up the 257 meter Barranco Wall. No technical skills are required but you will need to use all four limbs to scramble up to the top.
From here you will follow an up and down route along the Southern Circuit (see Umbwe Map above) through the Karanga Valley and up to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters).
You will stop at Karanga Camp for the night, unless you are on a five day route, in which case you will continue on to Barafu Camp (4,670 meters).
Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) to Karanga Camp (3,960 meters)
Distance: ~6km / 3.5 miles
Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Barafu Camp (4670 meters)
Today it will be a relatively short climb from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp at 4,670 meters. The route sojourns through the rocky and sparsely vegetated high alpine desert zone. Barafu Camp is very exposed to the elements, especially the gale force winds that are common at this altitude.
You will arrive at the camp around lunchtime, giving you lots of time to rest or potentially climb a bit higher if you are feeling up to it. Set an hour aside to ensure that your gear is ready and packed for the summit ascent which begins around midnight. Don’t forget to carry additional batteries for your headlamp and camera, and remember to make sure your water bottles are well insulated (wrapping them in an extra pair of warm socks works well). Try get to bed before 19:00 as you will be awoken around 23:30 to begin your summit attempt.
Karanga Camp (3,960 meters) to Barafu Camp (4,670 meters)
Distance: ~3.5km / 2 miles
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Zone: High alpine zone.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Uhuru Peak (5895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3100 meters)
You will be woken up by your mountain guide at 11:00PM. You will have hot tea and biscuits and set off up the heavily screed slopes of Kibo. The route up to the crater rim is long and arduous! Your physical and mental capacities will be seriously tested. It is important to remain focused on your goal, one step at a time. Around dawn you will reach Stella Point (5,739 meters) at the top of the crater rim.
From Stella Point the route flattens as you walk an additional 1-2 hours to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters). You will not be able to stay too long at the summit as the lack of oxygen and cold is debilitating. Make sure to get all the pictures and video footage you want and then make your way back to Stella Point.
Barafu Camp (4,670 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Mweka Camp (3,100 meters)
Distance: ~4.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 11km / 7 mile descent
Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Mweka
Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Mweka Gate (1640 meters)
Enjoy your last breakfast on the mountain before heading down through the thick undergrowth of the lower slopes. Your knees may be very sore so go slowly and make sure of each footing as you descend to Mweka Gate. On arrival at the gate you will sign-out with the authorities and be presented with your summit certificate. At this point it is customary to present your porters and guides with their tips, before being transported back to Arusha.
Mweka Camp (3,100 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
Distance: ~9km / 6 miles
Trekking time: 3-5 hours
Zone: Rainforest.
- Main Destination:
- Arusha (City)
- Accommodation:
- Maura Homestay
- Meals & Drinks:
Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport
It’s the final day in Tanzania so be sure to grab any last minute souvenirs you may want and say one last goodbye to the new friends you made in Tanzania before being transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.
Kwa heri ya kuonana - (Good bye and see you again).
- Main Destination:
- Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: