Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro and Transfer to hotel in Arusha.                                                               

Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport (IATA code: JRO). Our representative will be there to collect and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. That night or early the next morning you will meet the rest of the group and the Climbing crew. Your Climbing guide will provide a full pre-trek briefing.

Day 2: Moshi – Arusha National Park-Momella Gate.

• Elevation (m): (1,387 m to (1,500 m)
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest.

After an early morning breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and brought to the Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. At this time, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). You will then begin your ascent in Arusha National Park. The first day of hiking is similar to a walking safari; you should expect to see giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and potentially elephants near the trail. Due to the high possibility of spotting wildlife, an armed ranger, hired through the National Park, is required to hike with our team for the duration of the hike. As you continue hiking, you will pass the Ngarenanyuki River and a beautiful waterfall at the base of Mt. Meru. Upon arriving at Miriakamba Hut (2500m), your chef will prepare a hot dinner and washing water for you. Enjoy the beautiful sunset and overnight.

Day 3: Miriakamba – Saddle

• Elevation (m): 2,514 m to 3,570 m
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
• Habitat: Forest and Moorland.

After breakfast, you will start ascending up the steep trail along the ridge of the saddle. You may see various wildlife along the way! The trail has views of Mt. Meru Crater and the Ash Tray. When you arrive at camp, you have the option of hiking Little Mt. Meru (3820m) with your guide to further acclimate. You will be served an early dinner, so you can receive ample rest before your midnight summit attempt. Get to sleep by 1900.

Day 4: Saddle – Summit – Mariakamba

• Elevation (m): 3,570 m to 4,565m to 2,514m
• Distance: 5 km up 13 km down
• Hiking Time: 10 – 12 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert Moorland and Montane forest.

Your guide will wake you at 00:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt at 1:30 am. The trail starts off on a steep grade to Rhino Point (3800m) to Cobra Point (4350m). The last hour of the hike you will scramble on a rocky ridge between the crater and inner cliffs of Meru. You will reach the summit of Meru (4565m) at sunrise with spectacular views of Mt. Meru Ash Tray and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Enjoy your views then descend to Saddle Hut for a short break. You will then continue descending to Miriakamba Hut (2500m) for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Mariakamba – Momella Gate

• Elevation (m): 2,514 m to 1,500 m to 1,387 m
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest.

After a long rest and breakfast, we will begin our final descent to Momella gate. We will hike through forest and meadows where it is likely to spot wildlife. At the base of Mt. Meru, you will be greeted by our driver who will take you back to the Hotel.

Day 6: Hotel Relaxing

Spend a relaxing day by the pool or have a stroll around. A walk to this small town of Moshi with view of the mountain is as good as it reveals. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Moshi-Machame Hut

• Trekking Time: 4-6 hours
• Distance: 9 km
• Altitude Gain: 1210 m.

 A one-hour drive from Moshi lays the gate to the Machame route, where you will complete park formalities, meet your crew of porters and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and involves real jungle bashing through magnificent forest. This path is less well trodden and is often wet and muddy underfoot. Camping at Machame Hut (3100m).         

Day8: Machame Hut–Shira Caves

• Trekking Time: 4-6 hours
• Distance: 5 km
• Altitude Gain: 740 m

The route continues on up through the forest until reaching the steep ascent on the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt. Meru rising high above Arusha town. Camping at Shira Caves (3840 m).

Day 9: Shira Caves – Barranco Camp

• Trekking Time: 6 – 7 hours
• Distance: 10 km
• Altitude Gain: 60 m.

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. You will traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, finally reaching Barranco Camp (3900 m). The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600 m), but you will have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to avoid altitude sickness by aiding your bodies in acclimatization.

Day 10: Barranco Camp -Karanga Valley 

• Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
• Distance: 5 km.
• Altitude Gain: 100 m.    

Start the day by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. Then exit steeply, up what has been termed the Breakfast Wall, which divides you from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It is a climb over rocks, although not technical. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, head towards the Karanga Valley (4000 m) for overnight.

Day 11: Karanga Valley – Barafu Camp  

• Trekking Time: 2-4 hours
• Distance: 4 km
• Altitude Gain: 600 m

The day is characterized by a short hike on terrain formed by scree. Walk through arid land towards Barafu Camp (4600 m) where you have the entire afternoon to rest before ascending towards the summit.

Day 12: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Millennium Camp       

• Trekking Time: 6-8 hours
• Distance: 7 km
• Altitude Gain: 1296m

We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight, walking steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 5 to 6 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. You should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5750 m) as the first rays of the sun emerge. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround you and the views to Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walk takes you to your goal, the summit of Uhuru (5896 m), the highest point; Uhuru means freedom in Swahili.

Uhuru Peak – Millennium Camp 

Trekking Time: 6-8 hours ⎟ Distance: 12 km ⎟ Altitude Loss: 2896

 After a quick celebration and photos at the top, you will begin the descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope back to Barafu Camp for breakfast and a short rest before finally heading down to Millennium Camp (3000 m) for a well-earned rest. On the descent, you will have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.

Day 13: Millennium Camp – Moshi/airport.

• Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
• Distance: 10 km
• Altitude Loss: 1360

A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate (1640 m), where park formalities will be completed, you will be met by our vehicles, and receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Thereafter, drive back to Moshi where you can treat yourself to a well-earned shower and a cold beer or two.