Distance: 11km (7 miles)

Hiking Time: 5 – 7 hours

Habitat: Rainforest

Morning: Departure from Moshi/Arusha & Registration

Your excursion begins with an early morning meal at the hotel and a refreshing ride from Moshi or Arusha to Machame Gate. On the way, you will meet the trekking team, including your guides, porters, and trek cook. Check registers at the gate and obtain the necessary permits for national parks. Matched bags earmarked for trek are weighed and stored for the porters to carry (15kg quota).

Afternoon: Entering the Rainforest Zone

Stand out features of this

• The pathway traverses along thick rainforests which house exotic birds, colulus, and blue monkeys.

• Prepare for the primary zone of the forest as wet with some sides muddy and slippery especially after it rains.

• Expect a slow but steady pace from your guide. This will allow your body to acclimatize to the height over the trek.

After approximately 5-7 hours, you will arrive at your first overnight resting stop at Machame Camp (3,000m).

We stayed the night at Machame Camp. I suppose we had dinner, but I, for one, slept through the whole thing. My night was followed by stellar views and the dense blanket of stars made it all the more easier for me to doze off.

Distance: 5 km (3 miles)

Hiking Duration: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Morning: Leaving the Rainforest & Entering the Moorland Zone

What to Expect Today:

The path becomes substantially steeper as we depart the heather and moorland. The forested areas also start to give way to magnificent views of Mount Meru and the Shira Plateau .You will hike across volcanic outcrops and rock ridges, offering a glimpse into what you will be walking on later during the hike.

Afternoon: Reaching Shira Camp

The Shira Plateau has the remains of a lava flow and rests at a height of 3,840m, which yields a breathtaking view of the mountains. These effects may include a dull ache in your head and a sense of breathlessness, which are all entirely normal. Heights do play a factor when it comes to wearing people out. Nevertheless, the sunset on Shira Camp is captivating to say the least; my newfound love for Mount Meru has surely amplified.

Sleep over at Shira Camp: Chill, relax, enjoy dinner and ready myself for the much-needed acclimatization trek that rests ahead of us tomorrow.

Distance: 10 km

Travel Time: 6-8 hours

Location: Alpine Desert

Morning: Adjusting Step One (Climb High, Sleep Low) Today’s trek begins with the climb to the Lava Tower (4,630m) which is followed by a descent to Barranco Camp (3,950m). Oxygen levels and the amount of vegetation available diminishes, and the scenery becomes rocky and dry. This form of high-altitude exposure helps your body adapt best when you prepare for the summit.

Afternoon: Barranco Camp Valley Descent: Post your ascent to Lava Tower, the next destination is Barranco Valley, a region that has an abundant amount of sheltered greenery. Massive Senecio trees that can only grow at a high altitude in Eastern Africa can be seen here. Furthermore, sleeping at a higher altitude lowers the chances of you suffering from altitude sickness.

Accommodation: Barranco Camp After

Distance: 5 km

Travel Time: 4-5 hours

Location: Alpine Desert

Morning: Barranco Wall Climb: The day kicks off with a thrilling trek up the luscious Barranco Wall which sits at a whopping 300m. Scrambling with the use of legs and hands is required, however special gear is not necessary .From the top, you can spot the splendid Kibo’s glacier fields.

In the afternoon: A quick hike leads you to the karanga camp.

From here, the path descends to the karanga valley that then climbs back up to the karanga camp, which is at the elevation of 4035 meters. This is a short but vital adaptation day before progressing to greater heights .At Karanga Camp overnight: A portion of the rest is saved for the final climb towards Barafu camp.

Distance: 4 kilometers (2.5 miles)

Walking Duration: 3 - 4 hours

Environments: Alpine Desert

From here on out: An arctic desert landscape is what comes to mind. The dry, deserted, and windy terrain gives the illusion of a moon like surface, only this time, the last base before the peak is inhabited by Kibo and can be seen from distance. During the night at Barafu camp: The meal and meeting are scheduled for the remainder of the summit at midnight.

Distance 17 kilometers (10.5 miles)

Walking duration: 10-14 hours

Environmental Conditions: From arctic to rainforest.

SUMMIT NIGHT (a start at midnight)

Remember to prepare for temperatures that are freezing, -10 degrees Celsius to -20 degrees Celsius , paired with strong winds. During the night, a trek through where stella point (5756 M) is reached and the final stop is at Uhuru peak (5895 M).

Congratulations, the top of Africa is now in your hands. At some point during the rest of the celebration, make your way toward Mweka camp.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

Morning: Easy Trekking Break in the Rainforest

The final day on Kilimanjaro starts with an easy trek from Mweka Camp's lush rainforest.

On the way down, the air gets warmer, which will allow you to breathe more easily and make the hike easier. As you descend, you will enjoy soaring ferns, trees, and beautiful birds.Look out for the colobus monkeys swinging mid-morning.

Arriving at Mweka Gate (1,640m)
After three to four hours of hiking, you will arrive at Mweka Gate, which marks the official end to your Kilimanjaro expedition.

This is what to expect at Mweka Gate:

Sign out from Kilimanjaro National Park You will get the Kilimanjaro Summit Certificate, which is not-so-humble achievement.

Your guides will then come alongside porters and celebrate your success with their sweet songs and dances.Tip: This is the best moment to express your gratitude in form of tips to your crew for being supportive of you throughout your trek. The recommended amount is $10-20 per day per porter, guide, and cook.

Traveling back to Moshi or Arusha means hot showers and celebrations!

Once you've collected your certificates and bid goodbye to your porters, you will be taken back to Moshi or Arusha. Rest for a bit and enjoy a refreshing hot shower and celebratory meal.

Well, done! You have successfully completed Mount Kilimanjaro.