This non-technical Kilimanjaro camping route is relatively new and one of the most popular routes currently chosen for ascending Kilimanjaro  for its scenery, views and route profile. The route starts in the remote  west Kilimanjaro area through the forest reserve and generally is much  quieter due to it’s distant starting point. The route approaches the  Kibo cone through the Shira Plateau and eventually joining the southern  circuit passing the small ‘scrambling’ (using your hands and legs)  section at the Barranco wall which truly gives you that mountain  climbing feeling without any special equipment or experience. 

Today has no planned activities and is only an arrival day for you to reach your base lodge in time for a pre-climb briefing (time to be confirmed) with your mountain guide. A shared shuttle airport transfer is included from Kilimanjaro International Airport (time and flight to be confirmed) to Moshi. 

Approx. driving distance: 1-2 hours

Approx. trekking time: None

Approx. trekking distance: None

Start altitude: Unknown

End altitude: Unknown

Highest Altitude reached: Unknown

Altitude gain: Unknown

Meals included: None

You will be transferred by road from Moshi (09:00am) to Londorossi gate. After registration you continue on the 4x4 track till the trail head where you begin your trek through the rain forest zone with your guide. The forest is thick and diverse with flora / fauna, and you may experience rain this afternoon which is common in this zone making the path slightly slippery. A short and winding path takes you steadily to the first camp. 

Approx. driving distance: 2-3 hours

Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi

Start altitude: 2100m or 6890ft

End altitude: 2780m or 9120ft

Highest Altitude reached: 2780m or 9120ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +680m or +2230ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

This morning you quickly leave the forest zone on a steep path as the dense vegetation slowly eases into the Heather and moorland zone. The remainder of the day takes you on a steady hike across the Shira ridge where views of the Shira peak (the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones) gives you the spectacular jagged scenery of this eroded peak. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 4-5 hours

 Approx. trekking distance: 7km / 4.5mi

Start altitude: 2780m or 9120ft

 End altitude: 3505m or 11500ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3505m or 11500ft

 Altitude +gain / -loss: +725m or +2380ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today hike takes you gradually across the Shira Plateau within the heather and moorland and an optional extra hike to the Shira Cathedral peak (3880m) before gradually taking you to Shira two camp. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones and has been shaped by lava and volcanic activity to create a stunning jagged peak and offering a unique western view of Kibo, the highest of the peaks and your final destination on the tour. 

Approx. driving distance: 0 hours

Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours 

Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi

Start altitude: 3505m or 11500ft 

End altitude: 3845m or   12615ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3872m or 12705ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +340m or +1115ft   / -27m or -90ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Your hike today takes you towards to   Kibo cone steadily climbing up and over the edges of the alpine desert   to your first high altitude at the lava tower (4630m or 15190ft). Today helps   you to acclimatize and also is a great indicator to see how your body can   handle the higher altitude. From the Lava Tower you begin your steep descent   anti clockwise around Kibo and into the Barranco Valley passing the large   flowering mountain cacti (Kilimanjaro Senecios) unique to Kilimanjaro. The   day ends around the same elevation as you started on the edge of the heather   and moorland. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 6-8 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Start altitude: 3845m or     12615ft 

End altitude: 3960m or     12990ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4630m or     15190ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +785m or +2575ft     / -670m or -2200ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

This morning you will leave the camp and ascend the Barranco wall. This is an impressive non-technical scramble and gives a feeling of mountain climbing (without any previous experience or advanced equipment required) and is rewarded with a superb view from the top back into the camp and the Heim glacier on the peak. The remainder of the hike will be through the alpine desert slowly winding around the mountain till the Karanga valley which you descend into and again up till your camp. Karanga valley is the last water point. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 3-5 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 6km / 4mi

Start altitude: 3960m or   12990ft

End altitude: 4040m or   13255ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4250m or   13945ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +290m or +955ft   /-210m or -690ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

Today you climb almost casually through the empty landscape of the alpine desert where you keep a slow pace even though the path is not extremely steep. Kibo cone starts to near and you may finally glimpse the Mawenzi peak (Kilimanjaro’s second peak) in the east. The short distance means you have plenty of time at your summit camp to rest and prepare for the summit attempt tonight.

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours

Approx. trekking distance: 4km / 2.5mi

Start altitude: 4040m or   13255ft

End altitude: 4640m or   15225ft

Highest Altitude reached: 4640m or 15225ft

Altitude +gain / -loss: +600m or +1970ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch, dinner

 In the   early morning (around 00:00am) you begin your final ascent to the summit of   Uhuru peak through the arctic zone. The trek is a steep hike over   loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night and takes a slow pace in   a zig-zag pattern towards Stella point (5685m or 18650ft) which is your first   stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains   to take you to Uhuru Peak (5895m or 19341ft), the highest point in Africa.   You usually don’t spend that long at the peak due to the extreme altitude and   will descend back down to the base camp for your breakfast / brunch. After   your gear is packed up you continue the descent through the alpine desert,   heather and moorland and eventually stopping at Mweka camp in the rain forest   zone for a well-deserved rest. 

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: 14-18     hours

Approx. trekking distance: 19km /     12mi

Start altitude: 4640m or     15225ft 

End altitude: 3700m or 12220ft

Highest Altitude reached: 5895m or     19431ft 

Altitude +gain / -loss: +1255m or +4206ft     / -2195m or -7211ft

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic lunch or lunch,     dinner

 Your final day on Kilimanjaro is a descent through the southern rain forest until Mweka gate where our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi town. Usually, the crew will leave you at Mweka gate and it’s a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to your crew who all generally head directly home from the end gate. 

Approx. driving distance: 1 hour

Approx. trekking time: 3-4 hours 

Approx. trekking distance: 10km / 6mi

Start altitude: 3080m or   10105ft 

End altitude: 1630m or   5350ft

Highest Altitude reached: 3080m or   10105ft 

Altitude +gain / -loss: -1450 or   4755ft

Meals included: Breakfast

Today has no planned activities and is only a departure day for you head home (time and flight to be confirmed), continue with your next tour activity or book extra nights to recover. Speak to a tour consultant for all of your options.

Approx. driving distance: None

Approx. trekking time: None

Approx. trekking distance: None

Start altitude: Unknown 

End altitude: Unknown

Highest Altitude reached: Unknown

Altitude gain: Unknown

Meals included: Breakfast