Arrival Day

• Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation at The Maridadi Hotel (B&B).
• Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check, and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.

Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp

10.75KM / 7MI | 5-6 HRS | Rainforest
Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft
Altitude gained: 1210m

• Departing from Moshi, a 45-minute drive will take you through the village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate.
• We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead.
• Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife.
• At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp

5.3KM / 3MI | 4-5 HRS | Moorland
Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft
Altitude gained: 818m

• After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge.
• The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.

Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp

10.75KM / 6MI | 5-6 HRS | Semi-Desert
Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 147m

• Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization.
• From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak, before continuing southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft).
• Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

5.2KM / 3MI | 3-4 HRS | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft
Altitude gained: 48m

• After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects with the Mweka Trail.
• This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears to be such ease.
• Overnight at Karanga Camp.

Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp

3.3KM / 2MI | 3-4 HRS | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
Altitude gained: 628m

• We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached, you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles.
• An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night.
• Overnight at Barafu Camp.

Day 6: Barafu Camp – Summit – Mweka Camp

4.86KM / 3MI Up | 5-7 HRS
11.5KM / 7.2MI Down | 5-6 HRS | Glaciers, Snow-Capped Summit
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1233m
Descent to: 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost: 2789m

• Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
• We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead.
• With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction, we ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
• You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
• From here, on your remaining 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.
• Congratulations! One step at a time, you have now reached Uhuru Peak — the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!
• After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy, we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment.
• We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest.
• We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcanic ash terrain.
• A well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain.
• Overnight at Mweka Camp.

Day 7: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Moshi

9.1KM / 6MI | 3-4 HRS | Rainforest
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m

• After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye.
• We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates.
• As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep — we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles.
• From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
• Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!
• Overnight at Sanna Boutique B&B.

Day 8: Arusha to Tarangire

• 08:00 AM — Pick up from the hotel and depart for Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch for a full-day game drive.
• Tanzania’s third-largest national park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them.
• The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park, which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa.
• Here, you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, oryx, eland, giraffe, and zebra.
• Later in the evening, drive to the lodge.
  Lunch / Dinner / Overnight – Fanaka Lodge

Day 9: Tarangire to Central Serengeti

• After finishing up a good breakfast, you will head out toward Serengeti National Park and travel through the never-ending plain grasslands.
• The Serengeti is arguably the most impressive wildlife sanctuary in the world.
• You will have an afternoon game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti for a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade.
• A picnic lunch will be enjoyed during the day-long game drive.
• The eventful day comes to an end with a hearty dinner and a good night’s rest.
  Lunch / Dinner / Overnight – Serengeti Heritage

Day 10: Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro

• After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park.
• Later, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area with picnic lunch.
• Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world — 14 kilometers of isolated natural beauty.
• Surrounded by a ring of extinct volcanoes, the crater floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters around 30,000 animals.
  Lunch / Dinner / Overnight – Rhino Lodge

Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

• Today, you’ll venture to the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a natural wonder.
• The crater is a self-contained ecosystem and hosts an incredible concentration of wildlife, including rhinos, lions, and hippos.
• Descending into the crater, you’ll have the opportunity to observe these animals up close while marveling at the unique geological formations.
• After the game drive, return to Arusha.
• Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!

Overnight at Sanna Boutique before being transferred to your journey home, or continue on to a relaxing trip to Zanzibar.