Elevation (ft): 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft

Distance: 8km/5miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the shira ridge then gently downwards to shira 1 camp located by a stream on the shira plateau.

Accommodation: budget lodging ”shira 1 camp”.

Elevation (ft): 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft

Distance: 8km/5miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Elevation (ft): 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft

Distance: 8km/5miles

Hiking time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

From the shira plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the south east towards the lava tower, called the shark tooth(elevation 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction, which goes to the arrow glacier.

We now continue down to the barranco camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation, as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Accommodation: budget lodging “barranco camp”.

Elevation (ft): 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft

Distance: 5km/3miles

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, we will leave barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the barranco wall to the karanga valley and to the junction, which connects the mweka trail.

Accommodation: budget lodging "karanga valley camp"

Elevation (ft): 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft

Distance: 4km/2miles

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

We continue up to the barafu camp. South circuit will be completed, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

Accommodation: budget lodging “barafu camp”.

Elevation (ft):4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 5km/3miles up / 13km/8mi down

Hiking time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Very early in the morning, we will continue our way to the summit between the rebmann and ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards stella point on the crater rim.

This is the most challenging portion of the trek. At stella point you will have a short rest and rewarded most magnificent sunrise ever seen. From stella point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit (uhuru peak) highest point on mount kilimanjaro.

From the summit we begin to descent by continuing straight down to the mweka camp, stopping at barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at mweka camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Accommodation: budget lodging “mweka camp”.

Elevation (ft): 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft

Distance: 10km/6miles

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

After breakfast we continue to descent down to the mweka park gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

A vehicle will pick you at mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in arusha/moshi (about 30 minutes).