Itinerary
Day 1
Londorossi Gate to Shira One Camp (3550 m): 4-5 hours walking
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive approximately 2 hours through the rural countryside to the Londorossi Gate. For the necessary park registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations to the starting of Shira Route. We start our ascent along the shrub forests the trail climbs steadily with wide views of Kibo Ice field to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau.
Day 2
Shira Camp One to Shira Camp (3,840 m): 4-5 hours walking.
Today we follow an easy path to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira. As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing
Day 3
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,900 m.): 5-7 hours walking.
Today we walk on a gentle ascend and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.).
Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga camp (4,000 m): 4-5 hours walking.
A steep climb up the eastern wall leads us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo; the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.
Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,600 m): 3-4 hours walking.
Today we take the Traverse Route that takes up the Barafu Ridge; we walk up quite slowly to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.
Day 6
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking.
Wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. We begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. We will rest there for few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to main peak (5,895 m), which is the highest point in Africa. After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment we descend to Barafu is amazingly fast, and we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp.
Day 7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 3-5 hours walking.
A gentle walk takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. We drive back to your hotel or lodge.
