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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Volcanoes National Park
Tour Overview
Tour Highlights
What makes this trip special
Elevation Profile
How the altitude climbs, day by day
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your trip, day by day
Day 1: Machame Gate – Machame Camp (1,800m – 3,000m)
Your Kilimanjaro journey begins at Machame Gate, where you're greeted by the Kilimanjaro porters and guides. After a short briefing you set off through the lush rainforest. The hike takes about 5–6 hours and offers beautiful views of Mount Kilimanjaro as you pass mossy trails, bamboo forest and shaded paths. In the afternoon you reach Machame Camp, where you pitch your first camp and prepare for the days ahead.
Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp (3,000m – 3,840m)
After a hearty breakfast you leave Machame Camp and continue hiking through the moorland and heath zone. The landscape gradually changes, and you can enjoy wide views of the Shira Plateau. The hike takes 6–7 hours, gently ascending through bizarre rock formations and small river valleys. In the afternoon you reach Shira Camp, where you can watch the sunset over the plateau.
Day 3: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp (3,840m – 3,950m)
Today you hike from the Shira Plateau onward toward Barranco Camp. Along the way you pass lava fields and impressive rock formations. The hike takes about 5–6 hours and includes the famous Barranco Wall – a steep but manageable scramble offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. In the afternoon you reach Barranco Camp, where you rest for the next strenuous day.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp (3,950m – 4,600m)
Today's route takes you through the Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp, the base camp for the summit climb. The hike takes 6–7 hours, partly steep, offering wide panoramas of Kilimanjaro's alpine highlands. In the afternoon you prepare for the night summit climb, resting and fueling up for the challenge ahead.
Day 5: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp (4,600m – 5,895m – 3,100m)
The highlight of your Kilimanjaro tour: the summit climb begins very early in the morning, usually around midnight. Armed with headlamps, you hike through the starry night and reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m) after 6–8 hours. The sunrise above the clouds is an unforgettable experience. After the summit you descend to Mweka Camp, passing through lush vegetation, and enjoy a well-earned lunch there. Afterwards you continue to Mweka Gate, where your adventure officially ends and transfers to Arusha take place.
What's Included & Excluded
Know exactly what your package covers
Included
- Kilimanjaro National Park entry & camping/hut fees
- KPAP-certified mountain guides, cooks and porters
- All meals on the mountain (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, hot drinks)
- Mountain camping equipment or hut accommodation (route-dependent)
- Treated drinking water throughout the climb
- Government rescue fees
- Airport transfer on arrival/departure
- Pre-climb briefing and equipment check
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel & medical evacuation insurance
- Tips for guides, cooks and porters
- Personal climbing gear (boots, jacket, sleeping bag)
- Alcoholic drinks and snacks
- Hotel accommodation before/after the climb (unless stated)
Best Time to Travel
The clearest, driest climbing conditions fall in two windows: late June through October, and January to mid-March. Kilimanjaro can be climbed year-round, but the short and long rains (November, and April-May) bring wetter trails and lower summit visibility.
Camping (mountain tents, full trekking crew)
Full board on the mountain, prepared by our mountain cooks
What to Pack
Suggested gear for this trip
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