This route offers a more convenient option for acclimatisation. The trek begins at Machame Village in the south-west and initially winds through a lush rain forest valley for the first three days. The middle section is designed to allow your body to gradually adapt to the high-altitude conditions. You’ll stay in warm, comfortable mountain tents, with dining provided in additional mess tents. For your comfort and convenience, we also set-up toilet tents with sanitary portable flush toilets at each camp. A rest day is included midway through the trek to give those who might need a bit more time to recover and build up their strength for the final ascent to the summit.

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Day 1: Arrival Day

Our guide/representative will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your overnight lodge accommodation for dinner near Moshi town with breathtaking views towards Mount Kilimanjaro. Any excess baggage can be stored safely and securely for you to collect after the completion of your trek.

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Day 2: Machame Gate to Machame Camp

After a hearty breakfast and briefing, morning transfer to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Machame Gate which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. The walk begins on a winding track through rain forest where trekkers will hear many exotic species of birds in the canopy above, and many even see Black & White Callous Monkey and Blue Monkey. At lower elevations the trail can be slightly muddy and slippery where gaiters and trekking poles will be provided for your convenience. Machame Camp is just above the forest in the heather zone, that on a clear day offers splendid views to the jagged Shira ridge and of the Kilimanjaro summit itself.

• Elevation: 1,815m – 3,000m (5,950ft – 9,850ft)
• Distance: 18km (12 miles)
• Time: 5-7 hours
• Terrain: Montane Forest

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Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

After a hearty breakfast, we then leave the rain forest glades and begin up a steep track through tall savannah grasses and giant feather trees. We enter the moorland zone, passing around the enormous boulders of Uhuru Peak which are marked by bizarre Lobelia and Senecio plants, and where volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards protect the wild alpine flowers that grow at their base. Here there are spectacular views of the western wreach head wall and glacier which mark the summit zone. We then reach camp after descending a small valley and crossing a river brook, and ascending up onto the Shira Ridge.

• Elevation: 3,000m – 3,840m (9,850ft -12,600ft)
• Distance: 5km (3 miles)
• Time: 4-5 hours
• Terrain: Heath and Moorland

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Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp

From the Shira Camp plateau in the morning, we proceed steadily upward over long ridgelines of high desert for around 4 hours, taking a break for lunch at about 14,500 feet (4,420 mt), and then pass under Lava Tower – a 100 metre tall volcanic plug that marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet. The high point of the climb is 14,850 feet or 2,525 metres. In the afternoon, we descend the steep track into the Barranco Valley Camp that is set in a flat area enclosed on three sides by steep valley walls and the Kibo massif. And all above you, the glacier glints fervantly in the strong sun´s rays, amidst eerie landscape of the unique and endemic Giant Groundsels and Giant Lobelia plant species.

• Elevation: 3,840m – 3,950m (12,600ft – 13,000ft)
• Distance: 10km (6 miles)
• Time: 6-7 hours
• Terrain: Semi-desert

N.B. Although you end the day at around the same elevation as when you began – it is vital for acclimatisation and will help your body prepare correctly for your attempt at the summit.

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Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

After breakfast, we begin by scrambling up the steep ridge of the Barranco Wall, traversing the ridges and valleys of the mountain¨s southern face, as Kibo as the glacier looms above to your left, and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jut out straight ahead, high into the African sky at around 17,000 feet. Hot lunch is then served at the Karanga Valley Camp.

• Elevation: 3,950m – 4,200m (13,000ft – 13,300ft)
• Distance: 5km (3 miles)
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Terrain: Alpine Desert

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Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

This is a short day trekking to help with the process of acclimatisation. We continue steadily uphill where the temperature grows colder and the landscape becoming more sparse as we approach nearer Barafu Camp, set within a small exposed flat area on a ridge, that offers spectacular views to the summit from many different angles. Barufa Camp acts as our base camp to prepare for the long day ahead tomorrow. We rest, enjoy dinner, and retire to sleep early, to be awoken before midnight for our attempt to the summit.

• Elevation: 4, 200m – 4,600m (13,300ft – 15,000ft)
• Distance: 4km (2 miles)
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Terrain: Alpine Desert

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Day 7: Barafu Camp – Kilimanjaro Summit – Return to Mweka Camp

After an 11 p.m. wake-up call, we begin-out at midnight up a winding path of endless switchbacks consisting of 5-6 hours of hiking, ascending through heavy scree past the Rebmann glacier until we arrive at Stella Point (5,750 metres/18,870 feet) to take a short rest at the crater rim and rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise, with quicker hikers being maybe able to witness this exhilarating event from the summit itself. Regardless, this section is the most mentally and physically challenging section of the trek. Continuing up, on the gently-sloped final traverse of under one hour, fallen snow may be encountered as we cross the inner crater´s lunar landscape before reaching the summit of Uhuru Peak: the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the whole continent of Africa!

After arriving at the summit and taking photographs, we then begin our descent from the summit by continuing back down to Barufa Camp for rest, and a hot lunch, before heading down again to Mweka Camp at 10,200 feet or 3,100 metres and taking around a further 4 hours. Both gaiters and trekking poles will be provided for the loose gravel we will encounter whilst descending to Mweka Camp to enjoy our last evening on the mountain together.

• Elevation: 4,600m – 5,895m (15,000ft – 19,340ft)
• Down to 3,090m (10,150ft)
• Distance: 5km (3 miles) up and 13km (8 miles) down
• Time: 5-7 hours up and 5-6 hours down
• Terrain: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

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Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

After finishing breakfast, we continue our descent down to the Mweka Park Gate where you will receive your personal summit climbing certificates. Finally, we will have a short ceremony celebration for reaching the highest point on the African continent, and which will also give you the opportunity to personally tip your mountain guides and porters. From the gate area we then continue for another hour to our vehicle meeting-point at Mweka Village, before being transfered to your appointed hotel accommodation to enjoy a well-deserved hot lunch.

• Elevation: 3,100m – 680m (10,200ft – 1,5500ft)
• Distance: 10km (6 miles)
• Walking Time: 3-4 hours
• Terrain: Forest

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Day 9: Departure Day

After a long slumbering night´s sleep ending we will pick-you up to either take you on your arranged safari trip or transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your scheduled flight.

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