Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a member of the Royal Specialists hospitality team. Your journey begins as they escort you to the Kili Summit Lodge, where you’ll find everything you need for a comfortable stay following your long flight. The resort offers cozy rooms with hot showers, a restaurant serving delightful culinary options, attentive service staff, and internet access for your convenience. At the scheduled time, you’ll receive a comprehensive briefing from your guides, who will meticulously outline the upcoming trek. They’ll address any inquiries you may have and ensure you’re fully prepared with the necessary gear, even offering rental options if needed.

Following an early breakfast at 07:00, you depart from the hotel an hour later, aiming to reach Londorosi Gate around 11:00 to complete necessary formalities and enjoy a picnic lunch. From Londorosi, a brief drive takes you to today’s trek starting point. The route covers a distance of 7 km/4 miles, with an estimated walking time of 3.5 to 4 hours.

Beginning at an altitude of approximately 2,100 meters and ascending to 2,650 meters, your journey via the Lemosho Route from the west offers stunning views of Kilimanjaro. While sightings of colobus or blue monkeys are possible at the outset, encounters with buffalo, elephant, or leopard, though rare nowadays, may occur. The ascent through vibrant forests adorned with colorful flowers provides a truly captivating experience. By around 18:00, you typically arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp (‘Big Tree Camp’), where dinner awaits at 19:30.

Accommodation: Tents at Mti Mkubwa Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 4 hours from Starting Point (2,100 m) to Mti Mkubwa (2,650 m)

You’ll quickly adapt to the 07:00 breakfast routine, with departure scheduled for 08:00 today. While the walking distance is only slightly longer than yesterday, you’ll be ascending from 2,650 meters to 3,610 meters, anticipating a lengthier trek of 4.5 to 5 hours. The ascent begins immediately as you climb to the top of a ridge, heading eastward and upward. Today, the forest gradually thins out, transitioning into moorland. Here, you’ll catch your first glimpse of both the Shira Plateau and the imposing Kibo.

As always, maintain a slow and steady pace (pole pole) to minimize any discomfort. Your path mostly leads eastward, with a picnic lunch around 13:00. The terrain is initially steep after lunch, then levels out, offering views of the snow-capped Kibo as you descend slightly to Shira 1 Camp. Arriving around 16:00, you’ll have some well-deserved rest before dinner, served at 18:30.

Accommodation: Tents at Shira 1 Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 4.5 – 5 hours of walking from Mti Mkubwa at 2,650 meters to Shira 1 Camp at 3,610 meters

Today, you’ll potentially tackle less elevation gain than yesterday, allowing for a more relaxed start with breakfast served at the leisurely hour of 08:00 and departure approximately an hour later. The day’s route offers flexibility as your guide will explain the option to trek via the Shira Cathedral, depending on your condition and preference.

The standard distance covered today is approximately 7 km/4 miles, featuring a steady uphill climb with an estimated total walking time of 3.5 to 4 hours. Initially, you’ll head southeast across the moor and heathland of the Shira Plateau, where buffalo, dik-dik, and klipspringer may be spotted grazing. Following the standard route, you aim to reach Shira 2 Camp at 3,850 meters, also known as Shira Huts, by 13:00 for a cooked lunch. Dinner is scheduled for 18:00.

Furthermore, you’ll have the option today to divert via the Shira Cathedral at 3,872 meters (12,703 feet). While this entails additional walking, the breathtaking panoramic views of the plateau and beyond make it a worthwhile excursion. Your guide will provide detailed information about this alternative route.

Accommodation: Tents at Shira 2 Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 3.5 – 4 hours of walking from Shira 1 Camp at 3,610 m to Shira 2 Camp at 3,850 m

Today, you’ll resume your early breakfast at 07:00, preparing for departure at 08:30. You’ll embark on a journey spanning around 10 km/6 miles, although your day’s elevation change is modest, with only a 50-meter increase in altitude by day’s end. However, in between, you’ll ascend to the base of the Lava Tower at 4,600 meters before descending to Baranco Camp at 3,900 meters for the overnight stop.

Anticipate a total walking time of approximately 6.5 to 7 hours as you depart from the Shira Ridge. The Lemosho Route intersects with the more popular Machame trail today, potentially increasing trail traffic. The scenery transitions to predominantly Alpine desert landscapes. A picnic lunch is scheduled for 13:00, with arrival at Baranco expected around 16:00, followed by dinner at approximately 19:00.

Accommodation: Tents at Baranco Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 6.5 – 7 hours of walking from Shira 2 Camp at 3,850 m to Baranco Camp at 3,900 m

You’ll enjoy a slightly later breakfast at 07:30 before departing camp at 08:30. Despite today’s walk being relatively short at 4 km/2 miles, expect a trekking time of 3.5 to 4 hours. Upon reaching Karanga at 3,995 meters around 13:00, you’ll pause for a cooked lunch and have the afternoon to savor the scenic vistas before dinner at 18:00.

The day begins with the most challenging segment, as you navigate the near-vertical face of the Baranco Wall, affectionately dubbed the ‘Breakfast Wall’ for its immediate encounter after breakfast. At the summit, you’ll be treated to views of the Heim Glacier. The remainder of the day’s trek becomes somewhat easier as you descend gradually to the gully below, traversing into the chilly yet picturesque Karanga Valley. From there, you’ll ascend a steep series of switchbacks until reaching Karanga Camp at 3,995 meters, with a modest overall altitude gain of 95 meters.

Accommodation: Tents at Karanga Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 3.5 – 4 hours of walking from Baranco Camp at 3,900 m to Karanga Camp at 3,995 m

Another short day -in terms of distance – begins with your breakfast at the camp at 07.30hrs and another 08.30hrs departure. Today you will ascend about 670 metres in a distance of around 5 km/3 miles and walking time once again is between 3.5 and 4 hours.

You will be aiming to arrive at the Barafu Camp 4,673 metres by 13.00hrs, when you will be rewarded with a cooked lunch. (With tomorrow being the summit day, it will be important to relax and prepare for the hard work ahead.) Dinner tonight is served at 17.30hrs, giving you time to get to bed early. After leaving Karanga, today’s stage climbs steadily, passing through barren, rocky landscape, with the Decken and Kersten glaciers visible away to your left. At the top of the climb, the landscape remains bleak as you descend into a valley and you get your first sight of another glacier, Rebmann. At the end of this valley is today’s goal, the Barafu Camp, at which you arrive after a short, steep scramble and a walk.

Accommodation: In Tents At Barafu Camp

Hiking time and Elevation: 3.5 – 4 hours’ walking, from Karanga Camp at 3,995 m to Barafu Camp at 4,673 m

Today is the most challenging day, but hopefully with the great sense of achievement of reaching your goal – the summit of Kilimanjaro! Your schedule for your ‘Summit Day’ is necessarily very different to your other days on the mountain. Rising at 23.00hrs, you take your tea and biscuits (23.30hrs) before a midnight departure.

The day starts with the long, tough climb from Barafu at 4,673 metres to Stella Point at 5,756 metres; for some of this you will be walking on scree, making your trek more difficult. From Stella Point, there is still another 139 metres of ascent and 45 minutes’ walk to the summit. Your goal is to reach the summit by around 07.00hrs then celebrate reaching the top, take your precious photos and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After the summit (5,895 metres), you return to Barafu (4,673 metres), where you rest for a couple of hours, take a brunch and then leave again at 13.30hrs to continue to descend to Mweka Camp (3,100 metres) where you spend the night. You would expect to arrive there at 17.00hrs and take your dinner at 19.00hrs. (In total, you cover around 17 km/10 miles today with about 11-14 hours of walking – tough going, but with your objective hopefully achieved!)

Accommodation: In Tents At Mweka Camp

Hiking time and Elevation: 11-14 hours’ walking, from 4,673 m at Barafu Camp to the summit at 5,895 m, then down to 3,100 m at Mweka Camp

With the excitement of your accomplishment still fresh, breakfast is served at 07:00, followed by a special opportunity at 08:00 to express gratitude to your trekking team during the ‘Tipping Celebration.’ Departure isn’t until a relaxed 09:00, although you still have 10 km/6 miles to cover. Your route descends to the Mweka Gate, situated at an altitude of 1,640 meters. Upon arrival, a cooked lunch will be served around midday, and you’ll receive your well-deserved certificate of achievement. Transport will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel in Moshi, where you can choose to unwind or continue the celebrations if you have the energy.

Accommodation: Kili Summit Lodge

Hiking Time and Elevation: 3 hours of walking from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, descending from 3,100 m to 1,640 m, followed by a 0.8-hour drive back to your hotel from Mweka Gate

After a good night’s rest at your hotel, you will take breakfast ready for the scheduled check-out by 10.00hrs.(If you wish to remain in the hotel during the day, please advise us of this when you book your trip and we will inform you of the cost for a ‘day room’ which allows you to stay until 18:00hrs, and then make the booking on your behalf.)

As the transfer services have been already included in this package, you will be collected from your hotel and dropped off at the airport. For those travellers who have booked to go on safari, our Royal Specialists  guide will be meeting you in the afternoon to provide you with a pre-safari briefing.