Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a courteous member of the Royal Specialist hospitality team will extend a warm welcome. They will escort you to the Kili Summit Lodge, ensuring a smooth transition after your long flight. At the resort, you’ll find everything you need for a comfortable stay, including cozy rooms equipped with hot showers, a restaurant offering delectable dining options, friendly staff ready to assist you, and access to the internet for your convenience.

At the designated time, you’ll participate in a briefing where your knowledgeable guides will provide comprehensive details about the upcoming trek. They’ll address any inquiries you may have and ensure you’re adequately prepared for the journey, offering rental gear as needed.

Accommodation: Kili Summit Lodge

Travel Time and Distance: A 1-hour drive spanning 40 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi.

Begin your day with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before embarking on your journey in a comfortable vehicle around 08:00hrs. Arriving at the Machame Gate (1,800 meters) by 09:00hrs, your first task is to complete the necessary registration formalities before commencing your trek. Here, you’ll also be introduced to your mountain team, including guides, porters, and other companions who will accompany you on your ascent.

Today’s trek covers considerable ground, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,035 meters over a distance of nearly 11 kilometers (or 7 miles). Expect to spend between 4.5 and 5 hours traversing the terrain.

Your journey commences on a broad trail winding through dense forests adorned with majestic tall trees draped in lush green moss. As the path ascends, transitioning into steeper and narrower terrain, the vegetation evolves, accompanied by the emergence of vibrant flowers such as impatiens kilimanjari and impatiens pseudoviola, lending a splash of color to the landscape. Keep an eye out for your first glimpse of Kibo peak in the east. The campsite is teeming with diverse birdlife, providing opportunities to spot species like the olive thrush and stonechat. Aim to reach the camp by approximately 17:00hrs, allowing for a well-deserved rest before dinner.

Accommodation: Tents at Machame Camp

Hiking Time and Elevation: 4.5 – 5 hours of walking, from Machame Gate at 1,800 m to Machame Camp at 2,835 m.

You’ll soon adapt to the early 7:00 AM breakfast routine, aiming to depart the camp by 8:30 AM today. The day entails a further ascent of 915 meters, reaching an elevation of 3,750 meters by day’s end. Despite covering a short distance of 5 km/3 miles, expect to spend around 5.5 to 6 hours on foot.

The trail ahead is characterized by dusty, narrow, and steep paths. Initially, you’ll traverse through forests of heather before encountering the majestic giant groundsels. The climb before your midday picnic lunch is challenging but rewards you with breathtaking views to the south and of Kibo. Anticipate arriving at your camp by 2:00 PM, where you’ll encounter moorland lobelias and the distinctive dark obsidian rock of Shira Plateau for the first time. Take in the natural wonders, including the ‘Shira Cathedral,’ Klute Peak, and Mount Meru, before relishing your dinner around 6:00 PM.

Accommodation: Tents at Shira Cave Camp
Hiking Time and Elevation: 6 hours of walking, from Machame Camp at 2,835 m to Shira Cave Camp at 3,750 m.

Today’s journey presents a stark contrast to yesterday’s, offering a much lengthier trek. While commencing at 3,750 meters, your altitude gain remains modest, only increasing by 150 meters as you cover nearly 10 km/6 miles to reach Baranco Camp by around 4:00 PM. En route, you’ll ascend to the base of the towering Lava Tower at 4,600 meters before descending for your overnight halt. This descent, though seemingly counterintuitive, significantly aids in the vital process of acclimatization to the altitude.

Expect to spend approximately 6.5 to 7 hours walking today, excluding breaks. Your day kicks off with breakfast at 7:00 AM and departure at 8:30 AM, initiating your journey across the rocky expanse of Shira Plateau. Initially sparsely vegetated, with only a smattering of resilient lichens, the landscape gradually changes as you ascend towards the imposing Lava Tower. Your picnic lunch awaits at 1:00 PM. Following the pinnacle of the day near the Lava Tower, you’ll descend to Baranco Camp. Upon arrival, take a moment to appreciate the vistas of the southern facade of Kibo and the Heim Glacier. Dinner is served at 7:00 PM.

Accommodation: Tents at Baranco Camp
Hiking Time and Elevation: 6.5 – 7 hours of walking,

You’ll enjoy a slightly later breakfast at 07:30 AM, followed by a departure from camp scheduled for 08:30 AM. Today’s trek covers a relatively short distance of 4 km/2 miles, but anticipate spending between 3.5 and 4 hours on the trail. A cooked lunch break is planned around 13:00 hrs upon reaching Karanga at 3,995 meters, allowing you ample time in the afternoon to savor the views before dinner at 18:00 hrs.

Your day begins with the most challenging section: scrambling up the near-vertical face of the Baranco Wall, affectionately dubbed the “Breakfast Wall” due to its proximity to your morning meal. Once atop this climb, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the Heim Glacier. The remainder of today’s journey is comparatively easier as you gradually descend into the picturesque Karanga Valley before navigating a series of zig-zags to reach Karanga Camp at 3,995 meters. Today’s altitude gain totals only 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.

Yet another brief day in terms of distance commences with breakfast at the camp at 07:30 AM, followed by departure at 08:30 AM. Today’s ascent spans approximately 670 meters over a distance of around 5 km/3 miles, with an estimated walking time of 3.5 to 4 hours.

Your objective is to reach Barafu Camp at 4,673 meters by 13:00 hrs, where a cooked lunch awaits. Given that tomorrow marks the summit day, it’s crucial to unwind and prepare adequately for the strenuous journey ahead. Dinner will be served at 17:30 hrs, affording you ample time to retire early. As you progress from Karanga, today’s route ascends steadily through barren, rocky terrain, with glimpses of the Decken and Kersten glaciers to your left. Upon reaching the summit, the landscape transitions into a desolate valley, offering your first glimpse of yet another glacier, Rebmann. At the conclusion of this valley lies today’s target: Barafu Camp, accessible after a brief, steep scramble and walk.

Accommodation: Tents at Barafu Camp
Hiking Time and Elevation: 3.5 – 4 hours of walking, from Karanga Camp at 3,995 m to Barafu Camp at 4,673 m.

Today marks the most arduous challenge, yet also the pinnacle of your journey – the summit of Kilimanjaro! Your ‘Summit Day’ schedule differs significantly from previous days on the mountain. Rising at 23:00, you indulge in tea and biscuits at 23:30 before embarking on a midnight departure.

The day commences with a demanding ascent from Barafu at 4,673 meters to Stella Point at 5,756 meters, navigating through scree terrain, intensifying the trek’s difficulty. From Stella Point, a further 139 meters of ascent and a 45-minute walk lead you to the summit. Your aim is to reach the summit by around 07:00, where you can celebrate, capture precious photos, and relish this once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. After conquering the summit at 5,895 meters, you return to Barafu at 4,673 meters, where you rest briefly, enjoy a brunch, and depart again at 13:30 to descend to Mweka Camp at 3,100 meters, where you will spend the night. Anticipate reaching Mweka Camp by 17:00 and indulging in dinner by 19:00. In total, you cover approximately 17 km/10 miles today, enduring 11-14 hours of walking – a demanding endeavor, yet hopefully crowned with the achievement of your objective!

Accommodation: Tents at Mweka Camp
Hiking Time and Elevation: 11-14 hours of walking, from 4,673 m at Barafu Camp to the summit at 5,895 m, then descending to 3,100 m at Mweka Camp.

Still thrilled by your achievement, breakfast is taken at 07.00hrs and at 08.00hrs you can take the chance to reward your trekking team at the ‘Tipping Celebration.’

Although you still have 10 km/6 miles to walk, departure is at a leisurely 09.00hrs and you descend down to the Mweka Gate which sits at an altitude of 1,640 metres. There, you will be served a cooked lunch at midday and be presented with your hard-earned certificate. Your transport will be waiting to bring you back to your hotel in Moshi, where you can choose to relax – or, if you have any energy left, to celebrate!

Accommodation: Kili Summit Lodge

Hiking time and Elevation: 3 hours’ walking, from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, descending from 3,100 m to 1,640 m, then return by vehicle from Mweka Gate to your hotel 0.8 hours’ drive.

After a rejuvenating night’s sleep at your hotel, you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast in preparation for the scheduled check-out by 10:00 a.m. If you prefer to extend your stay at the hotel during the day, please notify us when booking your trip, and we’ll provide information on the cost for a ‘day room,’ allowing you to stay until 6:00 p.m., and then make the booking on your behalf.

As transfer services are already included in this package, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transported to the airport. For travelers embarking on a safari, our Royal Specialist guide will meet you in the afternoon to conduct a pre-safari briefing.