Day 1, Moshi town:

Arriving at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), you will be greeted upon arrival by our warm, friendly guide(s). You will be transferred to a nearby hotel to rest and relax after the long international flight. During the day on your way to nearby hotel from KIA-hotel you may get the chance to view the mountain showed itself for some time before shrouded in cloud. Overnight in the hotel in Moshi town notice the sounds and smells of Moshi town all around you.

Day 2: Marangu Village/ Materuni Village.

You have the morning to rest and relax. After lunch, we will have a brief orientation and equipment check. This is also a day to take optional walks around Marangu and the surrounding Chagga villages, possibly swim in the river and observing some nearby waterfalls like Lauwo waterfall or Kinukamori Waterfall in Marangu village or Materuni waterfall in Materuni village. Also in the village the mountain can be seen protruding from far away.

Day 3: Machame Camp (3010m)

Leave from your hotel after breakfast drive to Machame gate to meet your guides and porters. After registration you are ready to start the climb using a well-maintained trail through Montane Forest. On the way you’ll walk through denser rainforest plantations where you will also get a very close chance of witnessing Black and White Colobus monkeys with their attracting fluffy tail, as well as many different species of brightly-coloured birds. Machame gate to Machame Camp is about 3000m. Hiking time is 5-7 hours through the thick tropical forest

Day 4: Shira Camp (3840m).

After breakfast you will start you hike on slightly steeper gradient along a rocky ridge to Shira Plateau through the moorland vegetation zone. Along the ridge to Shira camp you will enjoy the view of various geological features where our professional guide will get a chance to share with you the good and tireless story about geotourism. Then after few hours you will get Shira which is located on the Shira Plateau, providing views of Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Hiking time is 4-5 hours.

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3960m)

Today the route takes you into semi-desert/alpine desert with rocky landscapes and surrounding Lava Tower of 300ft high with rocky scree at its base. At Lava Tower camp you will have your hot lunch before descending to Barranco Camp. This day is an important day for acclimatization as you travel up to 4250M/15,000’ before spending the night at Barranco. You will ascend through the moorlands to the alpine zone where the only plant life is the heartiest of grasses and lichens. Hiking time is 5 to 6 hours.

Day 6: Karanga Valley Camp (4035m).

In this day after breakfast you will climb the Barranco wall (not a technical climb) and then follow the Kibo South Circuit. This is a relatively short day, and you should arrive at your camp located just after the Karanga Valley set atop a ridge by lunchtime. Today is a valuable acclimatization day as you will be walking for the morning only and descending various ridges and valleys during your walk. Hiking time is 3 to 4 hours.

Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640m).

As we begin trekking today the trail is a steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we work our way to Barafu Camp. Barafu is a Swahili word which means “ice”. The Camp is set on an exposed ridge and is the staging point for our push to the summit which offers stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit from various angles. Once again you should arrive by late noontime, allowing plenty of time to rest before the final summit attempt. Hiking time is 4 to 5 hours.

Day 8: Uhuru Peak (5895m)/Mweka High Camp (3790m).

A long and hard day! Leaving your camp site between midnight and 1:00am, the climb from Barafu to Stella Point is fairly steep. The trail head northwest through the heavy stone scree following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685m). You will reach Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet, around 8 a.m. At this early hour, before the clouds close in, we have spectacular and stunning views of Africa in all directions taking pictures and cheers for few minutes. The hiking time is 7 to 8 hours.

You then head back down, via the Mweka route. The section from Uhuru down to Barafu (4 hours) is scree (as on the way up). Then at Barafu camp you will have 1-2hours rest then you will be awaken for lunch and hot water. Then after lunch you head down through the various vegetation zones, on a continual downhill, into Mweka camp which is located on the edge of the rainforest area (3-4 hours from Barafu Camp). It is a long descent and trekking poles are highly recommended. Congratulations, you made it to the Roof of Africa!

Day 9: Moshi town.

After fantastic breakfast, you will begin the easiest part of your adventure on Mt. Kilimanjaro via a scenic path through the forest to Mweka Gate, our last hike will be of 3 to 4 hours. The hike is steep in some places and may be slippery if wet so again we recommend that you use trekking poles. Successful hikers who made it to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak will be awarded their certificates at the Mweka gate which is signed by head guide. At the gate you will say goodbye to your mountain crew and enjoy a picnic lunch. The trip leaders will take you back to your hotel for a much welcome hot shower and a celebration dinner.

Day 10, Moshi town/Departure:

For those returning home you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight. Those continuing on safari or to Zanzibar you will be picked up at your hotel for the continuation of your African tour.