This route is the least frequently used and also the longest route to the summit. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. The south circuit is then followed, offering superb views of the southern ice fields, past the Barranco Huts then onto Barafu and finally the summit. Descent is via the Mweka Route.
Accommodation is in tents which the porters will pitch for you. You will need a sleeping bag, warm clothes and walking poles. This is a steep, tough trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas. The route can also be used to get onto the Western Breach for those who want to challenge themselves with an 'extreme' adventure. You are accompanied by an armed ranger on the first day, as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other big game animals.
When climbing this route, the terrain passes from a tropical to an arctic climate in just a few days. The encircling rain forest ensures the fertility of the lower lying farms and is rich in birdlife. Above the rain forest lie the alpine meadows and beautiful moorland, offering many splendid views. Exotic plants such as giant lobelia and the fork-like groundsel can be seen. The latter blooming once every 50 - 70 years. After you leave the alpine meadows we enter the alpine desert and finally the snows of Kilimanjaro and the summit itself.
Arrival location:
Mount Kilimanjaro International Airport
Departure Location:
Mount Kilimanjaro International Airport
Included in your experience:
National Park gate fees
Return airport transfers plus transport from hotel to the mountain
One arrival and one departure night accommodation in a hotel
All overnight mountain fees
Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
Salaries for all crew members
Rescue fees (as required by national park)
All meals on the mountain
Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
Pulse oximeter checks
Additional items dependent on style of travel selected. Please refer to 'Styles' on the website.
Ground Transportation, Airport transfers, English Speaking Guide
Not included in your experience:
Tips for guides and porters (please see recommendations)
Sleeping bags and personal items
Personal expenses (visas, yellow fever certificate, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
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Day1
On arrival you are personally met at the airport by one of our representatives and transferred to your guesthouse in Moshi. In the afternoon there is a full briefing with the climbs manager and your guide.
Local Guesthouse
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Day2
Early in the morning after breakfast you will be briefed about the Mount Kilimanjaro with the guide before we depart for the After breakfast you are driven from your hotel to the edge of the National Park Forest. From here we walk through the undisturbed forest to the Mti Mkubwa campsite for dinner and overnight camping. With luck you will be able to see colobus monkeys and signs of elephants.
Forrest Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day3
Take your time to walk through the forest which boasts plentiful game and bird life. You will pass through the mountain forest and hagenia zones. Dinner and overnight camping is at Shira campsite.
Shira Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day4
After breakfast we hike up Lava Tower. The is in the alpine zone. The only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichen. Here you will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up to the western breach.
Shira Camp 2 | Breakfast Included
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Day5
With the western breach ascent route in view, we spend a few hours climbing to the base of the route where we make your camp near Arrow Glacier. There is an afternoon hike further up the route before relaxing back down at camp. This extra hike will help you acclimatize and improve your performance tomorrow.
Barranco Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day6
After ascending the famous Barranco wall, todays climb takes you up via Lava Tower before a slight descent into Karanga camp which affords spectacular views from the exposed plateau.
Karanga Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day7
This barren campsite which is the penultimate campsite before the summit can be a windswept and desolate location. Weather here can change at a moments notice. Large mountain crows search for scraps. Get as much rest as you can here in readiness for your summit attempt.
Barafu Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day7
You will rise around 1.00am from Barafu camp and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the early morning darkness. You will probably encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak . Time spent on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk to Barafu camp from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest, before heading down to Mweka camp (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner, and hot, washing water will be provided as well as drinking water.
Summit & Mweka Camp | Breakfast Included
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Day8
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short three hour scenic hike back to the park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch. You now drive back to your guesthouse for a long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Local Guesthouse | Breakfast Included
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Day9
If you would like to book additional nights please inform us as early as possible. We will arrange for you to be transferred to the airport or you may join a Kili Base Adventure safari and continue your holiday with us and visit the world famous game parks of Tanzania.
Departure Day | Breakfast Included
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