Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met by our driver and taken to comfortable mid-range hotel in Moshi town. It is a cosy hotel located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, with comfortable accommodation, variety of meals, clean swimming pool, lush garden and friendly services.

Before dinner, we get to know each other with all members of the group, the tour leader conducts a general briefing on staying in Tanzania. If you need to rent personal mountain gear, then (by prior arrangement only) we individually select it for you.

Accommodation

Key's Hotel

After breakfast, we will depart from our hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for the Machame village with a lunch box for you to sporadically bite on you trek. From the park entrance gate (Machame), you will walk for about two to three hours trek through a dense forest of fig and rubber trees, begonia flowers, and other tropical vegetation.

A stop for lunch will be made halfway to this evening's campsite. As you continue your ascent, you will find that the tropical forest has given way to tall grasses and giant heather. You will be walking on a ridge, to the left of which is the Semira stream, and on the right, the Weru.

Depending on the pace of the climbers, arrival at Machame Camp is usually between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Your camp is set up near some old metals huts, which were once used for shelter. This initial stage of the climb is tranquil and relatively easy.

There is no point in rushing to get to the camp, as there is little to do there. Guides tend to recommend a slow ascent, even at this point, for gradual acclimatisation. Do not try to keep up with your porters, who will usually bound ahead. Instead, take time to admire the beauty of the African mountain forest.

Walking distance: 11 km Walking time: 5-7 hours Altitude gain: 1180 m

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Machame Camp

On this and subsequent mornings, wake-up call is at around 6:00 AM. You will be greeted with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and weather permitting, by a fabulous view of Uhuru peak.

Today's trek takes you up a steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, volcanic rock, and bearded heather. You will encounter giant groundsels as you hike through a ghostly landscape of volcanic lava, caves, and foamy streams. Lunch will be taken just below the Shira Plateau, about three to four hours from Shira Camp.

The hike to the next campsite takes approximately six hours and you should arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Most climbers tend to pace themselves, walking slowly and resting about every half-hour. On arrival in camp, there is time to relax and even so for an acclimatisation hike with your guides before dinner.

Walking distance: 9 km Walking time: 4-6 hours Altitude gain: 860 m

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Shira-2 Camp

The entire Shira Plateau greets you this morning with sweeping vistas across to Meru and the Shira Needles. A steady walk takes you up to the pass at Lava Tower, where you stop to have lunch.

Crossing the Bastain stream, you will begin to descend towards Barranco Camp. Descending takes you along an immense canyon called the Great Barranco. Along the way, you will see numerous waterfalls, which are fed, by streams coming from the mountain, converging here to form the Umbwe River.

Your camp is set at almost the same altitude as the night before. Today is a full day trek and you will feel quite tired. Arrival at camp is between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM.

Walking distance: 15 km Walking time: 7-9 hours Altitude gain: 110 m/790 to Lava Tower

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Barranco Camp

This morning you begin your hike to Karanga Camp, which is almost on the same altitude as Barranco Camp. You will encounter a bit of a climb at Barranco wall and spend the rest of the trek climbing up and down the slopes of the mountain most of the way to camp.

Today’s climbing is not considered difficult and you should arrive in time for lunch (approximately 1:00 PM) having trekked for about four-five hours. In the afternoon you will have an opportunity to hike in the Karanga Valley where giant senecios and lobelia grows. However, you are well advised to rest as much as you possibly can to prepare you for the climb ahead.

Walking distance: 5.8 km Walking time: 4-5 hours Altitude gain: 90 m

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Barranco Camp

The scenic climb to Barafu is mostly on a moraine and lava ridge with a view of Mawenzi peak towering majestically to the right, and overhead, Kibo peak seemingly just out of reach. The alpine desert terrain encountered at this point is mostly a mineral environment with few lichens and mosses.

Lunch is taken in camp and in the afternoon there is a summit clothing check. Climbers who are determined to ascend the peak will go to bed very early this night, as the next day is the longest one.

Walking distance: 3.5 km Walking time: 4-5 hours Altitude gain: 510 m

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Barafu Camp

You will be awakened before midnight and after a light breakfast, start climbing at around 12 midnight. It is at this stage that the climb becomes much more tough. Climbers should carry as little as possible on this portion of the climb. Night temperatures can range from - 7° to -29° Celcius. You will climb for about six hours before reaching the edge of the crater, Stella points.

Another hour of climbing brings you to the summit. Uhuru stands at 5895 m and is the highest point on the continent of Africa. The track around the edge of the crater is rocky and often icy. Concentrate on your feet, and follow your guide very closely for this portion of the journey.

The descent is no easier than the ascent. You will reach Barafu camp after about three hours (around 11:30 AM). Climbers will be given the opportunity to rest and have some refreshments before continuing on to Mweka Camp for the night. Arriving into camp at around 5:00 PM, you will have trekked a total of 13 to 17 hours today.

Walking distance: 4.9 km to Uhuru Peak, then 11.5 km descend to Mweka Camp Walking time: 13-17 hours Altitude gain: 1345 m Descend: 2795 m

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Mweka Camp

On the final day of the journey, climbers descend from Mweka camp to the base. The descent to the gate will take approximately 5 hours and climbers usually arrives before noon. Upon arrival at the gate climbers will be rewarded with certificates attesting their success at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

After the end of the climb, the drivers will take us to Chemka hot springs. In this oasis, surrounded by jungle, we will treat our body and soul with a swim in warm water and jumping into a crystal-clear lake from a bungee. A picnic lunch will be served here, at the Chemka springs.

After lunch we will finally return to our hotel in Moshi town to take a long-awaited hot shower, enjoy dinner and head to soft bed.

Activities

• All Meals

Accommodation

Key's Hotel

After breakfast, the drivers will be ready to take those flying home or to Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro airport, and with the rest of the travellers we will head towards Arusha to safari in the best national parks in Africa (prior booking is required).

Also for lovers of animals and horseback riding, we offer an exclusive holiday in the sanctuary for wild animals at the foot of Kilimanjaro, with gorgeous views of the mountain.

Activities

• Breakfast