From the Londorossi Park Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro where we pick up our game ranger who will accompany us, as we might encounter elephants and buffaloes during our trek. We drive to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades and start our trek through the rain forest. In places, the vegetation is so untouched that it grows right across the narrow track. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. Our trek today will be along a little used track known as Chamber's Route. In about 3-4 hours, we reach our camp in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).

We start the climb cross the remaining rain forest towards the giant moorland zone. Today is a full day trek with an altitude gain of 2,000 ft. A great lunch stop is One, a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000 ft. After lunch, we cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau that is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. The crater rim has been decimated by weather and volcanic action. Today you will get your first close views of Kibo - the dramatic summit of Kilimanjaro.

We spend an entire day traversing the Shira plateau, embarking on a leisurely stroll towards the eastern direction, offering captivating views of Kibo's glaciered peak. Our journey across the plateau eventually leads us to Shira 2 camp, nestled amidst expansive moorland meadows beside a serene stream.

From there, our exploration continues to Moir Hut, a secluded location situated at the foot of Lent Hills. This rarely frequented site provides ample opportunities for various walks amidst the Lent Hills, serving as an ideal opportunity for acclimatization. Notably, Shira stands as one of the highest plateaus on the planet.

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of "walk high, sleep low" to aid your body's acclimatization to altitude.

Distance covered: 10.8km / 6.7mi

Approx. time taken: 8 hrs

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. Its a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our nights camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi

Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Very early in the morning, between midnight and 2 am, we set out towards the summit, navigating between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Heading in a northwesterly direction, we ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This stretch is the most mentally and physically demanding part of the trek. Upon reaching Stella Point, we'll take a short rest and be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise, one of the most stunning you'll ever witness. Faster hikers may even reach the summit in time for the sunrise.

From Stella Point, you might encounter snow on the one-hour ascent to the summit. Reaching Uhuru Peak marks the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

After the summit, we begin our descent straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Gaiters and trekking poles are recommended for navigating the loose gravel on the way down. We'll arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft, descending to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up, 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up, 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony with your crew, it's time to say goodbye. We continue descending to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is much warmer, the terrain becomes wet, muddy, and steep, so we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles.

At the gate, your guide/driver will meet you in Mweka village to drive you back to your Accommodation. Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!