Day 2: Moshi – Machame Gate (1.800m) – Machame Camp (3.100m)
A 1-hour drive takes us to Machame Gate, where we take care of the formats for registration in the National Park. Here also our remaining team joins us, the porters and cooks and the anticipation in the air rises. Then it finally starts! We start our trekking tour along the Makoa brook, which leads us into dense rainforest. In between the path can be a bit muddy and slippery, but we work our way forward and the closer we get to our destination today – Machame Camp – the more the landscape changes towards the alpine moorland.
Trekking: 5-7 hours (h) / 9km / +1,300 meters altitude difference (am); tent; (B/L/D)
Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp (3.840m)
The trail continues northeast towards Shira Camp. Today we really leave the wooded area and climb a steep rocky ridge. After we have overcome this, we are rewarded with the breathtaking view, because only the Kilimanjaro to offer. The wide plains of Africa with Mt. Meru to the west and its beautiful sunsets. Arriving at Shira Camp we will do a small tour to higher areas, which will help us to acclimatize properly.
Trekking: 5-7h / 9km / +740am; tent; (B/L/D)
Day 4: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp (3.950) over the Lava towers
Today’s stage to Barranco Camp is extremely beautiful and begins with a gentle climb towards Kibo (Swahili for the highest mountain in the Kilimanjaro massif – and thus our destination). We reach the prominent rock “Shark’s Tooth” (4.400m), continue south through flat valleys until we reach the “Lava Towers” (4.600m). From there the way leads us back down to Barranco Camp, where we can look forward to great views of the icy “Western Breach” and the “Barranco Wall”. Today contributes again to our acclimatization, as it respects the principle of going up, sleeping low.
Trekking: 6-7h / 11km / +110am; tent; (B/L/D)
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp (3.930m)
Today’s trekking is a bit shorter and serves us to get used to the altitude. First we climb the trekking route over the Barranco wall (200hm), which is steep but not too demanding and whose most difficult passages can be overcome on hands and feet. Once we reach the top, we again have great views of the Kibo and the surrounding countryside. The rest of the time a hilly path leads us over some small brooks to the Karanga river, which we cross and finally arrive at today’s destination.
Trekking: 4-5h / 5km / +200am – 220hm; tent; (B/L/D)
Day 6: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (4.700m)
The already 5th trekking day brings us very close to the highest point of Africa. Today we go uphill in a rocky area – again and again with a view of the southern glacier tongue. We cross the Mweka Route and start another ascent over steep lava rocks, which finally brings us to Barafu Camp. With this we have made the southern circumnavigation of the mountain and were able to view our destination from several angles. The terrain at Barafu Camp is inhospitable, with little vegetation and often even snow-covered – the high altitude sends its greetings. We set up our camp, enjoy a hearty meal and recharge our batteries for tomorrow’s summit day.
Trekking: 2-4h / 4km / +770am; tent; (B/L/D)
Day 7: Barafu Camp – summit (5.895m) – Mweka Camp (3.100m)
The most exhausting day of the whole trip awaits us today, the day we have been working towards all the time, the day when we will be at the highest point of Africa! 23:00 hrs already we wake up with a light snack and warm drinks before we start our 5km trek to the summit. This part will also be the coldest with temperatures between -5°C and -10°C. We first head northwest, following a steeper and steeper valley at the edge of a scree field. Passing the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers we reach Stella Point at 5.672m. From here we can watch the spectacular sunrise. Only one hour later we reach the summit of Uhuru Peak – congratulations! We enjoy this moment we have on the roof of Africa and the joy it brings with it, after which we descend again. We pass Stella Point again and reach Barafu Camp, where we have a short well deserved break. Afterwards a 9km trek (approx. 4-5h) brings us to Mweka Camp at 3.100m. The easy trek has some spectacular vantage points and leads us through the moorland back to the wooded area. We spend our last evening together at Kilimanjaro.
Trekking: ca. 16h / 14km / +1.195am -2.795hm; Tent; (B/L/D)
Day 8: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate (1.800m)
We start our morning with a good breakfast and the cheerful songs of our team. Then we start our last descent towards Mweka Gate. Once there, all the climbers get their certificate, which they can take home as a souvenir of this adventure. In the Mweka Village our transfer back to the hotel awaits us, where we finish our time together at the Kilimanjaro with a hearty dinner and maybe some Kilimanjaro beer.
Trekking: 4-5h / 10km / -1.300am; Hotel; (B/L/D)