Mountain Kilimanjaro is the tallest in Africa and highest stand-alone mountain in the whole world. Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour is one of the best adventures one should ever reward themselves with; hike from the rain-forests, to rocky ridges, moorlands and to the summit; when you are on Uhuru summit, you are on top of Africa. Such a feeling comes once in a lifetime and it is surely unforgettable.
To climb Mount. Kilimanjaro, one has to be physically fit and have your body in perfect condition. Use Machame route which is short, dry and mostly used. The route takes you to the summit in about 3 days and descent in 3 days as well.
Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Gate, then to Machame Camp 5-7 hours.
- Day 2: Transfer from Machame Camp to Shira Camp 4-6 hours
- Day 3: Transfer from Shira Camp to Barranco Camp 6-8 hours
- Day 4: Transfer from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp then to Barafu Camp 8-10 hours
- Day 5: Proceed from Barafu Camp to Summit and to Mweka Hut 4-6 hours
- Day 6: From Mweka Camp to Moshi
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Gate, then to Machame Camp 5-7 hours.
Wake up in the morning, transfer from Moshi to Kilimanjaro National Park gate, walk to Machame Gate. You will walk through Machame village to Machame Gate where you will meet fellow hikers and trek through the lower Montane forests which inhabit some primates and birds, the ground is slippery and always gaiters and trekking poles are advised to be used.
Have picnic lunch on the lower slopes, proceed to Machame Camp where you will arrive in the evening and spend your night here.
Day 2: Transfer from Machame Camp to Shira Camp 4-6 hours
Rise up in the morning on the slopes of Mount. Kilimanjaro, grab a cup of coffee / tea and ascend to Shira Camp. Here you will leave the slippery rainforests behind and face the rocky ridges, going through a valley, have lunch break later in the day and proceed with the journey upwards.
The hike is quite steep and it takes some time to arrive at Shira Camp from where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer from Shira Camp to Barranco Camp 6-8 hours
After breakfast, you will leave Shira plateau, move Eastwards to the junction of Kibo peak, proceed southeast approaching the Lava Tower also known as Shark’s Tooth. After Lava Tower, you will encounter another junction that connects you to Arrow glaciers. You will have a picnic lunch, proceed to Barranco Camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp then to Barafu Camp 8-10 hours
After tasty breakfast, hike Barranco rocky ridge heading to Karanga Camp, proceeding to a junction that leads you to Mweka trail. Have splendid lunch accompanied with clear mountain views, continue to Barafu hut and by this time, you will have covered the entire Southern Circuit which presents vivid sightings of the summit from all angles and also both peaks; Mawenzi and Kibo. You will be seeing them clearly, proceed to Barafu Camp where you will have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Proceed from Barafu Camp to Summit and to Mweka Hut 4-6 hours
Wakeup at around midnight or 2:00am and start ascending through Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers as you head Northwest. Proceed through rock debris as you approach Stella point and this is the most challenging part for all hikers. At this point, you can encounter sun rays and at Stella point have a brief rest and then resume the hike.
Head towards Uhuru Summit, and at this point you will have reached the top of Africa. You will have celebrations with fellow hikers, and sometimes you might shed some tears of joy if you flash back to how you started and now you are on the “roof of Africa”. After photoshoots and scenery viewing, descend slowly back to Mweka Camp with lunch enroute at Barafu Camp. Descend to Mweka where you will have your last night in the Mountain, arrive late in the evening, relax, have dinner and overnight.
Day 6: From Mweka Camp to Moshi
Arise in the morning, get breakfast and descend down to Mweka gate where you will be rewarded a hiking certificate. As you descend and approach alpine forests, the ground tends to be slippery and muddy, you are encouraged to have gaiters and trekking poles.
After acquiring your hiking certificate, you will be driven to Mweka Village. Here you will meet your Safari guide and transfer to the hotel in Moshi from where you will have lunch. Depending on your flight schedule, the driver might drop you back at the Airport or at your hotel. This marks the end of 6 Days Mount. Kilimanjaro hiking adventure.
