Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Moshi
Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Pristine Trails representative and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a pre-trek briefing with your Kilimanjaro guide either this afternoon/evening or the following morning.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 1 Hour
Meals: None
Day 2: Moshi – Lemosho Glades – Big Tree Camp
The day begins with a three-hour drive from Moshi to Londrossi Park Gate for registration. Once formalities are completed, you will get back into the car, pass through village communities and arrive at the trailhead at Lemosho Glades to start hiking. You will spend this day in some of the most beautiful forest found on the mountain, with wildlife sightings possible. After a short 2-3 hours you will arrive at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite. Here, like all days, you’ll have an afternoon snack and delicious hot dinner.
Trekking Time: 2-3 hours • Distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi • Altitude Change: +396 m / +1,299 ft
Overnight: Big Tree Camp
Transfer Time: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Big Tree Camp – Shira Hut 1
Leaving the forest early in the day, the trail gets steeper as it enters the grasses and wildflowers of the heath and moorland zone towards the valley. A gentle grade walk takes you across the high-altitude Shira Caldera past Shira Cave (views of Arrow glacier) and then gently downwards to Shira Hut 1 located near a stream on the Shira Plateau.
Trekking Time: 3 hours • Distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi • Altitude Change: +719 m / +2,359 ft
Overnight: Shira Hut 1
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Shira Hut 1 – Shira Hut 2
A gentle hike across the plateau within the moorland meadow takes you to Shira Hut 2 for the afternoon and overnight. Many short hikes are available on the Plateau, making this a great day for acclimatization.
Trekking Time: 3 hours • Distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi • Altitude Change: +391 m / +1,283 ft
Overnight: Shira Hut 2
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Shira Hut 2 – Shira Hut 2 – Lava Tower – Moir Hut
Walking now on high moorland and entering the high alpine desert zone, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. Traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, trekking up to the Lava Tower and then divert to Moir Hut at the base of Lent Hills for the afternoon and overnight.
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours • Distance: 11 km / 6.8 mi • Altitude Change: +732 m / +2,401 ft; -466 m / -1,528 ft
Overnight: Moir Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Moir Hut – Buffalo Camp
Start the day with a moderately steep hike out of the Moir Valley. Then choose to detour to the top of Little Lent Hill before returning to the main trail where you will encounter an undulating trail around the northern slopes of Kibo before reaching Buffalo Camp. You will enjoy expansive views from the northern side of the mountain, stretching across the Tanzania-Kenya border.
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours • Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi • Altitude Change: -141 m / -463 ft
Overnight: Buffalo Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Buffalo Camp – Rongai Third Cave
The day begins climbing up Buffalo Ridge and then down again, traversing eastward on a path infrequently traveled. Arrive just after mid-day at the campsite.
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours • Distance: 8 km / 5 mi • Altitude Change: -84 m / -276 ft
Overnight: Rongai Third Cave
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Rongai Third Cave – School Hut
Today we encounter a steady incline up and over the saddle, the area between the two peaks of Kilimanjaro. The views of both Kibo and Mawenzi are breathtaking. Arrive by mid-day to School Hut where you will want to rest as much as possible ahead of the ascent to Crater Camp the following day.
Trekking Time: 4-5 hours • Distance: : 5 km / 3.1 mi • Altitude Change: +781 m / +2,562 ft
Overnight: School Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: School Hut – Crater Camp
After breakfast, this hike has you walking steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will be climbing scree for 5 to 6 hours but you gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. Once reaching the crater rim, you will descend into Crater Camp, the highest camp on Kilimanjaro, located inside the Kibo Crater. You will have stunning views here of the surrounding Furtwangler Glacier.
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours • Distance: 5 km • Altitude Change: +1036 m / +3,399 ft
Overnight: Crater Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Crater Camp – Uhuru Peak – Millennium Camp
Depart in the morning from the barren crater floor for the switchbacks that will take you up the crater’s southern rim. Once reaching the rim, a short walk takes you to your goal, Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa. You made it!
Trekking Time: 0.5-1 hours • Distance: 1 km / 0.6 mi • Altitude Change: +145 m / +476 ft
After a quick celebration and photos at the top, you will begin the descent by passing Stella Point and then descending on scree slope to Barafu Camp, finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a meal and well-earned rest. On the descent, you will have fabulous views of the plains and Mawenzi peak.
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours • Distance: 8.5 km / 5.3 mi • Altitude Change: -2068 m / -6,785 ft
Overnight: Millennium Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Millennium Camp – Mweka Gate – Moshi
A gentle trek takes you down through the rainforest past the Mweka Huts campsite to the Mweka Gate, where park formalities will be completed and you will be met by our vehicles to return you to the Pristine Trails office. Here you will receive your certificate of ascent courtesy of the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority, have the tipping ceremony for your mountain crew and collect any luggage you stored. Thereafter, you will be driven back to your hotel where you can treat yourself to a well-earned shower and a good night’s sleep.
Trekking Time: 6-8 hours • Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi • Altitude Change: -2194 m / -7,198 ft
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Transfer Time: 45 mins
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Continuation of Your Journey or Departure
After breakfast, you will begin the next leg of your journey either onto your wildlife safari or you will be transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
Transfer Time: 1 hour to airport
Meals: Breakfast