Kilimanjaro Routes

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 – Moir Hut

A gentle hike across the plateau within the moorland meadow takes you towards Shira 2 camp and then diverts to Moir Hut at the base of Lent Hills for the afternoon and overnight. Many walks are available on Lent Hills, making this a great day for acclimatization.

Trekking Time: 5-7 hours • Distance: 11 km / 6.8 mi • Altitude Change: +657 m / +2,155 ft

Overnight: Moir Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 the summit beginning at midnight.

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 8: School Hut – Uhuru Peak – Millennium Camp

We avoid walking too long in the heat of the sun today by starting around midnight to begin your ascent to Uhuru Peak. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave. You will then take on switchbacks up to Gillman’s Point at 5681 m / 18,638 ft, situated on the crater rim. This section is very steep with much stone scree and is the most demanding section of the route. From Gillman’s Point, hike for another two hours up to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. You made it! Enjoy a short time on the Roof of Africa before beginning the descent.

Trekking Time: 5-7 hours • Distance: 6 km / 3.7 mi • Altitude Change: +1178 m / +3,865 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 9: 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: 4-5 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 10: 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. Thank you for trekking with Pristine Trails!

Transfer Time: 1 hour to airport
Meals: Breakfast

Valid through December 31, 2023

The details are outlined below. We will take the utmost care to ensure your trek is safe and the experience of a lifetime.

Price Inclusions:

Tipping is customary on Mount Kilimanjaro for all members of your mountain crew.

Although they receive a fair wage, they rely on tips for a total fair compensation as set by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project Partners for Responsible Travel.

The standard guide to client ratio on your trek is 1 lead guide and 1 assistant guide for every 2-4 clients, 1 cook, 2-3 special porters and an average of 4-6 porters per client. Therefore, the total recommended tipping amount per client for this trek ranges from $350-500, depending on the trekking package and total number of people in the trekking group.

To ensure fair and transparent tipping for each crew member, there will be a tipping ceremony at the Pristine Trails office following your descent from the mountain. Envelopes will be provided to divide your tips for each member of the crew.