Day 1: Arrival

Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro airport, you will be picked up by Brown Parrot safaris representative for transfer to your hotel in Moshi. Meet your climbing guide for briefing and final gear check. Stay overnight at the Sal Sanero hotel in Moshi.BB

Day 2; Londorossi Gate – Mti Mkubwa Camp

• Elevation: 7,700 feet to 9,500 feet
• Walking time: 3 to 4 hours
• Distance: 6 kilometers
• Habitat: rainforest

After breakfast we leave the lodge for the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. Getting to Londorossi Gate takes approximately 2 hours’ drive from Moshi and longer from Arusha. At the gate, you will register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities before getting back into vehicles to be transported to the starting point. During the wet season, the track can be very inaccessible to vehicles and you may need to walk the last few miles to the starting point. Most tour operators provide lunch at this point before starting the short trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters). Spotting large wildlife like elephant and buffalo is possible on this stretch of the mountain and you will likely be accompanied by an armed guide in case one of the big five gets too close for comfort! Dinner and overnight stay at Mti Mkubwa Camp.

Day 3; Mti Mkubwa – Shira 1 Camp

• Elevation: 9,500 feet to 11,500 feet
• Walking time: 5 to 6 hours
• Distance: 8 kilometers
• Habitat: Heath

Day two starts with a gradual hike through the final stretch of the rainforest zone and then gets steeper as you approach the low alpine moorland zone. The trek is a long one that stops briefly for lunch at Shira 1 Camp which is on the western edge of the Shira Plateau; just over 8km from your starting point. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing. Overnight at the Shira Camp.

Day 4; Shira 1 Camp – Shira 2 Camp

• Elevation: 11,500 feet to 13,800 feet
•  Walking time: 5 to 7 hours
•  Distance: 11 Kilometer
•  Habitat: Heath

We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth. Overnight at the Shira Camp.

Day 5; Shira 2 – Barranco Camp

• Elevation: 13,800 feet to 15,200 feet
• Walking time: 6 to 8 hours
• Distance: 10 kilometers
• Habitat: alpine desert.

We continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Day 6; Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

• Elevation: 13,000 feet to 13,100 feet
• Walking time: 4 to 5 hours
• Distance: 5 kilometers
• Habitat: alpine desert.

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Day 7; Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp

•  Elevation: 13,100 feet to 15,300 feet
•  Walking time: 4 to 5 hours
• Distance: 4 kilometers
• Habitat: alpine desert.

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Day 8; Barafu Camp – Summit – Mweka Hut

• Elevation: 15,300 feet to 19,300 feet
• Walking time: 6 to 8 hours
• Distance: 5 kilometers
• Habitat: alpine desert.

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 9; Mweka Camp – Moshi

•  Elevation: 10,000 feet to 5,400 feet
•  Walking time: 3 to 4 hours
•  Distance: 10 kilometers
•  Habitat: Rainforest.

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka to drive you back to your Hotel/ next destination depending on your own arrangement.

PRICE starts from USD 1,730 only per person.

Brown Parrot Safaris wishes you a safe journey and looks forward to welcoming you again in the future bring your family and friends next time!

NOTE;
Brown Parrot Safaris uses 7- and 22-seater mini buses as well as 4×4 custom-made safari vehicles for airport transfers and transport to and from the mountain. All are equipped with communication system VHS/BLU manned by professional English-speaking driver-guides.

Included in our vehicles:

• Cooler box/ Ice box
• Bottles of mineral water
• English speaking driver guide
• Guide Books

Assistance

• You will be guided and transported by our expert guides who speak fluent English and are very familiar with the Flora and Fauna, Culture and Geography of Tanzania.
• Our mountain climbing guides are very knowledgeable on altitude related sickness and are experienced in handling victims of the same on the mountain.
• Brown Parrot Safaris provides Gamow bags for climbers on request at a reasonable fee.
• Kilimanjaro National Park Rescue team has VHS communication system to convey messages to all stations on the mountain.
• Our guides use mobile phones to contact the offices throughout the climb.
• Regular porters are hired to carry the clients’ climbing gear and other supplies.
• Personal porters to carry clients’ daypacks can be hired on request at an extra fee.
• Chemical eco-friendly toilet provided as a complimentary service for groups of 4 persons and above.

• International and domestic flights
• Tanzanian visa fees
• Travel and medical insurance
• Tips for guides, porters, and cook (highly recommended)
• Personal trekking gear (clothing, boots, sleeping bags, etc.)
• Hotel accommodation before/after the climb (unless booked with us)
• Additional snacks, drinks, or meals outside of the trek
• Optional activities not part of the trekking itinerary