Day 1 Shira Gate (1830m) - Shira camp 2 (3840m)
Hiking time: 5-7h
Habitat: Montane forest
Register at Londrosi gate and continue driving up to Moram (11,800ft/3,600m), the trek starts on the Shira plateau for a flat and short hike to Shira 1 Camp (11,800ft/3,600m). Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.
Day 2 Shira 2 camp (3840m) – Lava Tower(4630m) – Baranco camp (3976m)
Hiking time: 6.5h
Habitat: semi desert
After breakfast, leave Shira behind and head up towards the Lava Tower(15,190ft/4,630m) where we will have lunch before descending into the Barranco Valley(13,045ft/3,976m) for camp. Enjoy the amazing sunset on Kibo and the Great Barranco Wall.
Day 3 Baranco Camp(3976m) – Karanga camp (4200m)
Hiking time: 4h
Distance: Approximately 7 kms
Habitat: Alphine desert
After breakfast, leave Barranco camp and scramble up the spectacular Barranco Wall.
Once over the wall, it is an undulating walk to Karanga Camp. Enjoy the views of Kibo above and the plains below, from this point you can see Moshi Town far below.
Day 4 Karanga Camp (4200m) - Barafu camp (4673m)
Hiking time: 7.5h
Distance: Approximately 13kms
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast head upwards towards the final camp at Barafu(15,330ft/4,673m). This day is steep but short and you will have a hot lunch. Enjoy the short day, as you will wake around 11 pm to leave for the summit. Mawenzi dominates the view from Barafu.
Day 5 – the big day (Summit Day)
Barafu camp (4673m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3068m)
Hiking time: 8h to reach Uhuru Peak, 7 - 8h to descend to Mweka
Distance: Approximately 7 kms ascent and 23 kms descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Wake at 11pm to get ready for summit attempt. Hike upwards on very steep trail in the dark, reaching Stella point(18,958ft/5,745m) after ~6hrs at dawn. Continue on the more gradual incline to Uhuru Peak (19,341ft/5,895m), 1hr from Stella point. After pictures and congratulations, head back down to Barafu for 2-3 hrs rest and lunch before continuing down to Mweka camp (10,065ft/3,068m).
Day 6 Mweka camp (3068m) - Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3h
Distance: Approximately 15 kms.
Habitat: Forest
Final day on the mountain, head from Mweka Camp down through the forest to Mweka gate(5,380ft/1,640m) for certificates. Congratulations, you made it! Duration 2-3hrs. You now drive back to Moshi/Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!