DAY 1 – LEMOSHO FOREST

START – 6,890FT / 2100M

END – 8,695FT / 2650M

DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM

TIME – 4-6 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today's hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.

DAY 2 – SHIRA 1

START – 8,695FT / 2650M

END – 11,844FT / 3610M

DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM

TIME – 5-7 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira 1 Camp and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising to the new environment.

DAY 3 – MOIR CAMP

START – 11,844FT / 3610M

END – 13,780FT / 4200M

DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM

TIME – 4-5 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

Crossing the Shira plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning we hike for around 4-5 hours to Moir Camp, where lunch is taken. The afternoon is spent acclimatising and for those with the energy a hike in the late afternoon up to a viewpoint is highly recommended to keep the blood flowing.

DAY 4 – POFU CAMP

START – 13,780FT / 4200M

END – 13,232FT / 4033M

DISTANCE - 8 MILES / 12KM

TIME – 6-8 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

The route today diverges from the traditional western routes and heads north, curving clockwise around the Kibo Massif. Here, for the time being at least, there are relatively few other groups. You hike through the alpine desert skirting the edge of the heath zone to Pofu Camp. Most groups arrive for lunch and then take an afternoon acclimatisation hike.

DAY 5 – CAVE 3 CAMP

START – 12,232FT / 4033M

END – 12,468FT / 3800M

DISTANCE – 5 MILES / 8KM

TIME – 6-8 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

From Pofu you hike a ridge and continue around the northern side of the Kibo Massif to Cave 3, still skirting the edge of the heath zone. Once at Cave 3 there is time to rest and a short acclimatisation walk in the late afternoon.

DAY 6 - SCHOOL HUT

START – 12,468FT / 3800M

END – 15,749FT / 4800M

DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM

TIME – 4-6 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT

From Cave 3 you continue around the north eastern flanks of Kibo until you arrive at School Hut in time to check through your gear for the summit bid. After an early dinner you retire for some sleep before setting off for the summit bid.

DAY 7 – CRATER CAMP

START – 15,749FT / 4800M

END – 18,865FT / 5750M

DISTANCE – 5 MILES / 8KM

TIME – 8-12 HRS

CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT, ARCTIC

You will awake before dawn to start your summit attempt, meandering up the switch backs to Gilman’s Point before hiking around the edge of the caldera to Uhuru Peak – The Roof of Africa! After pictures are taken and the views enjoyed, you will head to Crater Camp inside the volcano.

DAY 8 – MWEKA

START – 18,865FT / 5750M

END – 10,171FT / 3100M

DISTANCE – 9 MILES / 15KM

TIME – 9-11 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – ARCTIC, ALPINE DESERT, HEATH, AFROMONTANE FOREST

See the famous Ash Pit during a morning hike to Reusch Crater, or summit for a second time as the sun rises. Afterwards, you make your way down via Barafu Camp and keep going through the alpine desert and heath and moorland all the way to Mweka Camp nestled on the edge of the Afromontane forest, where you will spend your final night on the mountain.

DAY 9 – ARUSHA

START – 10,171FT / 3100M

END – 5,381FT / 1640M

DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM

TIME – 3-4 HRS

CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

After breakfast you descend once again through Afromontane forest and around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower!