Itinerary

• Day One

  Arrive at the Outpost Lodge in Arusha, in the shadow of Mount Meru, to meet with the rest of your group at the comprehensive climb briefing.

• Day Two

  Departure from Arusha at around 8am for the Machame Gate. Upon completion of entry formalities, begin walking through the mist for about an hour into the forest. The track ends, and the trail continues up through the verdant forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above and see monkeys in the trees. It’s 20km and around 6 hours to the first camp, Machame, sitting at 3000m just inside the heather zone.

• Day Three

  Wake early to a steaming cup of tea or coffee served in your tent. After breakfast, begin up the steep track up through a savannah of tall grasses and trees of giant heather. The clouds should clear for a beautiful view of the Western Breach and the glaciers atop which mark the summit of Uhuru Peak. Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by the bizarre lobelia plants and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. 4-5 hours of trekking brings you to Shira Camp at 3950m.

• Day Four

  Proceed steadily upward over long ridgelines of high desert for about 4 hours, breaking for lunch at 4420m. Then continue to Lava Tower, a huge volcanic plug, then descend a steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a col at 3950m, enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels. Trekking time today is around 6 to 7 hours.

• Day Five

  The day begins with a scramble up the steep ‘Barranco Wall’, trekking 3 to 4 hours before stopping in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. In the afternoon the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature grows colder and the landscape sparser as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp, at 4630m, is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep.

• Day Six

  A midnight wake-up call is the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hours of trekking). The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, down to as low as -23°C before dawn at the summit. The winding path of endless switchbacks will take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers at early dawn. After about 6 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater, at Stella Point, at 5,790m, which is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope upward for an hour to Uhuru Peak. After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest and a further descent to Mweka Camp for the night down at 3310m.

• Day Seven

  A 2-3 hour walk takes you back to the park gate for lunch, climbing certificates and a transfer back to Arusha.