Day 1: Depart UK for Tanzania (Kilimanjaro airport)
Day 2: On arrival at Kilimanjaro, private transfer to Ndarakwai (West Kilimanjaro), overnight in a simple camp with shared toilets and showers.
Day 3: After breakfast, a morning game drive in Ndarakwai ranch. Lunch at camp. Afternoon guided walk from camp, into the bush with an armed ranger. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: This morning after breakfast you will embark on another morning game drive combined with a visit to the local primary school. After the visit you can enjoy a hike with armed ranger (with picnic lunch boxes). Return to camp in the late afternoon. Afternoon climb briefing in camp.
Day 5: LEMOSHO TRAILHEAD (7,800 ft./ 2,375 m) ~ FOREST CAMP (9,500 ft./ 2,895 m) After breakfast you will be driven to Landrossi gate (1 hour drive) where you will clear formalities and meet your porters. Then you begin on the Lemosho Glades trailhead and 3-4 hours of trekking to forest camp.
Day 6: FOREST CAMP ~ SHIRA 1 CAMP (12,200 ft./ 3,720 m) Ascend through the hills below the Shira plateau, finally reaching camp at the edge of the plateau, a day of 5-6 hours trekking.
Day 7: SHIRA 1 CAMP ~ SHIRA 2 CAMP (12,600 ft./ 3,950 m) A full day exploration of the Shira plateau; Trek east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, with the option to visit the ancient collapsed volcanic cone. Arrive at Shira 2 camp (Fischers’s Camp). Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth, averaging 12,500 feet. Trekking time without the optional excursions is about 3 hours.
Day 8: SHIRA 2 CAMP ~ BARRANCO CAMP (12,950 ft./ 3,950 mt) Proceed steadily upward over expansive ridgelines of high desert to Lava Tower, stop for lunch. The trek is about 4 hours. In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Trekking time is 6-7 hours.
Day 9: BARRANCO CAMP ~ KARANGA CAMP (13,100 ft./ 3,995 m) This short trekking day to reach Karanga Valley Camp. We reach the Karanga Valley after 3-4 hours of trekking to find a hot lunch served at camp. The afternoon can be taken to relax or take excursions from camp.
Day 10: BARRANCO CAMP ~ BARAFU CAMP (15,200 ft./ 4,630 m) From here the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp 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. The trekking time is 4-5 hours. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring early to your tent for rest and sleep.
Day 11: BARAFU CAMP ~ UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft./ 5,895 m) ~ MWEKA CAMP (10,200 ft./ 3,110 m) A midnight wake-up call is the start 12-17 hours of trekking. Begin trekking at 1am for a dawn summit. After about 6 hours of walking, reach Stella Point, at 19,000 feet (5,790 m) on the crater rim is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak. The strength it takes to ascend this final 340 feet is for many monumental. After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest, then summon your strength again for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night.
Day 12: MWEKA CAMP ~ MWEKA GATE (6,000 ft. /1,830 m) Descend straight to the gate (2-3 hours), where you’ll have lunch. You will then continue to Arusha where you will have a day room at Kia Lodge. Dinner is not included but the transfer to the airport for your late departure is.
Day 13: Arrive in the UK