Marangu Route

Your guide and mountain support team will arrive at your hotel in the morning to meet you and after a brief briefing you will be transferred by vehicle to Machame Gate (1800m) the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park.

After going through the simple process of getting a climbing permit and registering with the search and rescue service the group started the journey to Machame Camp (3010m). Since the trekking route is through tropical rainforests (places with a high chance of rain in the tropics) it is recommended to bring extra clothing as well as a raincoat.

Today will be your first day at this altitude so caution is advised. Follow the instructions from this point.

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Drink 4 liters of bottled water every day.
• Take Diamox tablets. It helps reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Most climbers take Diamox in the morning before starting the climb to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. If you have allergies you are advised to see a doctor before travelling.

You may experience discomfort associated with high altitude acclimatization at night. Due to the reduced breathing pattern the body receives less oxygen than during the day. Depending on the altitude you may feel nauseous or have a headache. Pay attention to your body and inform your guide if you start to experience symptoms of altitude sickness.

Change in Elevation:

• Machame Gate (1,800 m)
• Machame Camp (3,010 m)
• Hiking distance: 5 km
• Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours

After breakfast start the trek to Shira camp (3845m) the second high altitude camp. Today you will emerge from the rainforest and get your first glimpse of the stunning landscape of the Shira Plateau that lies before you.

Although it is not a very physically demanding trip you can feel the change in altitude so keep in mind that taking care of your body and choosing the right pace is very important for a good trip. Upon arrival at the camp after lunch and rest the group will move to the 300 meter acclimatization hike at the Lava Tower camp. After returning to Camp Shira a hot dinner will be served.

Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy ride that gains some altitude to speed up the acclimatization process. Climbing should be taken seriously for height adjustment. This will increase your chances of successfully climbing Kilimanjaro and help protect you from the effects of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Machame Camp to Shira Camp.

Change in Elevation:

• Machame Camp (3,010 m)
• Shira Camp (3,845 m)
• Hiking distance: 5 km
• Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours

Change in Elevation:

• Shira Camp (3,845 m)
• Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,120 m)
• Hiking distance: 2 km
• Hiking time: 1 to 2 hours

After breakfast you will depart from Shira Camp (3845m) and start the trek towards the highlight of the route: Lava Tower (4630m). This section of the trail has many ascents and descents ending at the camp at an altitude of over 4600m. It may be difficult and you may feel uncomfortable but you need to spend at least 1-2 hours to acclimatize to the altitude successfully so have lunch here.

Then you will descend to Barranco Camp (3960m). Here you will find the Barranco Walls famous for both their size and steepness! The next day you will climb it but dont worry: the route is very easy.

Note: If one or more participants are unwell the group may avoid passing the volcano tower and the new route may be adjusted to suit the route for the porters. In this case you will not reach the height of 4630 meters but only climb to a maximum height of 4400 meters.

Change in Elevation:

• Shira Camp (3,845 m)
• Lava Tower (4,630 m)
• Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
• Hiking distance: 11 km
• Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours

Wake up early have breakfast and start climbing the walls of Barranco. (It is advisable to leave camp early to avoid crowding with other groups.) Climbing the canyon wall is not difficult and only takes about an hour.

After the climb you can rest and take photos in front of Kibo Volcano. You will then begin a more difficult walk to Kalanga Camp with several climbs and descents. But dont worry our tour guides are experts in this field.

Choose the pace that works best for your team. Hot lunch will be provided on arrival at camp. In a few hours you will complete the climb to Barafu Camp (4640 m) where you will enjoy a hot dinner. It is best to rest and sleep the whole day before climbing the summit in the evening.

Change in Elevation:

• Barranco Camp (3,960 m)
• Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
• Hiking distance: 11 km
• Hiking time: 8 to 10 hours

Depart Barafu Camp (4640m) overnight and drive to the summit of Kilimanjaro: Uhuru Peak (5895m). Now the art of ascension is essentially simple; But the hardest part is the height. Each climbing pair will receive a personal climbing guide to monitor your mental and physical condition.

After successfully climbing Uhuru Peak you can descend to the nearest glacier if you wish. Then return to Barafu Camp rest for 2 hours and descent to Millennium Camp (3820m).

Note: Don’t forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including all broken arms and legs.Please take care of your feet as the nails are more prone to injury.

Change in Elevation:

• Barafu Camp (4,640 m)
• Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)
• Millennium Camp (3,820 m)
• Hiking distance: 15 km
• Hiking time: 8 to 12 hours

The camp is located in a tropical rain forest. When you wake up you will feel the relief of the altitude loss and the satisfaction of reaching the top. After a hot breakfast you exit the park to Mweka Gate (1650m).

After you descend the whole group gathers to congratulate you after which you have the opportunity to share your thoughts about the climb in the guest book. Finally we will give you your souvenir in our office and return you to the hotel.

Change in Elevation:

• Millennium Camp (3,820 m)
• Mweka Gate (1,650 m)
• Hiking distance: 12 km
• Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours