This itinerary adds the camp in the crater to the normal Lemosho Glades route. The trail reaches Barafu Camp at 15,300 feet (4,670 m), and from here we trek to the crater for an up-close experience with Kilimanjaro's dwindlingglaciers.This part of the experience sets this trek apart from any other. The Crater Camp is set in soft "beach" sand, and looking from the tent, trekkers can only see the vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler Glacier. The next morning, it's only 1.5 to 2 hours to the summit! All the trekking is done in daylight, and overall this trek is designed to get you closer to nature, and to experience Kilimanjaro in a way that so few others do. The long tekking days on days 4, 5 and 6 make this trek quite difficult, but generally more than adequate for acclimatization. The spectacular hike across the Shira Plateau and the beauty of camping at crater camp make this trek truly unique.
Itinerary (8 days / 7 nights on Kili):
Day 1
Briefing Your guides will meet you at your hotel in Arusha or Moshi for a detailed briefing of the climb. Accommodation: hotel in Arusha or Moshi (D)
Day 2
Transfer to Londorossi Gate - Morum Barrier Gategate - hike to Forest Camp (Mkubwa Camp) (2895 m) Departure from Arusha will be at around 7: 30am for Londorossi gate (ca. 4 hours) where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead (ca. 1 hr). Upon arrival at trailhead, eat lunch, then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp, only about 3-4 hours of trekking. Overnight at Departure from Arusha will be at around 7:30 am for Londorossi gate (ca. 4 hrs transfer), where you will complete the entry formalities. Then you continue by car to Morum Barrier Gate (ca. 1 hr). where you have lunch. Then you start trekking through heather and moorland to the first camp (ca. 1-2 hrs). The views over to Kibo across the Plateau are breathtaking.
Accommodation: Forest Camp (B, L, D)
Day 3
Forest camp - hike to Shira 1 camp (3505 m) Once out of the forest, take a steep track into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. Ascend through the lush rolling hills below the Shira plateau, finally reaching camp at the edge of the plateau, a day of 5-6 hours trekking. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing. Accommodation: Shira 1 camp (B, L, D)
Day 4
Shira 1 - Shira 2 (Fischer's) camp (3900 m) You have a full day to explore the Shira plateau, trekking slowly eastward towards Kibo's glaciered peak. The Shira plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth, averaging 12,500 ft. If you feel like, you could visit the ancient collapsed cone of Shira volcano (the oldest of Kilimanjaro's 3 volcanic centers). Total trekking time: ca. 3 hrs.
Accommodation: Shira 2 camp (B, L, D)
Day 5
Shira 2 - Barranco camp (3976 m) You proceed steadily upwards over vast rigdes to "Lava Tower" for lunch (ca. 4 hrs). Lava Tower, a 300 ft volcanic plug, marks an exposed pass at 15,000 ft. In the afternoon, you descend the steep trail into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set in a valley enclosed on 3 sides with the massive walls of the valley itself and the massif of Kibo. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above,- an eerie landscape known for its rare plants such as the Giant Groundsels (Seneciao Kilimanjari) and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Total trekking time: 6-7 hrs.
Accommodation: Barranco camp (B, L, D)
Day 6
Barranco camp - Barafu camp (4673 m) We trek for 3-4 hours and stop in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. Then, in the afternoon, the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we approach Barafu Camp. It's essential to eat and especially drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep.
Accommodation: Barafu camp (B, L, D)
Day 7
Barafu camp - Crater camp (5730 m) At around 5-6am you are woken up and you'll start the asend to the crater in daylight, well after most other groups have left (at midnight). The ascent to the edge of the crater at Stella Point at 18,870 ft (5750 m) will take about 5-6 hours, along a winding path of endless switchbacks. From here, there is a gently sloped trek of 30 min-1 hour across the lunar landscape of the inner crater to reach the Crater Camp. Our camp is set in soft sands near the retreating vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler glacier. Rest and enjoy snacks and hot drinks in the mess tent, then opt to explore the strange lunar landscape of the inner crater, to include a visit to Reusch Crater, the ash pit, and the glaciers. Only few that trek Kilimanjaro ever experience the summit zone in this way.
Accommodation: Crater camp (B, L, D)
Day 8
Crater camp - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - descend to Mweka camp (3068 m) Rise early to watch the sunrise from the summit, which will take about 1.5 hours from Crater Camp. After a short time at the summit, descend along the gently sloping crater rim to Stella Point, then descend back to Barafu Camp for lunch. In the afternoon continue the descent into the Heather Zone to Mweka Camp for the night. The trekking time from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp will be from 6-8 hours. Total trekking time is from 8-10 hours.
Accommodation: Mweka camp (B, L, D)
Day 9
Final descend - Transfer to Arusha It's an easy 2-3 hours trek through rain forest to go down the final parts of the trail back to the Mweka Gate. After receiving your certificates, lunch and saying goodby to many of your crew, we'll bring you to the KIA lodge, where you can use day rooms for a shower, change cloths etc. In the afternoon, return to Arusha (or Moshi).
Accommodation: hotel in Arusha or Moshi (B, L, D)
Second itinerary (8 days / 7 nights on Kili):
As an alternative to the above itinerary, you spend one additional day on the way up and do the descend in one day instead of two: you add one night in Karanga camp between Barranco and Barafu camp and you complete the descend from Crater camp to Mweka gate in one day:
Barranco camp - Karanga camp (3963 m) Early morning rise, you scramble up Barranco wall and trek counterclockwise around the mountain, up and down valleys through a stark landscape of tussock grasses and volcanic debris. After 4-5 hrs of trekking, you reach Karanga Valley and after 30 minutes ascending to the next ridge you reach your camp.
Accommodation: Karanga camp (B, L, D)
Day 7
Karanga camp - Barafu camp (4673 m) We trek for 4-5 hours uphill to to Barafu Camp. It's essential to eat and especially drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep because the next day will be the hardest one.
Accommodation: Barafu camp (B, L, D)
Day 8
Barafu camp - Crater camp (5730 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Crater camp or Barafu camp At around 5-6am you are woken up and you'll start the asend to the crater in daylight, well after most other groups have left (at midnight). The ascent to the edge of the crater at Stella Point at 18,870 ft (5750 m) will take about 5-6 hours, along a winding path of endless switchbacks. From here, there is a gently sloped trek of 30 min-1 hour across the lunar landscape of the inner crater to reach the Crater Camp. Our camp is set in soft sands near the retreating vertical ice walls of the Furtwangler glacier. Rest and enjoy snacks and hot drinks in the mess tent, then opt to explore the strange lunar landscape of the inner crater, to include a visit to Reusch Crater, the ash pit, and the glaciers. Only few that trek Kilimanjaro ever experience the summit zone in this way. Depending on circumstances, you'll spend the night in a light crater camp or descend back to Barafu camp (3-4 hrs).
Accommodation: Crater camp or Barafu camp (B, L, D)
Day 9
Complete descent off the mountain - Transfer to Arusha It's a long descend from the crater camp or Barafu camp to the Mweka Gate. Crater camp to Barafu camp: 3-4 hrs. Barafu camp to Mweka Gate: 5-8 hrs. After receiving your certificates, lunch and saying goodby to many of your crew, we'll bring you to the KIA lodge, where you can use day rooms for a shower, change cloths etc. In the afternoon, return to Arusha (or Moshi).
