One hour’s drive from Moshi to Machame gate, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters, and start to climb. The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rainforest. This path is less well-trodden, so it can get somewhat overgrown in places, and it is often wet and muddy underfoot.

• Elevation: 1790m to 3010m
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Habitat: Rainforest

Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.

• Elevation: 3010m to 3845m
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Habitat: Moorland

Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach, and finally reach camp. The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.

• Elevation: 3845m to 3960m
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• Habitat: High Moorland

Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu Camp.

• Elevation: 3960m to 4640m
• Hiking Time: 7-9 hours
• Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on the scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

• Elevation: 4640m to 5895m (then down to 3790m)
• Hiking Time: 11-14 hours
• Distance: 17 km (10.5 miles)
• Difficulty: Very Difficult
• Habitat: Arctic Summit and Alpine Desert

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome hot shower.

• Elevation: 3790m to 1630m
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Habitat: Rainforest

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi or Arusha town and grab some gift shops before heading to the airport.

Safari, Cycling Adventures and other add-on are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania