Kilimanjaro via Lemosho

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where we meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Check in and check your equipment. In the evening, we have a briefing and a welcome dinner with the team.

Transfer to the entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park at Londorossi Gate (2,250 m), trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m), and make an acclimatisation walk to 3,000 m. After breakfast, we check out of the hotel, hand over our porter duffel bags (15 kg per person), and set off on the approximately 3–4-hour drive to Londorossi Gate, the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park at 2,250 m. Once the paperwork is done, the walking part of our journey begins. The walk from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp takes around 3–4 hours and covers 6 kilometres. The camp is at 2,650 m.

Trek from Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m) to Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m). We get up early, pack, have breakfast, and set off. Ahead of us is a walk of around eight kilometres across the Shira Plateau. We gain altitude very gradually. In good weather, we will see Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central and highest volcanic cone. Kibo is home to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro and in Africa. After 5–6 hours of trekking, we reach Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m), settle into our tents, have lunch, and spend the rest of the day resting, chatting, and exploring the surrounding area. Briefing and dinner in the evening.

Trek from Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m) to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m). A scenic walk across the heather-covered plateau awaits us, with a modest, gradual gain in altitude. If the weather is good, we will add a climb of Cathedral Peak, which stands at 3,872 m. On arrival at Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m), we settle into our tents and have lunch. Afterwards, we may walk a little higher. Briefing and dinner in the evening.

Trek from Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m) to Barranco Camp (3,900 m) via Lava Tower (4,623 m). During the first half of the day, we climb gradually to the camp at 4,623 metres beneath the Lava Tower rock formation. The ascent from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower Camp takes around 4–5 hours. We have lunch here and spend some time, at least an hour, acclimatising. After lunch, we begin the descent to Barranco Camp (3,900 m), with views of the Barranco Wall. We settle into our tents and rest. Briefing and dinner in the evening.

Trek from Barranco Camp (3,900 m) to Karanga Camp (3,990 m). An early start. After packing and breakfast, we set off. The main obstacle today, and the most interesting part, is the Barranco Wall. It looks huge and sheer, but do not be alarmed: there is a good walking trail with a few easy climbing moves, the sort of thing we call scrambling. Still, when we reach the foot of the wall, I recommend putting away your trekking poles so that both hands stay free until we have climbed the wall and reached the shoulder at 4,200 m. We stop here for a rest and some tea, then take out our poles again and continue to Karanga Camp. From here, descents alternate with climbs, and barren landscapes give way to green heather groves. A little note from me: many people worry about the Barranco Wall, but in my experience this turns out to be everyone’s favourite day of the trip. Apart from the summit climb itself, the wall is the most interesting and memorable part. Do not worry. Get ready to enjoy yourself. It really is a brilliant day! We have lunch at Karanga Camp. Afterwards, if we have the energy, we take a short walk with another 200 metres of ascent. Briefing and dinner in the evening. And yes, the sunsets here are usually beautiful!

Trek from Karanga Camp (3,990 m) to Barafu, our main summit base camp (4,666 m). After reaching summit base camp, I usually ask for just a good, hearty lunch and skip dinner so as not to interrupt our rest and sleep. We set off for the summit during the night, so getting proper rest beforehand is very important. This is an individual choice: three meals a day are included, and dinner is available to anyone who wants it.

Climb from Barafu Camp (4,666 m) to the summit of Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), then descend to Millennium Camp (3,950 m). The high point of our journey, and its longest and most demanding day! But this is the day all our previous steps have been leading towards. We get up at 23:00, have breakfast, and set off at midnight. A challenging climb takes us from summit base camp to the crater up a fairly steep slope, with the zigzags of the trail easing the gradient somewhat. You may often read that Kilimanjaro is an easy mountain, but do not underestimate it: reaching the summit requires good fitness and responsible, disciplined preparation before the trip. The ascent from base camp to the crater rim at Stella Point, at 5,744 m, usually takes 6–7 hours. From Stella Point, there is not far to go: around another hour to an hour and a half of walking with a gentle ascent. We will spend some time on the summit, take photographs, and enjoy the feelings and the views. But it is too early to relax. The descent still lies ahead, and it is just as demanding as the ascent, or even harder for some people. We descend to Barafu Camp, have lunch, pack our things, and continue down to Millennium Camp. Millennium is back in the green heather zone, at 3,950 m. We will arrive very tired, perhaps even exhausted, but incredibly pleased with ourselves. I will not give away any spoilers. You will understand when you get there. Despite the tiredness, we stick to our routine and hold a briefing before dinner, because the journey is not over yet. We eat, then head to our tents. There is another day of walking tomorrow.

Descend from Millennium Camp (3,950 m) to Mweka Gate (1,640 m), the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park. We descend along a steep trail through the forest, rocky at first and then earthy. I have seen blue monkeys and colobus monkeys here many times, and once I was even lucky enough to see a duiker. So, however tired we are, we stay focused and pay attention. Even if we are not rewarded with an animal sighting, we will at least be rewarded by avoiding an unpleasant fall. At Mweka Gate, we have lunch and even begin to celebrate our climb a little, as from this point our fate is in the hands of our transfer driver. We return to the hotel, where a celebration dinner awaits after check-in and a long-awaited shower.

Fly home. Or, if you wish, extend your journey with a visit to Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and/or other places where you can get to know the African wildlife we have watched in nature programmes since childhood. After the programme, you can independently arrange a trip to Zanzibar to relax on the beach and swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. This stay is not included in the programme and is not organised by Sauvage Adventure.