We will check in at Umbwe Park Gate before beginning our hike. The narrow, twisting trail takes us up through the rainforest and alongside the Umbwe river. Our first night's campsite is at Umbwe Cave Camp.
Elevation : 1600m to 2900m
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Distance: 11km

We depart from camp and soon the forest comes to an end. The imposing wall of the Western Breach comes into view intermittently as the afternoon mists rise up the Great Barranco. Tonight, we will set up camp at Barranco Camp
Elevation : 2940m to 3970m
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Distance: 6 km

Today begins with a brief yet enjoyable scramble to the summit of the Great Barranco Wall. We then cross the scree slopes to the Karanga Valley, located below the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers. We will spend the night at Karanga campsite
Elevation: 3,976 m to 3,995 m
Hiking Time: 4 -5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Distance: 6 km

We depart from Karanga and reach the junction that intersects with the Mweka Trail. We then proceed up the rocky path to Barafu Hut. At this stage, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which provides views of the summit from various angles. Here, we set up camp, rest, and have an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. From this spot, you can see the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo
Elevation (m): 3930m to 4670m
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Distance: 7km

In the early hours of the morning (around midnight), we begin our final ascent to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically demanding part of the trek. The wind and cold at this altitude and time of day can be intense. We climb in the dark for several hours, taking frequent but brief breaks. As we approach Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with an unforgettable sunrise over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and in all of Africa.
From the summit, we begin our descent straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be tough on the knees; trekking poles are recommended. Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest, where mist or rain is common in the late afternoon. In the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-deserved rest
Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m)
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic/Rain Forest
Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent

On our final day, we continue our descent to Mweka Gate, where we will collect our summit certificates. At lower elevations, the trail may be wet and muddy. From the gate, we hike for another hour to reach Mweka Village. A vehicle will be waiting for us at Mweka Village to take us back to our hotel in Moshi.
Elevation: 3,068 m to 1,640 m
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest