DAY 1
After breakfast drive from Moshi town 1 hour to Machame gate at 1800 m for registration and payment. Then hike through Montane Forest for 5 hours to Machame Hut at 3100 m. Stay overnight.
DAY 2
This day is spent climbing the ridge through heather then moor land heading to the west for 4-5 hours to Shira Cave Hut at 3800 m. Spectacular views of Shira Cathedral, Mount Meru and Kibo Peak. Before dinner, you can have a short walk 0.5 hour for more acclimatization 50 m up, and then back to the camp for dinner. This depends on time and weather. Stay overnight.
DAY 3
After breakfast hike through moorland then Alpine Desert heading Kibo peak for 4 hours to Lava Tower Camp at 4600 m. This altitude is the same as base camp. The reason is to expose you to higher altitude for more acclimatization. Then go down south back to Moorland for another 2 hours to Barranco Hut at 3900 m. Spectacular views: Western Breach, Summit, Lava Tower, Breach Wall and Barranco Wall. Stay overnight.
DAY 4
After breakfast climb Barranco wall for 1.5-2 hours to the top of the wall at 4200 m. Then go down and up gradually crossing Karanga Valley for another 2 hours to Karanga Camp for hot lunch at 4000 m. After lunch hike through the Alpine Desert for another 3-4 hours Barafu Hut at 4600 m. Spectacular views: Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak. This is the base camp where you will have hot lunch. The remaining time is used for rest and preparation for summit ascent.
DAY 5
In the middle of night after tea and biscuits, climb to the summit for 5-6 hours to the rim Stella Point at 5700 m. Then continue climbing along the rim’s edge for 1 hour to the Summit at 5895 m. Here is Uhuru Peak the Roof of Africa. There are spectacular views of Glaciers, Crater, Ash Cone, Sunrise and Mawenzi Peak. After taking pictures, go down back to Barafu Camp for 3 hours and rest. After hot lunch you continue going down for another 2 hours to High Camp at 3950 m in moorland. The guide will advise you whether to skip or stay at this camp after observing you on the way from the summit. Skipping this camp will take you another 2-3 hours down to Mweka Hut at 3100 m. If you decide to stay it will take you 5-6 hours to Mweka gate on day 6.
DAY 6
After breakfast you hike down through Montane Forest for 3 hours to Mweka gate at 1600 m. Here at the gate you sign out and then drive back to Moshi town for 30 minutes.
