Itinerari - kiliskysafaris.com

Duration of stay 7 days / 6 nights (including one acclimatization day)

Period All year except March, April, May

Ideal for those who want to explore this legendary mountain more calmly, discover the Afro-Alpine flora and conquer a relatively accessible 5000.

Where you will go Roof of Africa, this mighty volcano, which has been inactive for millennia, constitutes a very important ecosystem, precious for the richness of fresh water, for the variety of local flora and fauna and for the fertility of its slopes. Kilimanjaro has three well-defined peaks and some craters and volcanic cones. The highest is Kibo, on the western edge, and its summit is Uhuru Peak (5895 m). To the east is Mawenzi Peak (5149 m) and on the western side is the oldest peak, Shira, with its 3962 m.

Day 1. Moshi - Machame (3050 m)

Our Kilimanjaro trekking via Machame starts at the Machame gate (1828 m), from which we will leave after the formalities for about 7 hours of walking to the Machame refuge (3050 m). We will cross coffee plantations, the spectacular equatorial forest, rich in humidity, with tall trees such as Macaranga kilimandscharica, Mitragyna rubrostipulata and Schimperian Albizia, ferns and orchids of rare beauty, to reach where the forest thins out in junipers and olive trees.

Day 2. Machame - Shira (3840 m)

The path will cross the moorland, which covers the mountain up to 4000 m, dominated by many species of flowers and two plants that, standing out on the turf, will certainly attract your attention the Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari and the Lobelia deckenii. The ascent will last about 5 hours during which you can take advantage of the superb view of the Shira plateau, the savannah and Mount Meru. We will spend the night near the Shira Hut (3840 m).

Day 3. Shira - Barranco (3950 m)

We are now above the dense blanket of clouds that perpetually covers the mountain and the panorama is breathtaking: about 6 hours of gentle ascent to reach the Barranco Hut (3950 m).

Day 4. Barranco (3950 m)

Full day of acclimatization to altitude, rest and walks in the surroundings. Plant life is now limited to some herbaceous species with developed adaptability such as moss and lichen: we have reached the high altitude desert.

Day 5. Barranco - Barafu (4600 m)

7 hours of ascent through lava rocks to reach Barafu Hut (4600 m). By now oxygen is running low.

Day 6. Barafu- Uhuru Peack (5896 m) - Mweka

A long day of walking will begin at 1 am (the lava stone is easier to walk when it is frozen) to reach Steela point (5735 m) at 7 in time for the sunrise on the Mawenzi. Now the final ascent will take you in 2 hours (round trip) of slow zig zag to Uhuru Peak (5896 m), you have reached the roof of Africa! From the summit you can admire the impressive walls of the great northern and southern glaciers and the interior of the crater. Descent (much easier than the ascent) to the Mweka Hut refuge (to avoid staying at high altitude for a long time).