Roof of Africa Expedition

Altitude: 1,800 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 6 hours

Your day begins early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame Park Gate. At the gate, you'll receive a packed lunch, and we recommend purchasing bottled water at Springlands Hotel in Moshi. After registering at the gate office, you'll start your climb by entering the rainforest.

Be prepared for potential rain in the forest, which can make the trail quite wet, muddy, and slippery. In the evening, the porters will boil water for drinking and washing, while the cook prepares dinner before you settle into your tent for the night. Temperatures at Machame camp can drop to freezing.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 3,840 m

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours

You wake up early at Machame camp, and after having breakfast, you embark on a climb that lasts about an hour to reach the forest's edge. From there, you'll encounter a gentler slope as you trek the moorland zone for another two hours.

Following a brief lunch and rest, you will continue your ascent along a rocky ridge leading to the Shira plateau. At this point, you'll have a view to the east of the Western Breach and its breathtaking glaciers.

You will find yourself directly west of Kibo, and after a short hike, you'll arrive at the Shira camp at an altitude of 3,840 meters. The porters will prepare boiling water for drinking and washing before serving dinner. Expect the night at this exposed campsite to be even colder than the previous one, with temperatures dropping well below freezing.

Altitude: 3,840 m – 3,940 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 7–8 hours

The path now heads east, leading you through a semi-desert and rocky terrain surrounding Lava Tower, where you'll reach an elevation of 4630m after approximately five hours of hiking. Lunch will be provided in a designated spot before you continue your ascent up the rocky scree to Lava Tower (4600m). This day is expected to be the most challenging so far. At this stage, many climbers may begin to experience symptoms such as breathlessness, irritability, and headaches.

Following lunch, you'll descend nearly 680m to the Barranco camping area. After reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the real benefits of acclimatization for this day become apparent. The descent to Barranco camp takes about two hours, offering excellent opportunities for stunning photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall.

The camp is located in a valley beneath the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, providing a picturesque sunset as you wait for dinner to be prepared and settle in for the night at Barranco camp.

Altitude: 3,940 m – 4,035 m

Hiking distance: 6 km

Hiking time: 4–5 hours

Following breakfast, we depart from Barranco camp and begin our ascent of Barranco Wall, a climb that lasts roughly an hour. From there, we proceed to Karanga camp, known as 'Peanut camp.' The trail features a mix of ups and downs, providing a great opportunity to appreciate your afternoon hike while acclimatizing to the new environment.

Altitude: 4,035 m – 4,670 m

Hiking distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 3–4 hours

Completely exposed to the constant winds, the tents are set up on a narrow, rocky, and precarious ridge. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the landscape before nightfall to prevent any accidents. The summit is still 1345m above you, and you will begin your final ascent later that night. Get your gear, ski poles, and thermal clothing ready for the climb. This includes replacing the batteries in your headlamp and camera - ensure you have an extra set on hand! To avoid freezing, it’s advisable to carry your water in a thermal flask.

Try to go to bed around 19:00 and get some much-needed rest, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t sleep for more than 5 hours.

Altitude: 4,670 m – 5, 895 m – 3,100 m

Hiking distance: 17 km

Hiking time: 15+ hours

You will wake up around 11:30 PM, and after enjoying some tea and biscuits, you’ll set off into the night. You’ll travel northwest and climb through the rocky terrain towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers, this 6-hour trek to Stella Point is the most mentally and physically demanding part of the journey.

Once you reach Stella Point (5685m), you’ll take a brief break and be treated to an incredible sunrise, if the weather is favorable. From Stella Point, you’ll typically encounter snow during your 2-hour climb to Uhuru Peak. The amount of time you spend at the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Be cautious not to linger too long, as it can be very hard to resume your ascent due to cold and exhaustion.

Savor your achievement and create a memory that will last a lifetime! The return walk to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. There, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved but brief rest before gathering your remaining gear and heading down to Mweka camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Altitude: 3,100 m – 1,800 m

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, you'll head from the Mweka Gate down to Mweka village, which typically involves a muddy hour-long walk. Once in Mweka village, you'll be transported to Springlands Hotel, where you can enjoy a delicious hot lunch and finally take a well-deserved hot shower. You'll spend the night at Springlands Hotel in Moshi.

At the end of your trip, tips are encouraged and greatly appreciated. You can give tips to your guide at Springlands Hotel or to our local representatives. This is also where climbers who were successful in their ascent receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point (5,685m) will receive green certificates, while those who made it to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) will be awarded gold certificates.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.