Your safari to Kilimanjaro National Park will begin early in the morning soon after breakfast at 7:30 am. Today’s destination will be Machame Camp. It will take 2 hours to drive from Arusha to Machame gate. You will be served with parked lunch before you start your hike. Your adventure of 6 to 7 hours will commence soon after completing all the necessary paperwork at the gate. The ascent from Machame gate will take you through lush rainforest offering you a chance to see black and white colobus monkeys peeking through the leaves. Our destination for day 1 is Machame Camp. On arrival at the Camp, you will rest awaiting dinner in the evening. After dinner Genius Expedition Safaris guides will brief you about the following day’s hike before you retire to your tents for the day.

On day 2 Genius Kilimanjaro Climbing team will wake you up early in the morning and provide you with warm water to freshen up. You will be served breakfast after which the day’s hike will start aiming to reach the destination in 4 to 5 hours of hiking. The hike will take you to New Shira Camp. You will pass the moor and heath zone reaching New Shira Camp around mid-afternoon. At the Camp, you will have lunch and relax for the remainder of the day. You can enjoy great views of Kibo Peak from New Shira Camp at sunset. Dinner will be served in the evening to allow you time to retire to your tent for the night.

On day 3 you will walk from New Shira Camp to Lava Tower. It is a long and tough trek taking about 5 – 6 hours to complete. The route turns east into a semi-desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. On arrival at Lava Tower Genius Kilimanjaro Climbing team will be ready to serve you lunch before proceeding for another 2-hour walk to Barranco Camp. This is the most important day on your trek as it gives you a chance to hike high and sleep low which is important for proper acclimatization. By the time you arrive at Barranco Camp, our team will have set up the tents and prepared the camp for your comfort and rest. You will be served dinner and allowed to retire to your tents for the night.

On day 4, the hike is a short one. This day is meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, it is now time to conquer the Great Barranco Wall! At the top of the Wall, you will have a view of Heim Glacier and will be above the clouds. The trail then winds up and down in the Karanga Valley. The destination is Karanga Camp where you will spend the night. On arrival at the Camp, you will enjoy dinner and receive a briefing from the Genius Kilimanjaro Climbing team then retire for the night. At this Camp the view of Kibo is amazing. It looks so near that it feels like one can actually touch it!

After breakfast, you will begin your ascent. The trail intersects with the Mweka Route, which is the trail used to descend on the final two days. As you continue hiking for about 1 to 2 hours, you will reach Barafu Camp which is located on a rocky, exposed ridge. Tents will be exposed to wind and rocks. You will familiarize yourself with the campsite before it gets dark. In the early evening, you will have your dinner and rest before attempting the summit the same night. The Genius Kilimanjaro Climbing team will brief you in detail on how to prepare for the summit night.

At around midnight Genius Kilimanjaro Climbing team will wake you up with a warm cup of tea and biscuits to get you ready for your final ascent. Your headlamps, and moonlight on a lucky day, will be your only source of light as you make your way up to Stella Point at 5,730 meters above sea level, reaching the crater rim in about 5 to 7 hours. In another 1 to 2 hours will take you to Uhuru Peak where you can enjoy the sun rising over the roof of Africa. After capturing this incredible view and achievement on film, you will start your descent along the same route back to Barafu Camp. Our team will be waiting for you with some snacks and refreshments. You will rest in your tents before making your way to Mweka Camp for your last night on the highest mountain in Africa. Dinner will be served at Mweka Camp after which you will retire for the night.

Day 7 is your last day of this fantastic adventure with Genius Expedition Safaris. The day begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from our team. The descent will take 2 to 3 hours from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate at 1,630 meters above sea level. You will get the chance to sample Kilimanjaro beer in celebration of your achievement. You will also be awarded your certificates and sign out. You will then be driven to Arusha to your hotel/lodge.