Trek to the Summit of Africa's Highest Peak
Kilimanjaro Private Journey
Important Note: Wilderness Travel does not summit Kili from Barafu (15,311'), as most other companies do! The bleak and crowded Barafu campsite is packed tent-to-tent with climbers who begin their 9-hour summit day at midnight, climbing through the dark on a crowded path. Our Northern Circuit Route avoids this by camping at Crater Camp (18,800'), beside the spectacular glaciers at Kili's crater rim, making our summit climb short—just 541 feet!
SAFARI EXTENSION DISCOUNT
$500 off per person when you add a Safari Extension to your Kilimanjaro Climb
Special offers cannot be combined with other discounts
Overview
We’ve perfected the climb to the celebrated “snows of Kilimanjaro” on the stunning Northern Circuit Route, a breathtaking trail on Kili’s little-traveled northern flanks, and it makes a fantastic Private Journey to celebrate with family or friends. With seven days on the ascent for maximum altitude acclimatization, your group will have the best chance of peak success—plus just a short climb to the summit to view the sunrise (not the grueling 9-hour climb in the dark required on other routes!). On our route, your group will also have the opportunity to hike right to the rim of Kili’s astonishing inner crater, a surreal moonscape. Our camps have the finest amenities on the mountain, and for extra security we always carry oxygen and a Gamow bag. Our legendary, highly skilled guides and crew bring experience, camaraderie, and fun to your climb. Have it your way—with your own group and your own trip dates!
Arrive: Arusha, Tanzania
Depart: Arusha, Tanzania
Highlights
- Climb the best route to the summit of Africa's highest mountain!
- Uncrowded trails, Kili's five ecozones, vital extra days for acclimatization
- Sunrise on the summit of Africa, camp by the glaciers on Kili's crater rim
- Led by the most experienced guides on the mountain
- Best camp amenities for your comfort, safety, and nourishment on the climb
- We insure and outfit our porters
Itinerary
Two nights at our private camp at 6,500 feet on Mt. Meru in Arusha National Park aid in your acclimatization, with warm-up hikes to look for bushbuck, giraffe, and black-and-white colobus monkey.
Meeting our porters and trail guides at 7,400 feet, we hike through lush montane forests and keep an eye out for a colorful array of birdlife and evidence of forest elephant. Ascending through the giant heath zone where Kili's ancient lava flows are still visible, we move up to our Shira Ridge Camp (11,450'), with its dramatic view of Kilimanjaro's glaciers that climbers on other routes never see. We continue to Moir Camp at 13,640 feet.
Traversing to Pofu Camp (13,200'), our panoramas stretch across the West Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park plains, home to the well-known elephant population long studied by Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole. Reaching the lunar-like alpine zone, we ascend from Third Cave (13,000') to School Camp (15,600')—just 3,000 feet below the summit! Higher up at Crater Camp (18,800'), with its extraordinary setting near the Furtwangler Glacier, we can hike right to the rim of Kili's astonishing inner crater, a surreal moonscape. The next day, our two-hour climb from Crater Camp is short, bringing us to Uhuru Peak (19,341'), Kili's true summit and the roof of Africa. We'll be on the summit for sunrise, with magnificent views of the vast African plains before the daytime clouds arrive. A descent along the Mweka Route brings us back to our lodge for a well-deserved hot shower and victory celebration. Depart in the evening of Day 11 via Arusha, or join our post-climb safari or other extensions.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 6+ (Very Strenuous) according to our trip grading system, our most strenuous rating. There are no alternative hiking options available. Despite the fact that the Kilimanjaro climb doesn't require climbing equipment or technical skills, it is extremely challenging and considered a real physical test. All trip members must be in excellent shape—both physically and mentally!
Challenge Days
- Day 9 - 7-9 hours, 2 miles, 2,500 feet ascent/descent
- Day 10 - 8-10 hours, 8 miles, 500 feet ascent, 9,200 feet descent
How Tough is This Trip?
You need to be able to hike on steep, uneven surfaces and over loose scree. You must feel comfortable and confident on your feet for an average of 8 hours a day, with recent experience hiking 10 miles in a day. There are dangers inherent in any expedition to high altitude—in this case, 19,340 feet, with an overnight at 18,500 feet.
Trail conditions, weather and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times. Normally, some trip members hike faster than others. Our climbing groups are accompanied by highly experienced Kilimanjaro mountain guides in addition to the Wilderness Travel Trip Leader so that we can divide into smaller groups, each hiking at their own pace and each with its own guide.
You will be hiking through a variety of different terrain along your ascent and descent. From forested areas with low angle dirt trails, into loose lava flows and valleys, all the way up to steep volcanic scree. In general, the trail is a tight footpath, rocky underfoot, winding its way across lava flows and exposed ridges. As you gain elevation, the mountain becomes steeper and the footing becomes looser. Compounded by the high elevation, these last days cover less ground but are the most physically demanding.
Along this trek, dangers include everything from rock falls to the possibility of a serious fall, accident, or sickness without access to a means of rapid evacuation, adequate medical supplies, or adequate medical attention once provided. Although we carry oxygen and Gamow bags on every climb, it is important that all participants understand that the climb is very challenging. Our Trip Leaders and crew are experienced veterans of the mountain, but it takes cooperation and flexibility from each participant to ensure a successful ascent.
Every participant must understand that this trek is truly challenging — you should be in excellent physical condition. Even though trip members carry only a daypack (with camera, jacket, rain gear, water bottle, and other small necessities you may need during the day), we recommend you make a special effort to get in top physical shape for the trip by hiking, running, swimming, bicycling, or engaging in other forms of aerobic exercise well beyond your normal routine. Many activities get heart and lungs into shape, but the most effective way of getting fit for hiking is to hike! Walking up and down flights of stairs is also an effective way to train. Bending your knees as you go down stairs will help strengthen your quad muscles. At least two months prior to your trek, we urge you to go on weekend day hikes that involve long uphill and downhill walking.
For this trek, we require your doctor sign the Wilderness Travel Medical Form. Once Wilderness Travel has confirmed your place on the trip roster, no refunds beyond our standard fees will be made if your physician refuses to sign the form. It is very important that you and your physician fully agree that you are physically capable of undertaking a strenuous trek, and equally important that you undertake proper conditioning prior to the trek
The Trek Leader has the right to disqualify any member from the trip at any time if it is medically necessary, to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.
As in most mountain areas, the weather on Kilimanjaro can and does change abruptly. Usually, Kilimanjaro's summit clouds appear around 10:00 am and then disappear from around 4:30 pm until sundown. The snow line usually begins at 17,000 or 18,000 feet, but a sudden storm may bring it as low as 14,000 feet (the snow line is usually at its lowest after the two rainy seasons). Daytime temperatures range from the 50s to the 70sF at altitudes from 7,500', where we start the climb, to about 12,000'. Above this altitude, daytime temperatures are lower and evening temperatures can drop to 10°F or even lower.
Above 16,000', daytime temperatures most often are in the high teens to low 40's, but on the occasional clear calm day, because of the lack of atmosphere to filter the UV, it can feel hot. At this altitude, you should expect nighttime temperatures to be below freezing, and temperatures below zero are not uncommon. At the summit, it is rarely above 45°F during the day. Kilimanjaro is the first high-altitude obstacle facing the moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean, so it receives higher than average rainfall. We don't offer climbs during the rainy months of April and May or November.
As with most mountain areas, the weather on Kilimanjaro can change abruptly so you need to be ready for these sudden changes with extra layers of clothing, including waterproof gear, in your day pack at all times. Usually, Kilimanjaro's summit clouds appear in the late morning and then dissipate shortly before sundown.
On the Kilimanjaro climb, porters carry the group gear and you carry a daypack for your wind/rain jacket, water bottle, and camera (depending on your equipment, this can weigh approximately 10 pounds). The camp crew sets up camp each day and we are served dinner in a dining tent with tables and chairs. We use American-made mountaineering tents rated by the manufacturer as 3-person tents but we use them for only two people, ensuring a fair amount of space for sleeping. Sleeping bags are rated to -30°F and sleeping pads are three inches thick and over two feet wide. Fires are not allowed on the mountain so there are no hot showers available at camps (hot showers are available at all of our safari camps).
For more information about our accommodations, please reference our “Camping with Wilderness Travel” and “Climb Kilimanjaro Lodging” pages of the detailed itinerary.
While there are certainly limits as to what can be done in such a setting, our Kili climbs have become renowned for the excellent meals served on the mountain, even at the highest altitudes. We have put a great deal of effort into combining proper nutrition with appealing and varied dishes; WT even launched the first chef training school in Tanzania over twenty years ago to create the highest standard of food quality for our high-altitude climbs.
Breakfasts typically include tea, coffee, fruit, eggs, bacon, porridge and homemade granola. Picnic lunches set up along the trail midway through the day can include sandwiches, soup, energy bars, nuts, fruit, cheese, crackers, and guacamole. Dinners vary day by day (and with elevation moving to foods that are easier to digest) but include soups with baked bread, an assortment of salads, pasta with garlic bread, spaghetti Bolognese, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, and of course brownies and apple pie with cream!
We have a separate dining tent with food available upon request at any time, and provide an assortment of snacks for you to take on the trail, including mixed nuts, energy bars, homemade granola, dried fruit and much needed sugary sweets to boost your energy at higher elevations such as chocolate bars.
Please let us know of any dietary needs and we will accommodate as best as possible.
From our Kilimanjaro camps, we try to carry out every item of trash that we cannot burn easily. Toilet paper, which is put in a can beside the chemical toilet, is burned by the crew before leaving each camp and some small easily burnable items can be given to them to burn at the same time. For pit stops on the trail, carry toilet paper back to camp in a plastic bag. Please keep your own trash in a trash bag and pack it in your porter duffel for removal from the mountain. Take chemical or toxic trash (such as dead batteries) back to the US with you so they can be disposed of properly.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.