The day starts with a sixty-minute drive to Machame Gate, when the processes related to registration are finished. After that, we make our way to Umbwe Gate via villages and plantations of coffee and bananas. The trail weaves up through the deep rain forest and climbs steeply on a forestry track. As we ascend the mountain between two rivers, the path becomes more narrow and steep and is encircled by enormous trees. Umbwe Camp is nestled in between dense vegetation and trees.

The next day of the trek passes rockier terrain with little vegetation and straggly, moss-covered trees. We get better views of Kilimanjaro as we ascend. As we go closer to Barranco Valley, the path gets flatter. From Umbwe Ridge, the route winds down through the unusual yet stunning Senecio Forest to Barranco Camp.

This Campsite is Located right at the edge of the moorland vegetation zone of Mount Kilimanjaro near the beginning of the alpine desert, just a short distance away from the valley. Having an extra day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your adaptation.

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft. cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One steeper climb up leads us to Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization.

We leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

We start our ascent to the summit quite early in the morning, at around midnight. This is the hardest part of the walk, both physically and mentally. At this altitude and time of day, there can be intense wind and cold. We climb for several hours in the dark, pausing sometimes but not too much. You will be rewarded with the most spectacular sunrise you are likely to witness coming over Mawenzi Peak near Stella Point (18,900 feet). At last, we reach Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point on both the African continent and Mount Kilimanjaro. We now descend from the summit, making a lunch halt at Barafu before continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site.

Following breakfast in the morning, you will trek down to Mweka Gate. The walk down to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters) is a nice one, passing through lower slopes covered with rain forests. It just takes 3–4 hours to complete the 9 km / 5.5 mi hike. If you make it to Stella Point or Uhuru Peak, you will receive official certificates; for the former, you will receive a green certificate, and for the latter, a gold certificate. Tipping your trekking staff is usual prior to being driven back to your Moshi accommodation.

You will be picked up at the Mweka gate and driven (about 30 minutes) back to your Moshi hotel.