Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895m (19,341 ft) at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, in northern Tanzania. The Vertical Tribe runs it as a 9-day Moshi-to-Moshi trek on the Machame route: five days of ascent from Machame Gate (1,800m) to Barafu Camp (4,700m), a midnight summit push on Day 7, and a descent through rainforest to Mweka Gate. Our first batch is September 2027.
Updated
Highlights
- Uhuru Peak (5,895m) is the highest point in Africa, and you reach it on foot. The Machame route needs no technical climbing, so the challenge is altitude and one long summit night.
- The route changes every day. You start in montane forest at Machame Gate (1,800m), cross moorland to Shira and Karanga, walk through alpine desert to Barafu, and come down through rainforest to Mweka Gate.
- Acclimatisation is built into the line. Day 4 climbs to Lava Tower (4,600m) and sleeps at Barranco (3,900m), and the summit push comes after five nights on the mountain.
Mount Kilimanjaro Expedition at a glance
- How high is Mount Kilimanjaro?
- 5,895m (19,341 ft) at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Stella Point on the crater rim is 5,800m, and the highest camp on the Machame route, Barafu, is 4,700m.
- How hard is the Kilimanjaro trek?
- Difficult, but not technical. The Machame route is trail walking with no ropes or climbing skills needed. The hard day is summit night: a midnight start, about 1,100m of gain on loose scree, and 16 km before you sleep.
- How long does it take?
- 9 days Moshi to Moshi. Days 2 to 8 are on the mountain, with the summit on Day 7. Day 1 is arrival in Moshi and Day 9 is departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
- How do I get to Kilimanjaro from India?
- Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on a connecting flight, usually via Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Doha or Dar es Salaam. We pick you up at JRO on Day 1; Moshi is 42 km away, about an hour by road. Flights and the Tanzania visa are not included.
- When does TVT run it?
- One batch in September 2027. Exact dates will be published on this page once confirmed.
How difficult is Mount Kilimanjaro, really?
No, not technical. The Machame route is trail and scree walking with no ropes or climbing skills needed. It is graded Difficult because of summit night: a midnight start from Barafu Camp (4,700m), about 1,100m of gain on loose scree to Stella Point (5,800m), on to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), then down to camp, 16 km in one push.
- Terrain
- Montane forest from Machame Gate (1,800m) to Machame Camp, moorland from Shira Cave Camp to Karanga, and alpine desert up to Barafu. Above Barafu the summit cone is loose scree. The descent to Mweka Gate (1,700m) ends in rainforest.
- Altitude
- The highest you sleep is Barafu Camp, 4,700m, on Day 6. Day 4 climbs to Lava Tower (4,600m) and sleeps lower at Barranco (3,900m). Uhuru Peak is a touch point: on summit day you descend to Millennium Camp (~3,800m) for the night.
- Summit day
- Day 7. A midnight start from Barafu (4,700m), about 4 km and 1,100m of gain on loose scree to Stella Point (5,800m), then 1 km more to Uhuru Peak (5,895m). You come back down through Barafu to Millennium Camp (~3,800m). About 16 km in all.
Are you fit enough?
- The benchmark
- We recommend one high trek first on which you slept at 4,500m or higher, because you sleep at Barafu Camp (4,700m) on Day 6 and summit night climbs to 5,895m. Kedarkantha tops out at 3,810m and Valley of Flowers at 4,329m, so neither gets you there. Our Markha Valley Trek (base camp, 4,900m) and Everest Base Camp (Gorak Shep, 5,180m) both do. You also need the legs for a 16 km day that starts at midnight.
Overview
After a night in Moshi, a one-hour drive takes you to Machame Gate (1,800m) and a long first day through forest to Machame Camp (3,000m). Day 3 climbs onto the moorland at Shira Cave Camp (3,800m). Day 4 goes up to Lava Tower (4,600m) and drops to Barranco Camp (3,900m), which is where the itinerary does its acclimatisation work. Two shorter days via Karanga Camp (4,000m) bring you to Barafu Camp (4,700m). The summit push leaves around midnight on Day 7, reaches Stella Point (5,800m) and Uhuru Peak (5,895m), and descends to Millennium Camp. Day 8 walks out through rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,700m) and drives back to Moshi.
Who climbs with us
Kilimanjaro is our first trip outside the Himalaya, and the September 2027 batch is our first on the mountain. It suits an Indian trekker with one or two high Himalayan treks behind them, such as Everest Base Camp or Markha Valley, who wants a first summit above 5,500m without technical climbing. It also suits someone planning a 6,000m peak like Kang Yatse II who wants to see how they handle a night above 4,500m first.
The route, point by point
| Point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moshi | ~800m | First and last nights; 42 km from JRO |
| Machame Gate | 1,800m | Park entry and trailhead, one hour from Moshi |
| Machame Camp | 3,000m | First camp, at the top of the forest |
| Shira Cave Camp | 3,800m | Moorland camp on the Shira plateau |
| Lava Tower | 4,600m | Day 4 high point; climb high, sleep low |
| Barranco Camp | 3,900m | Sleep low after Lava Tower |
| Karanga Camp | 4,000m | Short day before the move to high camp |
| Barafu Camp | 4,700m | High camp; summit night starts here |
| Stella Point | 5,800m | Top of the scree, on the crater rim |
| Uhuru Peak | 5,895m | Summit of Kilimanjaro and highest point in Africa |
| Millennium Camp | ~3,800m | Descent night after the summit |
| Mweka Gate | 1,700m | Exit gate at the end of the rainforest |
Itinerary
9 days, Moshi to Moshi.
- Day 1: sleeps at 800m .
- Day 2: sleeps at 3,000m .
- Day 3: sleeps at 3,800m .
- Day 4: sleeps at 3,900m , climbing to 4,600m.
- Day 5: sleeps at 4,000m .
- Day 6: sleeps at 4,700m .
- Day 7: sleeps at 3,800m , climbing to 5,895m.
- Day 8: sleeps at 800m , climbing to 3,800m.
- Day 9: sleeps at 800m .
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Day 1 Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport, transfer to Moshi
Acclimatise ~800mLand at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and drive about an hour to Moshi. Evening briefing on the climb, followed by a gear check with the trek leader.
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Day 2 Drive to Machame Gate, trek to Machame Camp
Approach 3,000mA 31 km, one-hour drive from Moshi to Machame Gate (1,800m). The trail climbs steadily through montane forest, gaining about 1,200m, to Machame Camp at the upper edge of the trees.
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Day 3 Machame Camp to Shira Cave Camp
Approach 3,800mA short, steep day out of the forest and onto open moorland, gaining about 800m to Shira Cave Camp.
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Day 4 Shira Cave Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
Acclimatise 4,600mhigh point · 3,900m sleep
Climb to Lava Tower (4,600m), the first time the route goes above 4,500m, then descend to Barranco Camp (3,900m) to sleep. Net gain for the day is only about 100m, which is the point: climb high, sleep low.
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Day 5 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Approach 4,000mA shorter day across the moorland to Karanga Camp, about 100m higher than Barranco. Time in camp to rest, eat and hydrate before the move to high camp.
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Day 6 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Approach 4,700mGain about 700m into alpine desert to Barafu Camp, the high camp. Early dinner, summit briefing and kit laid out, then sleep until the midnight wake-up.
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Day 7 Summit night: Uhuru Peak, descend to Millennium Camp
Climb 5,895msummit · ~3,800m sleep
Leave Barafu around midnight. About 4 km and 1,100m of gain on loose scree to Stella Point (5,800m) on the crater rim, then 1 km more to Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Descend back through Barafu and on to Millennium Camp for the night. The longest day of the trip.
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Day 8 Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate, drive to Moshi
Descend 1,700mgate · ~800m sleep
Walk down through rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,700m), then drive 25 km, about an hour, back to Moshi. Summit certificates are handed out on return.
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Day 9 Moshi to Kilimanjaro airport, depart
Descend ~800mTransfer from Moshi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight home. The trip ends at the airport.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation: hotel in Moshi on the first and last nights
- On trek: tents on a twin-sharing basis
- Transportation: JRO airport pickup and drop, Moshi to Machame Gate and Mweka Gate to Moshi
- Park fees: Kilimanjaro National Park conservation, camping and rescue fees
- Trekking & safety equipment
- Certified TVT trek leaders, with licensed local Kilimanjaro guides and porters
- Three meals a day on trek, plus evening tea and coffee
Not included
- International flights to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance with altitude cover to 6,000m, including helicopter rescue and evacuation
- Customary tips for the local guides, porters and camp crew
- Vaccinations, including a yellow fever certificate where your route requires one
- Phone and battery charging costs, bottled drinking water
- Personal expenses of any kind, and anything not listed in the inclusions
What gear you need
We provide
- Tents and camp kit on the trail
- Trekking & safety equipment
You bring
- Trekking boots, broken in before the trip
- Down jacket for summit night, which is well below freezing near the top
- Base layers and a fleece or mid-layer
- Waterproof jacket and trousers for the forest days
- Warm gloves plus a thin liner pair, and a warm hat
- Headlamp with spare batteries for the midnight start
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sun hat
- Daypack and water bottles
Optional
- Trekking poles, useful on the scree descent from Stella Point
- Gaiters for the scree
How it compares to other peaks
| Peak | Altitude | Grade | Best for | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Kilimanjaro Trek (this) | 5,895m (Uhuru Peak) | Difficult | First summit above 5,500m, no technical climbing | A summit rather than a base camp: Africa's highest point on foot, in 9 days Moshi to Moshi. |
| Everest Base Camp Trek | 5,545m (Kala Patthar) | Mod-Diff | Foot of the world's highest mountain | Pick this for a longer, 13-day tea-house trek closer to home, with two full acclimatisation days on the way up. |
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | 4,130m | Moderate | Lower-altitude Nepal trek | Pick this if you want a first high trek that tops out well below Barafu Camp, closer to home. |
| Kang Yatse II Expedition | 6,250m | Alpine PD+ | Next step: a first 6,000m peak | The next step after Kilimanjaro: a glaciated 6,000er with one fixed-rope summit ridge, where we teach crampon, ice axe and rope skills at base camp. |
Dates & availability
No fixed dates yet. Message us to book the next Sep 2027 batch or ask for private dates.
No public slots are listed for this expedition yet. Message us to book and we'll confirm the next departure, or set up a private group on dates that suit you.
or send a booking request form →Need different dates? Private departures are possible through Sep 2027 with a minimum of 4 climbers. Message us on WhatsApp. See this trip on the departures calendar.
What we don't do
- We don't fabricate summit success rates
- No summit-rate marketing line. This is our first season on Kilimanjaro, and even with years of data, weather and how each body handles 5,895m decide too much for a number to mean anything honest. We tell you what we control, and we turn around when conditions do not support a safe attempt.
- We don't hide what it costs to get there
- A Kilimanjaro trip from India has two halves: our trek cost, Moshi to Moshi, and what you pay to reach Moshi. Flights to JRO, the Tanzania visa, travel insurance with altitude cover, and tips for the local crew are all outside our fee, and we list them on this page so the trek price is not mistaken for the whole trip.
- We don't publish weather figures we haven't measured
- We do not publish a summit-night temperature, because we have no measured record of our own and a figure copied from a general forecast is not worth planning against. Expect conditions well below freezing at night near the summit. What we share on confirmation is a gear list packed for that night.
Permits, rules and cancellation
Permits
- Kilimanjaro is climbed inside Kilimanjaro National Park, under Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) rules administered by the park authority, KINAPA. Every climb goes with licensed local guides and porters.
- No IMF permit applies. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation governs peaks in India, not Tanzania.
- Indian passport holders need a Tanzania visa. Apply through the official Tanzania Immigration portal and check current requirements before you book flights.
- Yellow fever certificate: needed only on some flight routes. See the FAQ below.
Cancellation
- More than 60 days before the start date: 75% refund
- 60 to 30 days before the start date: 50% refund
- Less than 30 days before the start date: no refund
Rules on the mountain
- No alcohol or smoking during the trek
- Don't litter; do not disturb the flora and fauna
- No loudspeakers
- Leave No Trace
Frequently asked
What does a Kilimanjaro trek from India cost?
The total has two parts. Our trek fee covers Moshi to Moshi, and we will publish it with the September 2027 dates. On top of that you pay for return flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the Tanzania visa, travel insurance with altitude cover to 6,000m, and tips for the local guides and porters. Write to us and we will send the trek fee as soon as it is final.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania?
Only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. A connecting route from India can change this, so check current Tanzanian entry rules against your exact flights before you travel.
How cold is summit night on Kilimanjaro?
Well below freezing near the summit, and the coldest hours fall during the climb because the push starts at midnight. We do not quote a temperature we have not measured. Pack a proper down jacket, warm gloves with liners and a warm hat, and keep water bottles inside your jacket.
Does the itinerary have a buffer day?
No. Day 8 ends back in Moshi and Day 9 is departure day. If you want margin for weather or a slow day on the mountain, book a flexible return flight or add a night in Moshi after the trip.
Is Kilimanjaro good preparation for a 6,000m peak?
For altitude, yes. A night at Barafu (4,700m) and a summit at 5,895m tell you how your body handles height. For skills, no: the Machame route is a trail and scree walk with no rope work. A glaciated peak like Kang Yatse II (6,250m) needs crampon, ice axe and fixed-rope skills, which we teach at its base camp.
Will I get a summit certificate?
Yes. Certificates are handed out on Day 8, after the walk out to Mweka Gate and the drive back to Moshi.
