Umbwe cave camp (3,000m/9,800ft) to barranco camp (3,850m/12,650ft)
Elevation Gain: 800 metres / 2,850 feet
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Habitat: Heath
The route now takes you into semi-desert and rocky landscapes. You may even have occasional glimpses of Kibo, the imposing summit cone of Kilimanjaro. You may find this trek a little tougher than the previous days as some hikers usually start to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Closer to camp the trail begins to flatten out, finally descending into Barranco Camp, which lies below the imposing Barranco Wall in a beautiful, sheltered valley.

Barafu camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to uhuru peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to mweka camp (3,110m/10,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours to Uhuru Peak; 7 to 8 hours to Mweka Camp
Habitat: Arctic conditions
This is where the going gets really tough! Just before midnight, you will venture into the night and begin your final ascent to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Head northwest through the heavy stone scree following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685m). This section is probably the most challenging part of the route and will require great physical and mental effort. Continue to move slowly, always listening to your guide. After a short rest at Stella Point, you will hike along the crater rim for another hour before reaching your ultimate goal – Uhuru Peak! Congratulations! You have now made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend there, but it is important to start your descent within good time to ensure you get enough rest back at Barafu Camp. After your rest, you’ll gather the rest of your belongings and descend to Mweka Hut (3,100m) where you’ll enjoy dinner and a well-earned sleep!