Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania- step by step

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at 19,340 feet (5895 m) and is Africa's tallest mountain. The photos below are from a trek made using the Lemosho-Barranco-Barafu Route. This is a 7 night, 8 day trek and allows enough time for acclimatization to the high altitudes -- critical for a successful ascent of Kilimanjaro.

At 19,336 feet, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak. It is the world's tallest free-standing mountain.

Porters carry equipment, tents, food and other essential items. Porters also cook, set up camp and provide entertainment. The trek is impossible without them.

The Montane forest on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro is filled with exotic plants and wildlife.  

After a 4 hour walk, the hikers reach Forest Camp, their first night on Mount Kilimanjaro. Elevation here is 9,000 feet and nights are chilly.

Shira Camp 1 is a six hour hike from the Forest Camp. Elevation is at 11,300 feet and there's frost in the early morning. The summit is in sight.

Shira is one of the three peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and on clear days, the view of the summit (Uhuru/Kibo) is spectacular.

Day 3 on this trek was a six hour hike across the Shira Plateau (a World Heritage site) to get to Moir Camp on the slopes of Kibo Massif.

Moir Camp marks the 3rd night on this 8 day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Elevation is at 13,600 feet.  

Day 4 takes the crew up to 7 hours to complete. They pass Lava Tower (14,300 feet) and get some wonderful views of the Western Breach. 

After the rocky, bleak terrain past the Lava Tower, hikers are blessed with the green and surreal landscape of Barranco Valley with its Giant Groundsels.

The Great Barranco Camp lies at 13,500 feet in the Barranco Valley.

A stiff 800 foot climb up the Great Barranco wall, awaits hikers on the 5th morning. "Pole pole" (slowly, slowly) does it.

Mawenzi Peak from Barafu Camp at 15,500 feet. Temperatures dip down to 15 Fahrenheit and it's difficult to get warm.  

As the altitude affects every move, hikers climb up to 18,500 feet after a seven hour hike to Crater Camp on day 6 on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Crater Camp at 18,500 feet is the last stop before the push to the summit. The camp is in Kibo's crater next to the Furtwrangler Glacier.  

The glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro are fast disappearing due in part to global warming. Glaciers have apparently shrunk more than 80% in the past century.

After a 6 am start, the hikers make their way up the last 800 feet from Crater Camp to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, taking care not to dislodge rocks.

The final ridge before hikers reach the summit can sometimes be covered in snow, which makes it even more difficult to complete those final steps.  

Finally, the hikers reach the summit, Uhuru Peak and manage to pose for photos despite the bitter cold. It's unusual to spend more than 30 minutes at the top.

 

After reaching the summit, the descent is fast and furious. 9,000 vertical feet are raced down in a matter of hours on this route.

 

Mweka camp (10,500 feet) is where the clebrations can truly begin. The final night on the mountain and lots of glorious oxygen, it's time to feel great again.

A final 4 hour hike down to the Park Gate on this last day (day 8). Lunch and a farewell song from the porters mark the end of the adventure.