Kilimanjaro Campsites are vast sprawling affairs. You can find so many small little tents of climbers at each campsite. The tents look like stars covering the ground from afar. It’s not a hidden fact that sleeping in tents is the norm at Kilimanjaro Campsites except on the Marangu Route.
There are seven main Kilimanjaro Routes that you can use to trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. The eighth Kilimanjaro route, which is called Mweka, is only used for decent. Kilimanjaro Campsites all vary by route. Here, is a detailed list of Kilimanjaro campsites by each of its routes –
KILIMANJARO CAMPSITES ACCORDING ROUTES
LEMOSHO ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Lemosho Route boasts of 6 campsites on its route excluding the Mweka camp. The Mweka camp can be experienced when on descent through the Lemosho route.
MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 METERS)
The Mti Mkubwa Camp falls on the Lemosho route on Day 1. The starting altitude is at 2,100 metres and finishes at 2,820 metres. The hiking time to Mti Mkubwa camp is 4 hours from starting point.
SHIRA CAMP 1 (3,500 METERS)
Shira camp 1 comes on Day 2. The starting altitude from Mti Mkubwa camp is at 2,820 metres to 3500 metres. The hiking time is 5 hours from Mti Mbukwa camp.
SHIRA CAMP 2 (3,850 METERS)
Shira camp 2 comes on in Day 3. The starting altitude from Shira camp 1 is at 3500 metres to 3,850 meters. The hiking time is 4 hours from starting point at Shira camp 1.
BARRANCO CAMP KILIMANJARO(3,900 METERS)
Climbers will come across the Barranco campsite on Day 4. The starting altitude is from Shira camp 2 is 3,850 meters and ends at 3,900 meters at the Barranco campsite.
KARANGA CAMP KILIMANJARO(3,960 METERS)
The route to Karanga camp is another short distance. It comes across on Day 5. The starting altitude is from 3,900 meters at the Barranco campsite to 3,960 meters at the Karanga campsite.
BARAFU CAMP KILIMANJARO(4,670 meters)
The route to Barafu camp comes across on Day 6. The starting altitude is from 3,960 meters at the Karanga campsite to 4,670 meters at the Barafu camp. The hike takes up to 5 hours.
SHIRA ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Shira Route is a trail that is not suitable for trekkers who have no experience of high-altitude trekking. It is quite nearly identical to the Lemosho route.
The Shira route is less favorable than Lemosho due to the high altitude of its starting point. The climbers will experience altitude-related symptoms even on the first-day camping at 11,800 feet.
MACHAME ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Machame Route has 5 campsites excluding the Mweka camp on descent day.
MACHAME CAMP (2,820 METERS)
The Machame campsite falls on the Machame route on Day 1. The starting altitude is at 1,800 metres and finishes at 2,820 metres. The hiking time from Machame Gate to Machame Camp is 5 hours.
SHIRA CAMP 2 (3,850 METERS)
The Shira camp 2 campsite falls on the Machame route on Day 2. The starting altitude is at 2,820 metres and finishes at 3,850 meters. The hiking time from Machame Camp to Shira camp 2 is 6 hours.
BARRANCO CAMP KILIMANJARO (3,900 METERS)
The Barranco campsite falls on the Machame route on Day 3. The starting altitude is at 3,850 meters and finishes at 3,900 meters. The hiking time from Shira camp 2 to Barranco campsite is 7 hours.
KARANGA CAMP KILIMANJARO(3,960 METERS)
The Karanga Campsite falls on the Machame route on Day 4. The starting altitude is at 3,900 meters and finishes at 3,960 meters. The hiking time from Barranco campsite to the Karanga Campsite is 4 hours.
BARAFU CAMP KILIMANJARO(4,670 METERS)
The Barafu Campsite falls on the Machame route on Day 5. The starting altitude is at 3,960 meters and finishes at 4,670 meters. The hiking time from Karanga Campsite to the Barafu Campsite is 4 hours.
MARANGU ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Marangu Route can actually be completed in 5 days but climbers should take an extra day to acclimatize. Its setback is also that the route can get very crowded.
The Marangu route has 3 main campsites.
MANDARA HUT (2,700 METERS)
The Mandara Hut Campsite falls on the Marangu Route on Day 1. The starting altitude is at 1,879 meters and finishes at 2,700 meters. The hiking time from Marangu Route to the Mandara Hut Campsite takes a total of 4 hours.
HOROMBO HUT (3,720 METERS)
The Horombo Hut Campsite falls on the Marangu route on Day 2. The starting altitude is at 2,700 meters and finishes at 3,720 meters. The hiking time from the Mandara Hut Campsite to the Horombo Hut Campsite takes a total of 6 hours.
Climbers stay at this campsite for 2 nights.
KIBO HUT (4,700 METERS)
The Kibo Hut Campsite falls on the Marangu route on Day 4. The starting altitude is at 3,720 meters and finishes at 4,700 meters. The hiking time from the Horombo Hut Campsite to the Kibo Hut Campsite takes a total of 6 hours.
RONGAI ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Rongai Route has 4 campsites it boasts of excluding the Mweka route on descent day –
SIMBA CAMP (2,625 METERS)
The Simba Campsite falls on the Rongai route on Day 1. The starting altitude is at 2,364 meters and finishes at 2,625 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Nalemuru Gate to the Simba Campsite takes a total of 3 hours.
KIKILEWA CAMP (3,630 METERS)
The Kikilewa Campsite falls on the Rongai route on Day 2. The starting altitude is at 2,625 meters and finishes at 3,630 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at the Simba Campsite to the Kikilewa Campsite takes a total of 7 hours.
MAWENZI TARN CAMP (4,310 METERS)
The Mawenzi Tarn Campsite falls on the Rongai route on Day 3. The starting altitude is at 3,630 meters and finishes at 4,310 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at the Kikilewa Campsite to the Mawenzi Tarn Campsite takes a total of 4 hours.
Climbers spend 2 nights at this campsite.
KIBO CAMP (4,700 METERS) TO SUMMIT
The Kibo Campsite falls on the Rongai route on Day 5. The starting altitude is at 4,310 meters and finishes at 4,700 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at the Mawenzi Tarn Campsite to the Kibo Campsite takes a total of 4 hours.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE CAMPSITES
The Northern Circuit Route on Mount Kilimanjaro boasts of 7 campsites excluding the Mweka camp on descent day –
MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 METERS)
The Mti Mkubwa Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 1. The starting altitude is at 2,100 meters and finishes at 2,820 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Londorossi Gate to the Mti Mkubwa Campsite takes a total of 4 hours.
SHIRA CAMP 1 (3,500 METERS)
The Shira Camp 1 Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 2. The starting altitude is at 2,820 meters and finishes at 3,500 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at the Mti Mkubwa Campsite to Shira Camp 1 takes a total of 7 hours.
SHIRA CAMP 2 (3,850 METERS)
The Shira Camp 2 Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 3. The starting altitude is at 3,500 meters and finishes at 3,850 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2 takes a total of 4 hours.
MOIR HUT CAMPSITE (4,150 METERS)
The Moir Hut Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 4. The starting altitude is at 3,850 meters and finishes at 4,150 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Shira Camp 2 to Moir Hut Campsite takes a total of 7 hours.
BUFFALO CAMP (4,020 METERS)
The Buffalo Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 5. The starting altitude is at 4,150 meters and finishes at 4,020 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Moir Hut Campsite to Buffalo Campsite takes a total of 7 hours.
THIRD CAVE CAMP (3,870 METERS)
The Third Cave Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 6. The starting altitude is at 4,020 meters and finishes at 3,870 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Buffalo Campsite to Third Cave Campsite takes a total of 6 hours.
SCHOOL HUT (4,750 METERS)
The School Hut Campsite falls on the Northern Circuit Route on Day 7. The starting altitude is at 3,870 meters and finishes at 4,750 meters. The hiking time from the starting point at Third Cave Campsite to School Hut Campsite takes a total of 5 hours.
KILIMANJARO BASE CAMPSITES
There are three Mount Kilimanjaro Base Campsites –
Barafu Camp Kilimanjaro (4,670 meters): The Barafu Camp Kilimanjaro is used by hikers on the Lemosho, Machame and Umbwe routes. It follows a zigzag route up the slopes of Kibo to the Stella Point, 5,739 meters above sea level. The Barafu is the busiest camp on Mount Kilimanjaro, ahead of Kibo Hut.
Kibo Hut (4,700 meters): The Kibo Hut camp is situated at an altitude of 4720 meters. It is the last camp that climbers use before attempting the final summit push on the Marangu and Rongai Route.
Kilimanjaro Crater Camp (5,800 meters): The Kilimanjaro Crater base camp is the highest camp on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is located just 475 feet below the summit. Due to its very high altitude, climbers need to properly acclimatize before sleeping at the camp.
At Jerry Tanzania Tours, we are super dedicated to providing our climbers with the best services and equipment at all campsites needed to provide them with great comfort and experience. We always make sure that our customers be aware of all the campsites and let them choose the one they want for themselves.
If you’re planning to Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro then please go through this blog and use it as a canvas for planning your Kilimanjaro Hike. And don’t forget to share your feedback with us!