Climb Kilimanjaro via Pofu Route with Berg Adventures
Pofu Route Itinerary
Our most challenging and remote route on Kilimanjaro links the steep, wild forest trail of Umbwe with the forgotten, empty Northern Circuit trail to reach the crater at the icecap of the Northern Icefields. Camping in Kilimanjaro’s summit crater at 18,800 feet is just one of many highlights of this remarkable and rare way to climb Africa’s highest mountain.
Itinerary is for the climb only portion of your trip. Safari itineraries begin the day after your climb ends. See detailed descriptions of three-day and six-day safari options.
Day 1 – Depart North America.
Day 2 – Depart Europe. Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our BAI staff will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight Arusha.
Day 3 – Team orientation at 8 a.m. The morning is for packing and trip preparation. In the afternoon, you will have a chance to relax at the hotel or visit a local market and see the sights in the city of Arusha. Overnight Arusha.
Day 4 – Drive to the isolated Umbwe Gate entrance
to Kilimanjaro National Park 5,440 feet (2850 meters)
and begin our journey toward the top of Kilimanjaro. We’ll hike Kilimanjaro’s most beautiful and unspoiled forest route to Umbwe Cave Camp (9,760 feet) 5-6 hrs. Overnight Cave Camp.
Day 5 – Winding above steep, forested gorges, our trail leads us toward the high timberline of Kilimanjaro. We arrive at Barranco Camp, (12,800 feet) at the base of Kibo’s spectacular Breach Wall, 5-6 hrs. Overnight Barranco Camp.
Day 6 – A break from several full days of hiking, today is a relatively short morning walk to Lava Tower Camp, (14,900 feet). With our tents pitched near its base, we can climb the Lava Tower for acclimatization and to take photographs of our increasingly spectacular surroundings, 3 – 4 hrs. Overnight Lava Camp.
Day 7 – A second short hiking day allows us to
continue adjusting to the altitude as we make our way
to Moir 
Camp (13,500 feet) 2-3 hours. After lunch,
the peaks of the Lent Group offer appealing acclimatization
climbs. Overnight Moir Camp.
Day 8 – Enter a different world by following the Northern Circuit Trail around to the northwestern side of the mountain. The dry slopes of Kibo drop toward Kenya and Amboseli National Park. The only signs we see of other travelers will be game trails, fresh signs of Cape buffalo and eland, the largest of Africa’s antelope. Pofu, our camp for the night, is the Swahili word for eland. (14,000 feet) 4-5 hrs. Overnight Pofu Camp.
Day 9 – Using a route explored in 2008 by Berg Adventures, we’ll ascend a ridge toward the northern rim of Kilimanjaro’s summit crater. Our high camp up on the ridge offers commanding views (16,900 feet, 5100 meters) 4-5 hrs. Overnight Pofu High Camp.
Day 10 – Reach the crater rim by traversing beneath the towering glaciers of the Northern Ice Fields, a remote and seldom-visited part of Kilimanjaro. Our hike across the crater takes us past the “Ash Pit,” where steam and the smell of sulfur reminds us we are walking next to the very throat of the volcano. We’ll spend the night in the BAI crater camp we’ve named “Scientific Camp” because of its proximity to glacial study sites where some of our staff have worked in the past (19,000 feet) 6-8 hrs. Overnight Scientific Camp.
Day 11 – The true summit of Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Point 19,339 ft (5894m), just a two-hour climb above Scientific Camp. We will reach the top early in the morning. After celebrating our success, we’ll descend to Stella point and then follow the Barafu trail to Mweka, our camp at the top of the forest (10,000 feet) 8-10 hrs. Overnight Mweka Camp.
Day 12 – Continue our descent, traveling through the forest to the park gate where our Land Cruisers will be waiting. After a festive and relaxing celebration with our mountain staff at the Mweka park entrance gate, our Land Cruisers will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Arusha for hot showers, cool drinks, great food, and a good night’s rest! Overnight Arusha.
Day 13 – Depart Kilimanjaro international Airport.
Day 14 – Arrive in North America.