Best Camps on Kilimanjaro: Where You Sleep at Every Elevation

On Kilimanjaro, the camps are not just places to sleep — they are the rhythm of the climb. Each camp marks a transition in altitude, terrain, climate, and mood. In our 800+ expeditions, we have slept at every camp on every route, in every season, and in every kind of weather the mountain can produce. This guide walks you through every major camp on Kilimanjaro — where it sits, what facilities exist, what the weather does at that elevation, which routes pass through it, and what makes each camp memorable. Whether you are choosing a trekking route or simply want to know what to expect each night of your climb, this is the most detailed camp guide you will find anywhere.

All Major Kilimanjaro Camps at a Glance

Camp	Elevation	Route(s)	Key Feature
Mandara Hut	2,720 m	Marangu	A-frame huts, rainforest setting
Mti Mkubwa Camp	2,750 m	Lemosho	Dense rainforest, colobus monkeys
Machame Camp	3,020 m	Machame	Rainforest-to-heath transition
Mweka Camp	3,100 m	Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe (descent)	Descent-only camp, celebration point
Simba Camp	3,620 m	Rongai	Kenya-side views, quietest camp
Horombo Hut	3,720 m	Marangu	Largest hut camp, acclimatisation day
Millennium Camp	3,820 m	Lemosho (alternate)	Newer camp, panoramic Shira views
Shira Camp	3,840 m	Lemosho, Shira	Shira Plateau, vast open moorland
Barranco Camp	3,960 m	Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe	Most scenic camp, Barranco Wall
Karanga Camp	3,995 m	Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe	Last water point before summit
Lava Tower	4,630 m	Machame, Lemosho (day stop)	Acclimatisation high point, volcanic tower
Barafu Camp	4,673 m	Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe	Summit base camp, midnight departure
Kibo Hut	4,703 m	Marangu	Stone hut, Marangu summit base
School Hut	4,750 m	Rongai	Highest hut, close to summit
Crater Camp	5,729 m	Special permit required	Highest camp in Africa, inside the crater

Rainforest Zone Camps (2,700 - 3,100 m)

Mandara Hut — 2,720 m (Marangu Route)

Mandara Hut is the first overnight stop on the Marangu route and the only camp on Kilimanjaro where you sleep in wooden A-frame huts rather than tents. Each hut sleeps six to eight people in bunk beds with thin mattresses. The camp sits in dense montane rainforest at 2,720 metres and feels more like a mountain lodge than a wilderness camp. Facilities include flush toilets (a luxury you will not see again until you descend), a communal dining hut with tables and benches, and a reliable water supply piped from a nearby stream.

The forest around Mandara is alive with blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. If you arrive early enough, a 20-minute side trip to Maundi Crater offers your first panoramic view of the plains below and — on clear days — a distant glimpse of Kibo peak above the treeline. Cell signal from Tanzanian networks (Vodacom, Airtel) is usually available at Mandara, though weak. Night temperatures drop to 5-10°C — cool, but comfortable in a sleeping bag.

Mti Mkubwa Camp — 2,750 m (Lemosho Route)

Mti Mkubwa ("Big Tree" in Swahili) is the first camp on the Lemosho route, sitting at 2,750 metres in pristine montane rainforest on the western slope of Kilimanjaro. This is one of the quietest and most atmospheric first-night camps on the mountain. The Lemosho route sees far fewer climbers than Machame or Marangu, and at Mti Mkubwa you often have the feeling of being the only group in the forest.

The camp is a basic tent site with pit latrines and water collected from a nearby stream (boiled and purified by your cook crew). The forest canopy is dense — you may not see the sky until you leave camp in the morning. Black-and-white colobus monkeys are regularly spotted in the trees above the campsite, and at night the forest comes alive with sounds: tree hyrax screams (a disturbing sound for first-time visitors — it sounds like a child screaming), bushbuck calls, and owl hoots. Cell signal is sporadic to nonexistent. Night temperatures are similar to Mandara: 5-10°C.

Machame Camp — 3,020 m (Machame Route)

Machame Camp sits at the transition between rainforest and heath zone at 3,020 metres. It is the first night's stop on the Machame route — the most popular route on Kilimanjaro — and can feel crowded during peak season (January-March and June-October). The campsite is a series of cleared terraces on a hillside, and during busy periods every terrace is packed with tents from different groups.

Facilities include pit latrines and water collected from a stream below camp. The vegetation is transitional: tree heathers and giant groundsels begin to appear among the thinning forest canopy. On clear evenings, the view west over the forest to the plains is spectacular at sunset. Cell signal is usually available (this is the last camp with reliable signal on the Machame route). Night temperatures drop to 2-8°C, and mist and rain are common — Machame Camp sits in the cloud belt and evening drizzle is more the rule than the exception.

Mweka Camp — 3,100 m (Descent Only)

Mweka Camp is used exclusively for descent on the Machame, Lemosho, and Umbwe routes. You will never camp here on the way up — only on the way down after summiting. The camp sits at 3,100 metres in the upper rainforest zone, and arriving here after the long descent from the summit feels like arriving in paradise. The air is thick with oxygen (relatively speaking), the temperature is warm, and the forest canopy provides shade from the afternoon sun.

This is the celebration camp. Groups that have summited share stories, tips are distributed to the porter and guide crew, and the cook teams often prepare a special meal. Facilities are basic — pit latrines and stream water — but after two nights at 4,600+ metres, nobody cares. Cell signal returns here, and the first thing most climbers do is phone home to share the news. Night temperature is a comfortable 8-12°C.

Heath and Moorland Zone Camps (3,600 - 3,900 m)

Simba Camp — 3,620 m (Rongai Route)

Simba Camp ("Lion Camp" in Swahili) is the first overnight stop on the Rongai route, which approaches Kilimanjaro from the north — the Kenya side. At 3,620 metres, it sits in open heath and moorland with sweeping views toward the Kenyan border. This is one of the quietest camps on Kilimanjaro. The Rongai route accounts for roughly 10% of all Kilimanjaro climbers, so Simba Camp often has just two or three groups.

The camp is a clearing with pit latrines and water carried in by porters from a source lower on the route. The terrain is dry, scrubby heathland — a stark contrast to the lush rainforest camps on the southern routes. On clear nights, the lack of light pollution makes Simba Camp one of the best stargazing locations on the mountain. Cell signal is generally unavailable — you are on the remote north face, far from any town. Night temperatures drop to 0-5°C, and frost on the tent is common by morning.

Horombo Hut — 3,720 m (Marangu Route)

Horombo Hut is the largest and busiest camp on Kilimanjaro. It serves as both the second night on the ascent and the descent camp on the Marangu route, which means it sees double traffic on any given night. The camp sprawls across a hillside at 3,720 metres with dozens of A-frame huts, a large dining hall, solar-powered lighting, and the best toilet facilities on the mountain (flush toilets with running water).

On the standard 5-day Marangu itinerary, climbers spend an acclimatisation day at Horombo — walking up toward Mawenzi Hut at 4,600 metres and returning to sleep at 3,720 metres. This "climb high, sleep low" day is critical for altitude adjustment. The views from Horombo are superb: Mawenzi peak (5,149 m) dominates the eastern skyline, and on clear mornings the summit cone of Kibo appears above the moorland. Giant groundsels and lobelias — the iconic Kilimanjaro alpine plants — are abundant around camp. Cell signal is available but weak. Night temperatures: -2°C to 4°C.

Millennium Camp — 3,820 m (Lemosho Alternate)

Millennium Camp is a newer campsite on the Lemosho route, used by some operators as an alternative to Shira Camp. It sits at 3,820 metres on the edge of the Shira Plateau with panoramic views across the plateau to the western breach of Kibo. The camp was established to reduce crowding at Shira Camp and offers a slightly lower sleeping altitude — a minor acclimatisation advantage.

Facilities are basic: pit latrines and porter-carried water. The setting is open moorland with low scrub and scattered rocks. Wind exposure is significant — the Shira Plateau funnels wind from the west, and Millennium Camp catches the full force of it. Bring a windproof layer for evenings at camp. Night temperatures: -3°C to 3°C. Cell signal is unavailable.

Shira Camp — 3,840 m (Lemosho and Shira Routes)

Shira Camp sits on the vast Shira Plateau at 3,840 metres, one of three volcanic cones that form the Kilimanjaro massif. The plateau is a surreal landscape — flat, treeless, covered in tussock grass and giant groundsels, with the summit cone of Kibo rising dramatically to the east. At sunset, the plateau glows gold and the shadow of Kibo stretches westward for kilometres. It is one of the most photogenic locations on the mountain.

The camp is well-established with pit latrines and water available from a stream that runs across the plateau (seasonal — dry in August-October). The altitude here is the first serious test: at 3,840 metres, some climbers begin to feel mild altitude symptoms — headache, slight nausea, disrupted sleep. This is normal and usually resolves overnight. Our guides conduct oxygen saturation checks at Shira Camp and will adjust the next day's pace based on each climber's readings. Wind exposure is high on the open plateau. Night temperatures: -5°C to 2°C. Cell signal is unavailable.

Alpine Desert Zone Camps (3,950 - 4,700 m)

Barranco Camp — 3,960 m (Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe)

Barranco Camp is the most scenic camp on Kilimanjaro. We say this with no hesitation after sleeping there hundreds of times. The camp sits in a valley at 3,960 metres directly below the Barranco Wall — a 257-metre rock face that you will climb the following morning. Behind the wall, the summit glaciers of Kibo gleam in the evening light. In front of the camp, the valley drops away toward the southern plains. At sunrise, the Barranco Wall turns orange-gold and the glaciers catch the first light of day. Every climber who has camped here remembers the view.

What makes Barranco special beyond the scenery is the "climb high, sleep low" acclimatisation that precedes it. On the Machame and Lemosho routes, you hike up to Lava Tower at 4,630 metres during the day, then descend 670 metres to Barranco Camp to sleep. This altitude exposure followed by descent is the most effective acclimatisation strategy, and it is why the Machame and Lemosho routes have higher summit success rates than routes that ascend continuously.

Facilities: pit latrines, stream water. Cell signal: none. The camp can be crowded in peak season, with dozens of groups camped on the terraces. Night temperatures: -5°C to 2°C, with frequent cloud cover that rolls up the valley in the evening. Tip from our guides: pitch your tent facing east for the sunrise view. It is worth the cold of unzipping your tent at 6:15 AM.

Karanga Camp — 3,995 m (Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe)

Karanga Camp sits in a small valley at 3,995 metres, wedged between ridges on the southern face of Kibo. Its most important distinction is practical: Karanga is the last water point before the summit. All water carried to Barafu Camp (and beyond to the summit) must be collected at Karanga. Your cook crew will fill every available container here, and you should ensure your personal water bottles and hydration bladder are full before leaving camp.

On the 7-day Machame and 8-day Lemosho routes, you camp overnight at Karanga, which adds a valuable acclimatisation night at just under 4,000 metres. On 6-day itineraries, Karanga is a lunch stop only — you pass through and continue to Barafu, which means less acclimatisation time. This is one of the key reasons we recommend 7-day minimum itineraries for all routes. Check our pricing page for the cost difference between 6 and 7-day options.

The valley setting provides some wind shelter, and the views up toward the summit cone are dramatic — you can see the route you will climb on summit night zigzagging up the scree slopes. Facilities: pit latrines, stream water (last reliable source). Night temperatures: -5°C to 0°C. Cell signal: none.

Lava Tower — 4,630 m (Day Stop, Rarely Overnight)

Lava Tower is not a camp in the traditional sense — it is a lunch stop and acclimatisation high point at 4,630 metres. The "tower" is a 100-metre volcanic rock formation that rises from the alpine desert like a ruined castle. It is the highest point you reach before summit day on the Machame and Lemosho routes, and it serves a crucial acclimatisation purpose: you hike up to Lava Tower over 3-4 hours, eat lunch, and then descend 670 metres to Barranco Camp to sleep.

Some operators offer an overnight camp at Lava Tower for extended acclimatisation itineraries, but this is uncommon. The altitude is significant — 4,630 metres is higher than Mont Blanc — and many climbers feel their first serious altitude symptoms here: headache, breathlessness, loss of appetite. This is by design. The brief exposure triggers your body's acclimatisation response, and the descent to Barranco resolves the symptoms. If you feel rough at Lava Tower, that is actually a good sign — it means your body is registering the altitude and will adapt overnight at the lower camp.

Weather at Lava Tower is harsh: exposed, windy, and often cold even at midday. Cloud cover is common, and snow flurries are possible in any month. Temperatures: -5°C to 5°C. No facilities — your crew sets up a temporary lunch tent and breaks it down after the meal.

Barafu Camp — 4,673 m (Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe)

Barafu Camp is summit base camp for the Machame, Lemosho, and Umbwe routes. You arrive in the early afternoon, eat an early dinner, and attempt to sleep for four to five hours before your midnight summit departure. "Barafu" means "ice" in Swahili, and the camp earns its name — it sits on an exposed rocky ridge at 4,673 metres, blasted by wind from all directions, with temperatures that drop to -10°C to -15°C overnight.

This is the most uncomfortable camp on the mountain, and that is by design — you are not meant to enjoy it. You are meant to eat, hydrate, rest, and then climb. The camp is a collection of tent sites on rocky ground (bring a good sleeping pad — the rocks are merciless). Pit latrines are basic and the wind makes everything harder. Water is carried up from Karanga. Cell signal: none.

Our guides conduct a pre-summit briefing at Barafu: layering strategy, pacing plan, turn-around protocols, and what to expect at each stage of the 6-8 hour ascent. The summit attempt starts between 11:30 PM and midnight. You will walk in darkness, in the cold, up an endless scree slope, using your headlamp and the stars for navigation. Barafu Camp is where the climb transforms from a trek into a test of will.

Kibo Hut — 4,703 m (Marangu Route)

Kibo Hut is the summit base camp for the Marangu route, sitting at 4,703 metres — slightly higher than Barafu. It is a stone building with dormitory-style bunks for approximately 60 climbers, making it the most basic overnight shelter on the Marangu route. The hut provides walls and a roof (no tents here), but the temperature inside is barely warmer than outside. The wind howls around the building at night, and sleep is elusive for most climbers.

The landscape around Kibo Hut is lunar: grey volcanic rock, no vegetation, thin air, and the massive presence of the summit cone directly above. The trail to Gilman's Point starts right behind the hut, visible as a series of switchbacks up the scree slope. Facilities include pit latrines and a small dining area. Water is carried by porters from a source lower on the route. Cell signal: none. Night temperatures: -10°C to -15°C.

School Hut — 4,750 m (Rongai Route)

School Hut is the highest hut on Kilimanjaro at 4,750 metres. It serves as the summit base camp for climbers on the Rongai route approaching from the north. The hut is a small stone building that sleeps approximately 30 people, but most Rongai climbers camp in tents nearby rather than using the hut itself. The setting is stark and exposed — grey scree, no vegetation, and the summit cone looming directly above.

School Hut has one advantage over Barafu: it is approximately 150 metres higher, which means the summit push is slightly shorter (5.5-7 hours versus 6-8 hours from Barafu). However, the higher sleeping altitude means more altitude symptoms overnight. It is a trade-off. Facilities: basic pit latrines, porter-carried water. Night temperatures: -10°C to -18°C. Cell signal: none.

The Highest Camp in Africa: Crater Camp — 5,729 m

Crater Camp is the most extreme overnight location on Kilimanjaro and the highest camp in Africa. It sits inside the volcanic crater at 5,729 metres, between the Furtwangler Glacier and the inner crater wall. Only climbers on special extended itineraries camp here — typically those who summit and then descend into the crater rather than descending the mountain, or climbers who want the experience of sleeping at extreme altitude.

Camping at Crater Camp requires a special permit, additional crew, and extra water and fuel carried to extreme altitude by porters. The experience is extraordinary: you sleep surrounded by glacial ice at nearly 6,000 metres, with the Uhuru Peak summit ridge visible above you and the vast crater floor stretching out below. Sunrise inside the crater is one of the most otherworldly experiences available on any mountain in the world.

However, the risks are real. At 5,729 metres, the oxygen level is approximately 50% of sea level. Acute Mountain Sickness is a serious concern, and the cold is extreme — overnight temperatures inside the crater drop to -20°C to -25°C. Only climbers with prior high-altitude experience and excellent acclimatisation should attempt Crater Camp. We offer it as an add-on to our 9-day Lemosho itinerary — contact us through our Kilimanjaro page for details and pricing.

The Most Scenic Camps

If views are your priority, these three camps deliver the most visually stunning experiences on the mountain:

• Barranco Camp (3,960 m)The Barranco Wall, the glaciers, the sunrise. No camp on Kilimanjaro matches it for sheer visual drama.
• Shira Camp (3,840 m)The vast plateau, the sunset glow, and the summit cone rising like a cathedral to the east.
• Crater Camp (5,729 m)If you can get there, the glacial landscape inside the crater is unlike anything else on the mountain — or on any mountain in Africa.

The Most Challenging Camps

Difficulty at camps is driven by altitude, weather exposure, and the effort required to reach them:

• Barafu Camp (4,673 m)The exposed ridge, the relentless wind, the cold, the anxiety of the impending summit attempt. Sleep is difficult for everyone.
• Kibo Hut (4,703 m)Similar altitude stress to Barafu but with dormitory bunks — you hear every cough, every zip, every person getting up to use the toilet at 2 AM.
• Crater Camp (5,729 m)The altitude alone makes this the most physically demanding camp. Only experienced high-altitude trekkers should attempt it.

What to Expect at Every Camp

Regardless of which route you choose, the camp routine on Kilimanjaro follows a consistent pattern that our crews have perfected over hundreds of expeditions:

• ArrivalYour crew arrives ahead of you and sets up your tent, inflates your sleeping pad, and begins preparing tea and snacks. You arrive to a ready camp.
• AfternoonWash up (warm water provided in a basin), change into camp clothes, drink tea, eat popcorn and biscuits, rest.
• DinnerHot soup followed by a main course (rice, pasta, or potatoes with vegetables, chicken, or beef). Fruit and hot drinks to finish.
• EveningOur guide checks oxygen saturation and heart rate with a pulse oximeter, records symptoms, and briefs you on the next day. Then sleep — or at least attempt it.
• MorningWake-up call with hot tea or coffee delivered to your tent. Breakfast (porridge, eggs, toast, fruit, sausages). Pack your day pack while porters break down camp. Walk.

For detailed pricing on all routes and itinerary lengths, or to discuss which route and camps best match your experience level, visit our Kilimanjaro climbing page. We have slept at every camp listed in this guide more times than we can count, and we know exactly which camps will be the highlights of your climb — and which ones will test you. Both are part of the Kilimanjaro experience, and both are worth it.

To explore the best time to climb Kilimanjaro — which affects weather conditions at every camp — or to review the full gear list you will need for overnight camping at altitude, browse our complete Kilimanjaro resource library. The mountain is waiting.