Moshi, Tanzania
+255 742 596 234
generoustours@gmail.com
Overview
At a Glance
- Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights on Mount Kilimanjaro
- Start & End: Moshi or Arusha, Tanzania
- Fair wages for guides, cooks, and porters included
- Professional mountain guides with safety equipment
- High success rate with proper acclimatization
Generous African Tours runs fixed Christmas and New Year departures on Kilimanjaro's Machame Route, timing the 7-day climb so trekkers can summit Uhuru Peak, 5,895 meters, on or within a day or two of December 25 or January 1.
December sits in Kilimanjaro's short dry spell between the long and short rains, giving generally clear skies for summit night and good visibility across the Shira Plateau and Barranco Wall. Camps along the route are quieter than during the July–September peak, even over the holidays.
Climbers on this departure get a festive camp dinner at either Barranco or Karanga Camp — mulled tea, a special menu, and a small celebration marking the season — before the final push to Barafu Camp and summit night. New Year's departures can be timed so the descent to Mweka Gate happens on January 1st or 2nd.
Mount Kilimanjaro 7 Days / 6 Nights climbing route specifications:
- Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Start & End: Moshi or Arusha, Tanzania
- Accommodation: High-quality mountain camping tents
Highlights
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Summit Uhuru Peak, Africa's highest point, on or near Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
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Climb during December's short dry window for clearer summit-night skies.
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Enjoy a festive camp dinner at high camp, a small holiday touch most standard departures don't include.
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Trek the Machame Route, Kilimanjaro's most scenic and second-most-attempted path up the mountain.
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Choose a small fixed-group departure or book the same dates as a fully private climb.
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Avoid the crowding of July–September while still climbing in dry-season conditions.
What is the daily itinerary?
- Day 1: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp
- Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp
- Day 3: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp
- Day 4: Acclimatization Day at Mawenzi Tarn
- Day 5: Cross the Saddle to Kibo Hut
- Day 6: Summit Night: Uhuru Peak, then Descend to Horombo Hut
- Day 7: Descend to Marangu Gate and Certificate Presentation
What happens each day of the tour?
Day 1
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Meals: L, DStart: Machame Gate (1,800 m)Finish: Machame Camp (3,000 m)Altitude: ↑ 1,200 mWalking Time: 5–6h
The climb begins in dense montane rainforest, often damp underfoot even in the December dry window. The trail gains steady altitude through the forest zone before opening out at Machame Camp on the forest-moorland boundary.
Day 2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Meals: B, L, DStart: Machame Camp (3,000 m)Finish: Shira Camp (3,840 m)Altitude: ↑ 840 mWalking Time: 5–6h
The forest gives way to open moorland with the first clear views of Kibo's summit dome. Shira Camp sits on a broad volcanic plateau, one of the most scenic campsites on the route.
Day 3
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
Meals: B, L, DStart: Shira Camp (3,840 m)Finish: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)Altitude: ↑ 790 m / ↓ 670 m (net ↑ 120 m)Walking Time: 6–7h
A classic "climb high, sleep low" acclimatization day: the trail climbs to Lava Tower at 4,630 meters for lunch before descending into the dramatic Barranco Valley, framed by giant senecio plants.
Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Meals: B, L, DStart: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)Finish: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)Altitude: ↑ 75 mWalking Time: 4–5h
A short day that starts with the Barranco Wall scramble, then continues across ridges and valleys toward Karanga Camp. This is the night the festive high-camp dinner is served for December departures.
Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Meals: B, L, DStart: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)Finish: Barafu Camp (4,673 m)Altitude: ↑ 638 mWalking Time: 4–5h
A steady climb across alpine desert to Barafu Camp, the final staging point before summit night. Gear checks and an early dinner precede a short rest before the midnight departure.
Day 6
Summit Night: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, Descend to Mweka Camp
Meals: B, L, DStart: Barafu Camp (4,673 m)Finish: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)Altitude: ↑ 1,222 m / ↓ 2,815 mWalking Time: 11–14h
Departure around midnight for the summit push via Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, timed where possible for a Christmas Day or New Year's Day sunrise at 5,895 meters. The long descent continues past Barafu directly to Mweka Camp in the forest zone.
Day 7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Meals: B, L, DStart: Mweka Camp (3,080 m)Finish: Mweka Gate (1,640 m)Altitude: ↓ 1,440 mWalking Time: 3–4h
A final descent through rainforest to Mweka Gate for summit certificates, then a private transfer back to Arusha to celebrate the new year with a proper shower and hot meal.
What accommodation is included?
Standard Mountain Camping
Shared crew-carried tents
Sturdy four-season sleeping tents, a shared dining tent, and a private group toilet tent set up fresh at every camp.
Budget Choice
Festive Departure Camping
Upgraded tents + high-camp dinner
The same reliable tents plus a special festive dinner at high camp and a small holiday touch for Christmas or New Year departures.
Holiday Special
Private Luxury Upgrade
Free-standing luxury tents
Optional upgrade to private free-standing sleeping tents with camp beds and a dedicated toilet tent per climber.
Luxury Upgrade
What is included and excluded?
What's Included?
Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees, camping fees, and rescue fees
Professional guide, assistant guides, cook, and porter team
All meals on the mountain, including the festive high-camp dinner
Camping equipment (sleeping tents, dining tent, toilet tent)
Arusha hotel-to-gate and gate-to-Arusha private transfers
Summit certificate and government taxes/park levies
What\'s Not Included?
International and domestic flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel and medical/evacuation insurance
Tips for mountain crew
Personal climbing gear and cold-weather clothing not provided by Generous African Tours
Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, hotel nights before/after the climb)
Why Book with Generous African Tours?
KPAP & Local Experts
Our guides have 10+ years of tracking experience, knowing exactly where the wildlife migrates and how to escape the crowds.
Custom 4x4 Vehicles
Travel in safety with custom-modified Toyota Land Cruisers featuring charging ports, large windows, and a pop-up roof.
Tailored Hospitality
We handpick clean, high-service safari lodges and luxury camps, ensuring delicious meals and excellent comfort after game drives.
Best Time to Visit Tanzania Safari
The best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is during the dry months of January-March and June-October, when the weather is stable with less rain.
Jan
🌤
Dry Season
Clear
Clear
Feb
🌤
Dry Season
Clear
Clear
Mar
🌧
Short Rains
Wet
Wet
Apr
🌧
Long Rains
Wet
Wet
May
🌧
Long Rains
Wet
Wet
Jun
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Excellent
Jul
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Excellent
Aug
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Excellent
Sep
⭐
Peak Dry
Excellent
Excellent
Oct
🌤
Dry End
Good
Good
Nov
🌧
Short Rains
Quiet
Quiet
Dec
⭐
Good Season
Festive
Festive
Peak season
Good season
Low / rainy season
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Can I really summit Kilimanjaro on Christmas Day or New Year's Day?
Yes, with the right departure date. Summit night always falls roughly five to six days after starting the Machame Route, so Generous African Tours schedules the start date so summit night lands on the evening before your target date — Christmas Eve into Christmas Day, or New Year's Eve into New Year's Day.
FAQ
Is December a good month to climb Kilimanjaro?
December sits in a short dry window between the long and short rains, generally offering clearer skies than November, though conditions on any mountain can change quickly. It is a good month for climbing, if slightly less predictable than the main July–October dry season.
FAQ
Will it be crowded on the mountain over the holidays?
No — despite the popular dates, camps are noticeably quieter than during the July–September peak season, since most trekkers still plan around the main dry season rather than the holidays specifically.
FAQ
What is the festive high-camp dinner?
On December departures, dinner at Karanga or Barranco Camp includes a special menu and a small celebration marking Christmas or New Year, prepared by your mountain chef — a touch not included on standard departures.
FAQ
Is the Machame Route difficult for a first-time trekker?
Machame is rated moderate. No technical climbing skill is required, but reasonable fitness and several months of hill-walking or cardio preparation beforehand make a real difference to how comfortable summit night feels.
FAQ
Can I book this as a private family or friends group instead of joining others?
Yes — the Christmas and New Year dates can be booked as a fully private climb for your own group, or as a small fixed-group departure alongside other trekkers on the same dates.
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