The trail continues through rainforest before thinning into heath and moorland, where erica and lobelia begin to dominate. After crossing Shira Ridge (4–5 hours), the group stops for lunch at Shira Camp 1 with views of Mount Meru and the Rift Valley. A further 3-hour climb gains another 250m, passing giant senecio plants that can grow nearly 9m tall, before reaching Shira Camp 2 — often with a sunset view of the Kibo summit.

Despite gaining roughly 700m, the group camps only slightly higher than the previous night — a deliberate "climb high, sleep low" strategy that aids acclimatization and lets guides observe how each climber's body responds to altitude. The trail ascends above the Shira Plateau toward Lava Tower as vegetation thins into alpine desert, then descends through the wide Barranco Valley, rich with lobelia and giant senecio, to Barranco Camp widely considered the most scenic camp on the mountain (6–7 hours).

Shortly after setting off, the route tackles the steepest section of the whole trek: the Barranco Wall, an easy scramble requiring hands in places, with guides assisting as needed. From the top, the trail follows a ridge with fantastic views of Kibo's southern glacier and summit, reaching Karanga Camp around lunchtime.

A trail through alpine desert leads to Barafu Camp, the staging point for the summit attempt. The afternoon is for rest and final preparation, with an early dinner to allow a few hours of sleep before a midnight wake-up call.

After tea and a light snack, the summit push begins around midnight, climbing frozen lava ash by torchlight. After 5–7 hours, the group reaches Stella Point (5,730m) on the crater rim, then continues 1–2 hours along the ridge to Uhuru Peak in time to watch sunrise over the surrounding landscape. After photos and a short rest, the descent returns to Barafu Camp by midday for a warm lunch and a short break, before continuing down roughly 3 hours to Mweka Camp.

After a farewell ceremony from the mountain crew, a gentle 2–3 hour descent through rainforest leads to Mweka Gate, where a driver is waiting to take you back to your lodge in Arusha.