Day 5 of the Kilimanjaro expedition

lava tower

Key variables

Start: Shira camp (3830m)
Finish: Barranco camp (3950m)
Difference in height: + 120m
Max altitude: 4530m
Duration: 7h
Distance: 10km

Testing our ability to bear altitude

As every morning, we enjoy the view on Kilimanjaro while having breakfast it is really great.

Today is likely to be a tough day as it starts with a regular but endless climbing to lava tower at more than 4500 metres. In addition to the efforts this stage is essential for acclimatization because after we reach today's highest point we'll go down to Barranco campsite at 3900m.

The ascent faces western face of Kibo then we turn around to reach the southern face. The area is full of lava rocks, the vegetation becomes more and more seldom. Our first contact with Kilimanjaro snows occurs around 4400 metres high, shortly before we reach lava tower. Once there we take a small break then start the descent in a rocky and slippery trail. After an hour the landscape change as vegetation is back in the valley (senecios and lobelia). We finally reach Barranco camp in time to avoid a thunderstorm.
Barranco camp is spectacular as it lies at the bottom of Barranco wall, a quasi vertical face of more than 150 metres.

Two hours after our arrival at the camp, once the hailstorm is over the sky is completly clear and the sunset offers the most beautiful show of the day. Kibo's colour changed to red and the sky is purple to pink.

We all suffered from dreadful headaches when we reached lava tower at 4530m. But this is all normal as our body is triggering mechanisms to balance the lack of oxygen as you can read it in our altitude sickness page.