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Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in north-eastern Tanzania. Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain rise in the world. It rises 4600 metres (15,000 feet) from the base, and includes the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 metres (19,340 ft), Uhuru Peak. Uhuru means freedom. Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano, not currently active, with fumaroles that emit gas in the crater on the main summit of Kibo. Although there is no recorded history of eruptions, local legend speaks of activity around 170 years ago. As the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak is one of the Seven Summits (highest point on each continent). The summit was first reached by Johannes Kinyala Lauwo in 1889.                                      

The climb to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively straightforward endeavour; however, ample time must still be provided for proper acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. The three easiest routes, Marangu, Rongai and Machame can be climbed by a person of good health, and require no mountaineering experience.

On Marangu route, huts with cooking facilities, bathrooms, and sometimes electricity are available at the end of each day's journey. For all the routes, the final part of the climb, from Kibo hut at 15,500 ft (4,720 m) to the summit, is generally undertaken at night, because the scree is frozen together, making the climb significantly easier. Gilman's Point and Stella Point, on the rim of the crater is about 3 hours to the summit Uhuru (from Gilman's) and 1 hour (from Stella). You get on the rim in the early morning and those who have the strength to continue may then hike on to Uhuru in the growing sunlight and rising temperatures. Annually, approximately 30,000 people attempt to climb the mountain, of whom approximatly 40% reach the summit.

Here is a summary of the itinerary the group and I had followed. I went on this expedition with the adventure-travel agency Explorateur here in Quebec. We hiked the Shira route, which start at Londorossi Gate on the western side of the mountain. It's was 6 nights/7 days hike. We hiked up for 5 days and came back down for 2. 

Day 1: Start at Londorossi Gate and got to Shira Camp I, 3500 metres (3 hours walking under the rain…)

Day 2: Shira I to Shira II, 3840 metres (4 hours walking under the rain…)

Day 3: Shira II to Barranco camp, 3972 metres (during the day, we climbed Lava Tower 4645 metres, 9 hours walking under rain, slush, snow, cold…)

Day 4: Barranco to Karanga camp, 4000 metres (during the day, we climbed up to 4400 metres, 5 hours walking with a hell of a climb to start the day… "breakfast wall", sunny)

Day 5: Karanga to Barafu camp (last before summit attempt), 4600 metres (4 hours walking, really steep, sunny). We got into camp at 1pm. We had lunch, went for a nap in the afternoon. Then we had supper at 5pm and went back to bed. We woke up at 10h30pm, got prepared, had a little snack and left for the summit at 11h30pm.

Day 6: Barafu camp up to the Summit of Kilimanjaro, 5895 metres, going down to Barafu, 4600 metres and then going down again to Mweka camp, 3100 metres. (16 hours walking, beautiful night , morning and day...)

Day 7: Mweka camp to Moshi (bottom of the mountain), then back to Arusha, 1400 metres (3 hours walking, cloudy and humid, triopical forest)

* Some of the informations above are provided by Wikipedia and Explorateur agency.