Third Cave Camp

Third Cave Camp lies at 3,848 metres on the semi-arid northern slopes of Kilimanjaro, serving both Northern Circuit trekkers and climbers on the Rongai Route. It marks the point where the moorland thins out and the open alpine desert of volcanic gravel begins. Its height gives climbers on longer itineraries a useful altitude cushion before the final approach to the summit base.

The camp is a basic public campsite with no rooms or buildings for guests. Climbers sleep in tents pitched by the crew, and facilities are limited to shared pit latrines; there is no restaurant, tap water, electricity, Wi-Fi or private bathroom. The exposed, wind-blown setting relies on natural wind shields and the shelter of your expedition gear.

Meals, tents, water and camp setup are provided and carried by your trekking crew, not by the campsite itself. A high-altitude ranger link is available on this stretch. Because the camp sits at the edge of the alpine desert, nights are cold and dry, and steady acclimatisation is important before moving up to the summit camp.