What is the Daily Routine when Climbing Kilimanjaro?
On a typical day on the mountain, you will be awakened from your tent around 6:30 AM by your waiter/porter, who will bring you a warm pan of water to wash your face and hands. In the morning, have your bags packed before breakfast.
Generally, breakfast is between 7.30 am and 8.00 am, and departure from camp is at 9.00 am after a medical checkup.
There is a lunch at midday, tea and biscuits around 4 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Summit morning is different; full breakfast at 11.30 pm and start hiking at midnight or sometimes 1 am.
Meals are served in a mess tent or occasionally outdoors if the weather is nice - complete with chairs, tables, dinnerware and silverware. After you assemble your day pack, you will begin walking around 8:00 AM while the porters stay behind to clean up the campsite and pack up the tents and other equipment.
While the hours vary from day to day, your average walking time will be around four to six hours per day. During the walk, your guide will decide the pace and when to take a break, depending on his assessment of the party's performance. The pace is slow and not forced at all. There is a rest at least once every hour and plenty of time to take photos, enjoy the view and chat. The porters consistently move ahead of the group in order to prepare food, collect water, and set up tents so that everything is ready when you arrive at the campsite. When you arrive at the campsite, you will find the tents erected and your bags ready to collect.
A hot lunch is served part way through your day's trek, though on occasion, a boxed lunch may be provided.