• Drive this morning from Moshi to the village of Nale Moru for the starting point of the Rongai route. The first stage of the trek is through farmland and pine forests. You may have a chance to see the beautiful Colobus monkeys or, if you’re lucky enough, elephants or buffaloes en route.

• Reach your first camp at the Simba Camp located at the edge of the moorland zone at 2625 m.

Distance covered: 8 km / 5 mi

Approx. time taken: 4 – 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

• Hike from Simba camp up towards Kibo for lunch at First Caves, a distance of 5.8 km.

• Feast on lunch, and continue trekking until Kikelewa Camp at about 3679 metres. The views start to open up, and you begin to feel you’re on a really big mountain! Water can be found in an obvious stream below the cave, although you might have to wander downhill a way to find a pool or two.

• Enjoy dinner and overnight at Kikelewa camp.

Distance: Approximately 11.8 km

Approx. time taken: 6 – 7 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

• Savour a short but steep climb up grassy slopes offering superb views of this wilderness area. The vegetation zone ends shortly before you reach your next camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly situated beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi.

• Spend the afternoon acclimatising and exploring the area.

Distance covered: 8 km / 5 mi

Approx. time taken: 4 – 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

• Head west after breakfast and continue ascending on the east side of Kibo crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, taking 4 to 5 hours to reach Kibo Hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, which begins around midnight.

Stay overnight at Kibo Hut.

Distance covered: 8 km / 5 mi

Approx. time taken: 5 – 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

• Rise around at 23:20, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150 m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681 m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly. From Gillmans Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895 m), the highest point in Africa.

• Experience total exhilaration and satisfaction – but have you made it! Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend taking photographs before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut.

• Unwind with a short rest at Kibo Hut, and then you gather all the gear you left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo Hut (3 hours) for your overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day.

• Enjoy your last dinner (with soft drinks and beer for sale at the camp office) on the mountain later in the evening and a well-earned sleep filled with memories and stirring emotions.

Approx. time taken: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo

Distance: Approximately 12 – 15 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

• Continue your descent (6 hours) after breakfast, passing the Mandara hut down to the Marangu gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. 

• Reach Marangu gate, where you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685 m) are issued with green certificates, and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895 m) receive gold certificates.

• Drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner descent bed and celebrations!!

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 29 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch