Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi/Arusha → Rongai Gate → Simba Camp

   • Elevation: 1,387m to 1,830m to 3,690m
   • Distance: 101 km
   • Hiking Time: 5 hours
   • Habitat: Montane Forest
   • After an early breakfast at your hotel in Moshi or Arusha, you will be transferred by Origin Ventures and Safaris through scenic villages and coffee plantations to Rongai Gate. 
   • Upon arrival, registration and porter preparations will be completed before beginning the trek. The journey starts on a wide path through maize and potato fields, gradually entering the lush montane forest. 
   • You will trek through this beautiful forest, home to various wildlife species, before reaching Simba Camp, where you will settle for the night.

2. Day 2: Simba Camp → Kikelewa Camp

   • Elevation: 2,750m to 3,600m
   • Distance: 11 km
   • Hiking Time: 6 hours
   • Habitat: Moorland
   • After an early breakfast, you will ascend steadily to Second Cave, where you will stop for lunch. 
   • Leaving the main trail, you will trek towards Mawenzi Peak, passing through moorland landscapes. The day’s trek ends at Kikelewa Camp, a scenic site in a sheltered valley, where you will enjoy dinner and rest overnight.

3. Day 3: Kikelewa Camp → Mawenzi Tarn Hut

   • Elevation: 3,600m to 4,330m
   • Distance: 5 km
   • Hiking Time: 4 hours
   • Habitat: Semi-Desert
   • The day begins with a short but steep ascent up grassy slopes, offering stunning views over the vast wilderness. As you continue, vegetation disappears, revealing a rugged alpine environment. 
   • You will arrive at Mawenzi Tarn Camp, dramatically located beneath the towering Mawenzi Peak spires. A fascinating undried lake with no inlet or outlet is found here. After lunch, you will rest and later have dinner and an overnight stay.

4. Day 4: Acclimatization Day at Mawenzi Tarn

   • This day is dedicated to acclimatization, improving your ability to adapt to high altitudes. 
   • You will take a short hike towards Mawenzi Peak, then return to Mawenzi Tarn Camp for lunch, dinner, and overnight rest.

5. Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Hut → Kibo Huts Camp

   • Elevation: 4,330m to 4,695m
   • Distance: 5 km
   • Hiking Time: 5 hours
   • Habitat: Alpine Desert
   • Today’s trek takes you across the lunar-like saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks. The route features a dry, rocky desert landscape, with little vegetation but striking mountain views. 
   • Upon reaching Kibo Huts Camp, located at the base of Kibo’s crater wall, you will rest and prepare for the summit attempt.

6. Day 6: Kibo Huts Camp → Uhuru Peak (Summit) → Horombo Huts Camp

   • Elevation: 4,695m to 5,895m (Uhuru Peak) → 3,690m
   • Distance: 6 km up, 14 km down
   • Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
   • Habitat: Alpine Desert
   • At midnight, after a light breakfast, you will begin your summit attempt. The goal is to reach Uhuru Peak at sunrise. The climb follows a zigzag path up steep scree slopes to Gilman’s Point, where you will be rewarded with spectacular crater and glacier views. From here, a final 2-hour push leads to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa!
   • After celebrating your incredible achievement and taking photos, you will descend back to Kibo Huts, rest, and then continue to Horombo Huts, where you will enjoy dinner and a well-deserved sleep.

7. Day 7: Horombo Huts Camp → Marangu Gate → Moshi/Arusha

   • Elevation: 3,690m to 1,830m to 1,387m
   • Distance: 18 km
   • Descending Time: 5-7 hours
   • After a long rest, you will descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts, where you will stop for lunch. 
   • The journey continues through the lush forest, leading to Marangu Gate, where you will sign out and receive your summit certificates. A vehicle from Origin Ventures and Safaris will then take you back to your hotel for celebrations and relaxation after your successful Kilimanjaro climb!