Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha - Marangu Gate - Mandara

   • Meet your tour guide at the hotel and drive to Marangu gate. 
   • Enjoy the excellent views of the mountain.
   • Proceed to check in the park at the gate with your team of guides and porters.
   • Get in the rain forest which is the first zone of the mountain. Whilst in the forest you could see bright coloured birds, colobus monkeys and other species of monkey as well as mosses, lichens and flowers and delicate orchids. If the skies are clear you can see the town of Moshi lying at the edge of the plain further down. 
   • Continue ascending in this 4-5 hours through the areas of coffee plantation and thick rainforest to Mandara Hut for dinner.

   Overnight stay at Mandara Hut.

   Altitude: 1,700 m to 2,740 m

   Distance covered: 7km

   Time: 4-5 hours

   Meals: Lunch and dinner

2. Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

   • Leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path onto the open moorlands then the Horombo encampment. 
   • Witness the amazing views of Kibo and Mawenzi. 
   • Cross the Alpine Zone of the mountain and get to see giant lobelias and groundsels. Here, you are expected to begin to feel the effects of the altitude.

   Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (full board).

   Altitude: 2,700 m to 3,700 m

   Distance Covered: 11km

   Time: 6-8 hours

3. Day 3: Acclimatize at Horombo Hut

   • Acclimatize on your third day. It is highly recommended to hike all the way to Mawenzi Hut so that you allow your body to acclimatize. This hiking increases your chances to reach Uhuru Peak. With this comes a reward which is the magnificent views of Kibo. 
   • Return back to Horombo for a late lunch. You are to spend the afternoon and evening at Horombo.

   Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (full board).

   Altitude: 3,700 m to 4,400 m

   Distance Covered: 5km

   Time: 2 - 3 hrs

4. Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

   • Hike to reach Kibo. The trail up to Kibo will take between five and seven hours. 
   • Pass the Last Water point and cross a stark, almost lunar landscape to the Saddle which is a wide tundra desert between the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Here you will start seeing fantastic views of the upper ranges of the mountain before arriving at Kibo Hut (4,705m), a dry-stone-walled hut with dorms and limited facilities. 
   • Prepare for tomorrow’s final assault, the Summit. Re-pack to leave any non-essential items with the porters; you need to summon all your energy to get to the summit so there’s absolutely no point in carrying anything you don’t need. An early night is imperative as you must make a midnight start in order to reach the summit in the morning before the cloud cover settles, and then have time to get back down to the hut. 

   Overnight stay at Kibo Hut (full board).

   Altitude: 3,700 m to 4,730 m

   Altitude: 4,730 m to 5,895 m

   Distance Covered: 4 km up / 14 km down

   Time to be used: 7 hrs

5. Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit Then Horombo Hut

   • Commence the climb to the summit at midnight around 2 am on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. 
   • Ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your pictures taken at the summit. 
   • Descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.

   Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (full board).

   Altitude: 3,700 m to 1,700 m

   Distance Covered: 18km down

   Time to be used: 5 - 7 hrs

6. Day 6: Horombo Hut to Arusha

   • Continue your triumphant way back down, across alpine meadow and past Mandara Hut, through the rainforest to Marangu Gate.
   • Board the vehicle for the journey back to Arusha.

   Altitude: 3,700 m to 1,700 m

   Distance Covered: 20.8km km

   Time to be used: 8 hrs

   Meals: Breakfast & Lunch