Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival at the airport

   • Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by Kili Park’s representative and drive you to your accommodation in Moshi for an overnight stay, waiting for your adventures to start on the following day.

2. Day 2: Moshi to Marangu gate (1670m) to Mandara Hut (2720m)

   • Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Marangu gate, which is located at the Marangu village, where registration for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will take place. A backpack is important for carrying a few things which will be useful for the particular day trekking, such as a camera, extra cloth, skin oil, rain jacket and other things which you will be directed to. Porters will carry other things for your climbing Mount Kilimanjaro such as food, drinking water, clothes and cooking gas, and normally they walk faster than you so they can be in a position to prepare dinner for you on time.
   • After all the formalities, our guide will show you a clear trail and assist you with any additional information or needs. You leave the park office and ascend on a cleared ridge route through the rainforest. The forest was covered with mist and saturated with beards of moss. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail either; after three hours of hiking, you will reach Mandara hut.
   • The weather at Mandara hut isn’t much cold, and normal dressing and a jacket is enough. Except for the Kibo hut, the other huts have a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar-generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above, and flush toilets are behind the main hut.

3. Day 3: Mandara Hut (2720m) to Horombo Hut(3720m)

   • Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will start climbing towards Horombo hut with your picnic lunch. From Mandara hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, and then heads around the base of the Maundi Crater where you will leave the forest and enter the moorland.
   • We recommend you take a short detour up to the rim of the Maundi Crater – from here you see the impressive Kibo Crater, and on a clear day you will also be able to see the glaciers of Kibo. This is a great photographic opportunity. In the moorlands you will also encounter some of Kilimanjaro most spectacular and strange plants in the open moorland – with giant lobelia and groundsel growing to heights of 3 and 5 metres respectively! Later in the afternoon you reach Horombo Hut to stay for hot dinner and an overnight. Your hut will be comfortable enough to ensure a good night rest. Temperatures during the night will be around freezing point.

4. Day 4: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4720m)

   • At this altitude, the oxygen begins to thin out considerably, making the climb tougher. You can choose one of two trails to the "Saddle" between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo, but it's recommended to stick to the lower route as it's easier and has the last watering point. Make sure to stock up on adequate water, as the next watering point is at Horombo Hut, where you will be back on your descent. Take it slow and drink enough water. It will take 5-7 hours to reach Kibo Hut, a barren area with extreme conditions where temperatures drop below freezing at night and are relatively high during the day. Toilet facilities are available behind the hut.
   • Spend time preparing your equipment in the afternoon as you will be making your final ascent. That night, you will need your trekking poles, and extra thermal clothing for the summit bid, and ensure your headlamp and camera batteries are working. Carry your water in a thermal flask to prevent it from freezing. Make sure you are in bed by 7:00 pm, as you will need all the sleep you can get before your early wake-up call in four hours.

5. Day 5: Kibo Hut (4720m) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Horombo hut (3720 m)

   • This day by far, be your most challenging; you will be woken just before midnight and soon head off into the cold night up a rocky path towards to the Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 metres – you may take a short rest here before continuing your ascent up to Gillman’s point at 5685 metres. Probably the most demanding section of the entire route as it is very steep and stony – go slowly and carefully here. From Gillman’s Point, you will more than likely be walking through snow for the next 2 hours, when you will finally reach the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres.
   • Cold and fatigue will set in quickly here and you may find it very difficult to get started again. So spend a little time to enjoy the fact that you have conquered Kilimanjaro, get the camera out and take some pictures, then it will be best that you get moving again – it’s a long way down! The first part of your descent to Kibo hut will take almost another 3 hours. After a short rest you which will be accompanied with brunch, you will begin the next part of your descent – it will take another 4 hours of hiking to get to Horombo hut. Arriving Horombo hut in the evening for dinner and spend overnight there. You will no doubt have a good sleep, feeling exhilarated and proud of your achievement.

6. DAY 6: Horombo hut (3720 m) to Marangu Gate

   • After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you continue your descent passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate – this will take the best part of seven hours. At Marangu gate, you sign your name and details in a register. To make your achievement official, you will receive a summit certificate. If you reached Gillman’s Point you will be presented with a green certificate, and if you made it all the way to Uhuru Peak you will have earned yourself a gold certificate. You will have hot lunch at the gate, you will have a celebration with your mountain crew.
   • After sign out to the park gate you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi or Arusha for hot shower probably dinner and overnight or otherwise in the evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch-up your flight back home.