5-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Marangu Route to Uhuru Peak

After breakfast and a briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate (about 1 hour), register, and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment.

A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings, including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering eucalyptus trees, birdlife, and colobus monkeys.

In the morning, you will start walking through the forest. Soon there will be no more trees. You leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment.

In the moorland, the dominating plant is heather. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and groundsels. You may begin to feel the effects of the altitude.

You will get a good view of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. The vegetation offers more open views through the hills across a few dry creeks. The lunch stop will be 2 hours from the Horombo Huts. There is no pressure during the walk - it takes as long as it takes.

In the morning, you continue climbing uphill as the vegetation ends, passing several water streams. Soon you reach the last watering point at 4200, where you can collect water.

You will cross many ridges uphill to the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. After lunch, continue with a 2-hour climb to Kibo Hut.

You will be surprised that the path doesn't look steep, but the hike turns into a major effort. The landscape can change dramatically, becoming windswept with big clouds rolling in or opening up completely. It's really fun in this part. Looking at Kibo the whole time, you will see the challenge ahead for you tonight. Dinner, rest, and prepare for the summit climb.

Wake up at 11.00 and 11.30 pm. Get ready with your gear and have breakfast. Around midnight, start the hike to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman's Point, located on the crater rim. You will see strings of little lights from climbers ahead of you.

As steep as the slope is, the path itself isn't that bad. Take all the time you need. There are two landmarks that are resting points for only a few minutes. Then, 1:30 hours after leaving the cave, rocks appear on the slippery path at Jamaican Rock. It is another 1:30 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family.

From here, we descend, stopping for lunch and resting at Kibo before continuing to the Horombo encampment. The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you descend, so you need all your warm layers. This is the most difficult part of the trek, with many switchbacks. Going slowly "pole pole" and keeping an optimistic attitude will get you there.

Descend for lunch at Kibo Huts. You have no choice but to pack up your gear and keep going for 3 hours to the Horombo Huts.

After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through the moorland to Mandara Hut. Continue descending through a lush forest path to the national park gate at Marangu.

At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy; gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be plenty to wear, but keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy. A vehicle will be waiting for you at Marangu Gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).