8-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via Rongai Route to Uhuru Peak

You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide, who will brief you on your upcoming trek and carry out an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.

In the morning, we'll drive you to Nale Moru, the village that marks the starting point of the Rongai Route. The first stretch of the hike takes you through farmland and pine forest, where, if you are lucky, you may spot beautiful Colobus monkeys, elephants, or buffalos. Your first camp will be Simba Campsite, located on the very edge of the moorland zone at 2625 m.

• Elevation: 1990 meters to 2625 meters
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

The morning hike will be a steady ascent to Second Cave Camp, which is located in the moorland zone. From here, you will have a spectacular view of Kibo and the eastern ice fields dwelling at the crater rim. You will have lunch at the cave camp and then proceed with the hike through the moorland.

You'll be able to see the breathtaking eastern ice fields on the rim of Kibo, the highest of the three volcanoes that form the mountain. You will then leave the main trail and branch into the moorland on a lesser trail leading to the spiked peaks of Mawenzi, the second-highest volcanic cone of Kilimanjaro. We'll set up camp here in the secluded valley near Kikelewa Caves at 3630 m.

• Elevation: 2526 meters to 3630 meters
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

You will wake up to a short but steep hike up the grassy slopes, which lead to a rewarding view of the Kenyan plains to the north. Leaving the vegetation behind, you will arrive at Mawenzi Tarn Hut, the camp nestled directly below the high cliffs of Mawenzi. Here, you will have a chance to explore the surrounding area in the afternoon, which will be very useful for your acclimatization.

• Elevation: 3630 meters to 4310 meters
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

You will leave the campsite and walk across the lunar desert of the 'saddle' that separates Mawenzi and Kibo. After a couple of hours of hiking, you will reach an area where the summit of Kilimanjaro stands majestically in the background, and your trail to the high camp unfolds in plain sight. Once you reach the camp, you will spend the rest of the day resting in preparation for the final ascent after a very early night.

• Elevation: 4310 meters to 4700 meters
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

You will wake up at around 11:30 p.m. for a hot cup of tea or coffee and then get ready for your hike to the summit, which will begin at around 12:30 a.m. The temperature at this time is below freezing. The trail twists upward through heavy scree toward Gilman's Point.

Once you are at Gilman's Point, you will be served a hot cup of tea or coffee to warm you up as you enjoy the breathtaking view of the sunrise. The hike to Uhuru Peak will take about 1.5 hours over a gentle slope around the edge of the crater rim. Uhuru Peak is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.

Once at the top, you will spend a short time enjoying the view and photographing your success before beginning the steep walk back to Kibo Hut for lunch and some rest. After this, you will descend to Horombo Hut for dinner and a good night's rest.

• Elevation: 4700 meters to 5895 meters to 3720 meters
• Distance: 20 km
• Hiking time: 13-14 hours
• Habitat: Arctic

After breakfast and the last celebration with the porters, you will begin your hike down to Marangu Gate, where you will have a hot lunch. A car will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation in Moshi.

• Elevation: 3720 meters to 1800 meters
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Semi-Desert

Today, you may choose to relax at the hotel or extend your holiday by continuing with a safari. If not, our driver will transfer you to the airport to connect with your flight back home.