Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha to Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

   6,398 ft to 9,300 ft, 5 miles, approx. 4 hours

   • After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will give you an overall briefing. At 9 am, you will be met by the rest of our guides and porters, and then we will drive you to the Kilimanjaro National Park. While officially registering for your climb at Marangu Park Gate, our staff will cross-check equipment and supplies and pack the vehicles. 
   • After registration, you will be shuttled 70 kilometres on poor roads to the Rongai Start Point at 1.950 meters. The trek begins from Nale Moru village and follows a gradual and winding trail that first crosses maize and potato fields before entering the rainforest, which is home to various wildlife. 
   • After 4-5 hours trekking, you will be welcomed with boiled washing water and snacks before dinner is served in the mess tent.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2. Day 2: Simba Camp to 2nd Cave Camp

   9,300 ft to 11,300 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours

   • You will be woken up after your first night on the mountain with a nice cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate at 06:30 am in your tent. 
   • After breakfast, you climb on a trail that continues towards Kibo. For most of the day, you will walk up slopes flanked with heather and erica with a nice view of the twin peaks of Kilimanjaro – Mawenzi and Kibo and your first glimpse of the ice fields on the Eastern crater rim. 
   • Once we approach the second cave, our cook will welcome you to the camp with boiled drinking water and hot washing water. You can put your feet up with some snacks and a hot lunch. 
   • After lunch, there is plenty of time to relax, enjoy the camp's spirit, and take pictures.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3. Day 3: 2nd Camp to Kikelewa Camp

   11,300 ft to 11,811 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours

   • From Second Cave, the path takes an abrupt south-easterly turn and turns directly towards the jagged peak of Mawenzi. Traversing open moorland, you stumble into Kikelewa Camp, situated in a couple of caves near the Kikelewa River, with giant groundsels and lobelias flourishing nearby. The views start from Kikelewa Camp; you will see how huge Mt. Kilimanjaro is.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4. Day 4: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut

   Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut

   11,811 ft to 14,160 ft, 3 miles, 4 hours

   • This stage to Mawenzi Tarn is relatively short at less than 4-5km and is usually completed in the morning. The climb is steep as you gain 660m, the path shedding the moorland vegetation as it climbs steadily. The Mawenzi Tarn Hut is situated in one of the most spectacular settings, in a cirque beneath Mawenzi's jagged teeth. 
   • In the afternoon, we offer you another walk up the ridge in the west for better acclimatization. If you are lucky and the sky is clear, you will enjoy fantastic views of Kibo.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5. Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Hut to Kibo hut

   14,160 ft to 15,430 ft, 5 miles, 5-6 hours

   • This lovely day begins with slightly retracing your steps before you strike out westwards, crossing the ridge and dropping down the slope to tiptoe along the beautiful barren Saddle’s northern edge. With views like screensavers to the east and west, this day is the most favoured day on the mountain. Our destination for today will be Kibo Campsite, which offers you a spectacular view of the Kibo again.
   • We will arrive at the camp very early, and you will get a hot lunch. Our guides will give you a final briefing in the afternoon to prepare you for the summit day. It is time to relax, cross-check and prepare your equipment and clothing. 
   • Dinner will be served very early to give you ample time to rest and sleep. Good food, water, and sleep are the keys to a successful summit. We advise you to be in bed before 7 pm to be rested for your wake-up hot drink at 11:30 pm.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6. Day 6: Kibo Hut to Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hutp

   15,430 ft to 19,341 ft to 12,205 ft, 4 miles ascent, 10 miles descent, 6-8 hours ascent, 4-5 hours descent

   • The wake-up tea will be served at 11:30 pm, and the departure will be at midnight. 
   • We will start the summit challenge after a hot drink and some biscuits. Our initial 6-hour climb begins in the dark, with only our headlamps and guides to show us the way. Remember the golden rule ‘pole, pole’, which means slowly. Several landmarks are on the way: William’s Point at 5.131m and Hans Meyer Cave at 5.259m, which act as milestones to break up the journey and provide you with some measure of your progress.
   • At Gilman’s Point (5.681m), you will see what might be the most magnify-cent sunrise in your life so far. 
   • After taking some pictures at the sign and enjoying a fantastic view of Mawenzi, we continue our climb on the part of the Marangu Route for 1-2 more hours to reach your ultimate goal – the summit – the highest peak of Africa – Uhuru Peak at 5.985m. Congratulations! You are now standing on ‘the roof of Africa’.Our guides will take pictures of you and post them on Facebook for your family and friends at home.
   • Due to the altitude and the cold, it is important to start our descent after a few minutes at the summit. After the descent, the rest of our team will congratulate you and welcome you with a hot lunch at Kibo Camp. 
   • You will have the chance to take a break before we start the next descent to Horombo Hut. After this long day, you can enjoy your dinner and your last night on the mountain.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping

   Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7. Day 7: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Arusha

   12,205 ft to 6,046 ft, 12 miles, 5-7 hours 

   • Once again, you will be woken for your final celebratory breakfast, during which our team will thank and congratulate you in their unique, special way! This is also the opportunity to thank you for your support and encouragement and show your appreciation by giving a tip. 
   • We continue our descent by passing Mandara Hut down to Marangu Gate. There, you will get the chance to have a celebratory beer while the equipment is loaded in the van. Then it is off to a restaurant in Moshi for lunch, where you will be presented with your certificate of achievement. 
   • After lunch, you will dropped off at your hotel, where you can relax under a long, well-deserved hot shower.

   Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping Meals 

   Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner