Altitude: 1,830 m - 2,700 m

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Start the day with breakfast, and then depart Moshi town at 08:30 AM. Drive for approximately 60 to 90 minutes to reach Marangu Gate, situated on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro. Complete the necessary paperwork, including registrations, at the park gate. The hiking journey will commence around 9:30 AM. Trek through the enchanting rainforest, starting from the park gate at 6,000 feet, and make your way to Mandara Hut at 9,000 feet. The hike will take approximately 3 to 4 hours, with a halfway stop for lunch. Arrive at Mandara Huts around 01:00 PM. Once there, enjoy a brief tour of the area before settling into the Hut for an evening meal and spending the night.

Altitude: 2,700 m – 3,720 m

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 5–6 hours

Awake to a 7:30 AM morning meal, and get ready for your next journey. Depart the campsite by 8:30 AM, trekking for an hour through serene rainforest clearings. Then, follow a rising trail through heathland, offering opportunities to spot giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue upward into open moorlands where small shrubs dominate the vegetation. Pause midway for lunch, and revel in the breathtaking views of Mawenzi. Reach the Horombo Huts by 3 PM, where the summit of Kibo comes into view. Take a rest, unpack, and prepare for dinner. Restrooms with running water are accessible. It's important to note that the effects of altitude may start to manifest here. To aid in acclimatization, you have the option to either rest for an extra day at Horombo or embark on a climb to a basecamp below Kibo's sub-peak, Mawenzi. 

 Altitude: 3,720 m – 4,700 m

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 6–7 hours

Begin your day with breakfast as usual, and if you happen to wake up early, take advantage of the opportunity to capture stunning sunrise photos. The initial phase of today's hike will take you through the diminishing heathland, gradually transitioning into a lunar-like landscape as you approach the vast saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. During lunchtime and as you traverse this unexpectedly expansive saddle, take some time to observe the ascent up Kibo's summit, which you will begin in a few hours. Be vigilant in identifying any symptoms of altitude sickness. It's essential to note that there is no running water available at the Kibo Huts.

 Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows take you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. 

After your summit stays, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and recross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep!  

 Wake, as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebration! Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange many reasonably priced trips and safaris around Moshi and the Kilimanjaro region.