Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi to Marangu Gate (1980m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)

   • Early in the morning, after breakfast, the guides will brief you about the hike.

   • Transfer to the Marangu gate at around 9:00 am; it takes about 45 minutes to reach there.

   • On your arrival at Marangu gate located in the Marangu village, complete the registration formalities for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

   • Then, the guide will show you a clear trail and assist you with any additional information or needs you might have.

   • You will then leave the park office and ascend on a cleared ridge route through the rainforests 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. After one and a half hours of hiking, you will reach Mandara hut.

   Hiking time: 5 hours

   Distance: About 12 kms

   Habitat: Montane forest

   Elevation change: + 720 m

2. Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

   • Early in the morning, after your 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 can see the impressive Kibo Crater, and on a clear day, you will also be able to see the glaciers of Kibo.

   • In the moorlands, you will encounter some of Kilimanjaro most spectacular and strange plants - with giant lobelia and groundsel growing to heights of 3 and 5 metres, respectively!

   • Later in the afternoon, you will reach Horombo Hut for a hot dinner and overnight. Your hut will be comfortable enough to ensure a good nights rest. Temperatures during the night will be around the freezing point.

   Hiking time: 6 hours

   Distance: About 15 km

   Habitat: Moorland

   Elevation change: + 1020 m

3. Day 3: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)

   • Climb becomes more difficult as oxygen at these altitudes begins to thin out considerably.

   • To begin with, take one of the two trails to the “Saddle”, located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo.

   • Stick to the lower route, which is much easier and has the added benefit of taking you past the last watering point. You should stock up on all the water you will need - the next watering point will be at Horombo hut when you return there on your descent, the night after next.

   • Once again, remember to take it slow and drink enough water. It will take 5 to 7 hours to reach Kibo Hut, where you will rest and have dinner. This is a barren area of extreme conditions, with temperatures at night sometimes dropping below freezing point and daytime temperatures being relatively high.

   Hiking time: 6 hours

   Distance: About 15 kms

   Habitat: Alpine desert

   Elevation change: + 980 m

4. Day 4: Kibo Hut (4700 m) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m) to Horombo Hut (3720 m)

   • Today will by far be your toughest day. You will be woken up just before midnight and soon head off into the cold night, up to a rocky path towards the Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 metres – you may take a short rest here before continuing your ascent to Gillman’s point at 5680 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.

   Hiking time: 10 hours

   Distance: About 27 kms

   Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

   Elevation change: + 1195 m, - 2175 m

5. Day 5: Horombo Hut (3720 m) to Mandara Hut (1980m) 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 six 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.

   • After checking out of the park, you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi for a hot shower, probably dinner, and overnight or otherwise in the evening, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.

   Hiking time: 6 hours

   Distance: About 27 kms

   Habitat: Moorland + Rain Forest

   Elevation change: - 1740 m