Itinerary

1. Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

   • Meet the tour guide and take a short drive from Moshi town to the Kilimanjaro Park Gate (1,830 m), which lies at the edge of Marangu village, known for small coffee and banana plantations.
   • After completing the entrance formalities, climb your way through the attractive and unspoiled forest to reach Mandara Hut (2,700 meters). The volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby and make for a good afternoon excursion. (An alternative is to rest and enjoy the beautiful forest. There is a rich birdlife at the huts, and monkeys are often seen as well.)

   Overnight stay at the Mandara Hut.

2. Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

   • Wake up to a beautiful morning and start climbing with your Kilimanjaro hiking guide. The first part of the climb is a steep ascent through the forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland, and on a clear day, one can get good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
   • Climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heather and occasional stands of groundswells.
   • Reach Horombo Hut (3,720 meters), where you check-in and make yourselves at home. Be prepared for some stunning views during sunrise and sunset. The site is close to the glaciated dome of Kibo. So, there is a real feeling of being above the clouds.

   Overnight stay at the hut.

3. Day 3: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

   • Begin climbing very gradually in the morning towards the lunar desert of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to screed, and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness.
   • Climb at a usual pace, and reach Kibo Hut (4,700 meters) at the bottom of the crater wall, midday.
   • Spend the afternoon at leisure. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing and eating in preparation for the final climb before going off to sleep early in the night.

4. Day 4: Summit Day

   • Start the ascent using torchlight at about 1:00 a.m. so that you can reach Gilman’s Point by the time sun rises. The initial climb is steep over the loose volcanic screen, but there are some well-graded zigzags, but moving at a steady pace, you will be there in 5 to 6 hours.
   • Stop by for a break at Gilman's Point.
   • Enjoy spending some time watching the bewitching views of the sunrise. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 meters). The descent is surprisingly fast.
   • Return to Horombo Hut for an overnight stay.

5. Day 5: Horombo Hut to Moshi

   • Have breakfast, and start with a pleasant moorland walk to Mandara, followed by a lovely forest walk to Moshi town.
   • Capture your best shots of the lush green forest, which is in quite a contrast to the summit day.

   End of the tour.