Itinerary

1. Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

   • Begin a short drive from Moshi town to the Kilimanjaro Park Gate (1,830 meters.) at the edge of Marangu, which is an attractive village with many small coffee and banana plantations.

   • After completing the entrance formalities, start climbing up through the attractive and unspoiled forest to reach Mandara Hut (2,700 m). 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 rich birdlife in the region, and monkeys are often seen as well.

   Overnight stay.

   3-5 hours walking

2. Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

   • Start walking towards Horombo Hut with your Kilimanjaro trekking guide. The first part of the walk is a steep ascent through the forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland. On a clear day, there are good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

   • Climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heather trees and occasional stands of groundsel to reach Horombo Hut (3,720 m.).

   • Be ready for incredible sunrise and sunset views. The picturesque view of the glaciated dome of Kibo Peak is a real delight. 

   Overnight stay.

   4-6 hours walking

3. Day 3: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

   • Climb very gradually towards the lunar desert between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to screed, and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness.

   • Reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) by around midday.

   • Spend the latter half of the day at leisure.

   • Relax and prepare yourself for the summit. 

   • Retire very early in the night.

   4-5 hours walking

4. Day 4: Summit Day & Down to Horombo Hut

   • Start your ascent using a torchlight at about 01:00 am so that you can be up at Gillman’s Point by sunrise. The initial stretch is a steep climb over loose volcanic scree, but there are some well-graded zigzags that will help you make it to Gillman’s Point (5,685 m.) in about five or six hours.

   • Once at Gillman's Point, get some rest and spend some time witnessing the sunrise.

   • Those who are still feeling strong can set out for the three-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), the highest point in Africa.

   • Start the descent to Horombo Hut, where you stay for the night.

   11-15 hours walking

5. Day 5: Horombo Hut to Moshi

   • After breakfast, start with a pleasant moorland walk to Mandara and then through the lush forest, arriving at the national park gates.

   • From here, transfer to Moshi

   End of the tour.