Day 1

Arrival

  • ✈️ Airport Pick-Up: We’ll greet you at Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport and provide transportation, including your return trip to the airport.
  • 🏨 Hotel Accommodation: Enjoy your first night in a comfortable hotel.

πŸ›ŒπŸ» Spend the night in a hotel, the same one as your first night’s stay.

🚌 Note: Transportation to the airport is included after your last night spent in the hotel.

Day 2

  • After breakfast, drive from the hotel to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (Marangu Gate).
  • Register at the gate and officially begin the climb.
  • Walk through the rainforest on the ascent to the Mandara encampment.
  • Observe towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys along the trail.
  • Take a side trip to Maundi Crater for panoramic views of Northern Tanzania and Kenya.
  • Continue the trek through the rainforest, exploring the unique flora and fauna of the region.

Day 3

  • Depart from the rainforest and follow an ascending path through the open moorlands to reach the Horombo encampment.
  • Marvel at the breathtaking views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo during the ascent.
  • Look for giant lobelias and grounsels in the surroundings, and be mindful of potential effects of altitude as you continue your journey.

Day 4

  • Ascend past the last watering point on the way to the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi.
  • Witness the transition of vegetation from upper heathland as you continue the ascent.
  • Experience the landscape transforming into a “moonscape” as vegetation disappears, revealing a unique and barren terrain.
  • Arrive at the destination, have dinner, rest, and make preparations for the final summit climb.

Day 5

  • Commence the climb to the summit from midnight to 2 am, navigating steep scree or snow to reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim.
  • Continue the ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, with incredible views at every turn.
  • Capture the moment by having your picture taken at the summit to share with friends and family.
  • Descend from the summit, stopping for lunch and rest at Kibo before proceeding to the Horombo encampment.
  • Navigate the challenging descent in the dark using headlamps or flashlights, enduring the cold until descending, and approach this demanding part of the trek with a slow and optimistic attitude.

Day 6

  • After breakfast, embark on a steady descent through moorland, making your way down to the Mandara Hut.
  • Continue the descent through lush forest paths, experiencing the change in surroundings as you make your way to lower elevations.
  • Descend further until reaching the National Park gate at Marangu, completing your trek.
  • Be prepared for potentially wet and muddy conditions at lower elevations. Consider wearing gaiters and using trekking poles. Keep rain gear and warmer clothing accessible.
  • A vehicle will be waiting for you at the Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi, approximately a 1-hour journey.