Day 1: Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

• Distance: 6km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

You will be driven from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi for about 5 hours to the Rongai Gate near the Kenya border. After registering at the gate, we take the first hike through forests where you may see and hear wildlife. Eat lunch on the trail before continuing to the first campsite. Rongai ascends via the less forested northern side of the mountain.

The Rongai Route is one of the least crowded routes on Kilimanjaro because of the long drive to the gate. The Rongai trail is thought to have the best chance of viewing wildlife.

Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp

• Distance: 9km
• Walking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Hike through Kilimanjaro’s moorland. The Rongai route is relatively short and steep, making for shorter hiking times. During the hike, view Mawenzi Peak ahead.

Day 3: Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Camp

• Distance: 6km
• Walking Time: 4 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

This more leisurely acclimatization day starts with a morning hike followed by a rest in the afternoon and evening. The hike is relatively short but steep. The Mawenzi Tarn campsite is situated below Mawenzi Peak and offers stunning views of both Mawenzi and Kibo.

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Campsite

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

This is an acclimatization day at Mawenzi Tarn. We advise you hiking a bit higher this day before returning to Mawenzi Tarn in the afternoon.

Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp to Kibo Camp

• Distance: 4km
• Walking Time: 3 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Cross the lunar landscape of the saddle on this day to arrive at the final campsite. Kibo Camp is situated directly below the Kibo cone, giving you stunning uninterrupted views of your final destination.

Day 6: Kibo Camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

• Distance: 6 km ascent/16km descent
• Walking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Hike by the light of your flashlight for the next six hours. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point.

The hike from Gilman’s to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes about two hours. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Horombo Hut.

Day 7: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Hiking time: 6 – 8 hours
• Distance: 20km
• Walking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorlands

After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Marangu Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. Our vehicles will be waiting at Marangu Gate to take you back to your hotel.

Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts

• Distance: 7km
• Hiking Time: 3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once signed in at the park and final preparations are complete, we start ascending on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. Our first night is at Mandara Hut camp set in a forest clearing. This camp consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts and flush toilets behind the main hut.

Day 2: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts

• Distance: 12km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

In the morning we leave camp and trek through a short stretch of forest through to moorland, circumventing the base of the Maundi Crater. In the afternoon we will reach the Horombo Hut where will we stay overnight.

Day 3: Acclimatization At Horombo Hut

A day here provides an opportunity for you to acclimatize gradually to the altitude. There are a few walks you can make in the vicinity of the hut – the most popular of which is to the base of Mawenzi Peak, the dramatic eastern summit of Kili. This walk takes four to five hours (round trip), and will get you to an altitude of 4048m before you return to the hut – this will stand you in good stead later on. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).

Day 4: Horombo Hut To Kibo Hut

• Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Today we continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone to Kibo Hut. This afternoon we will have an early dinner, prepare your personal gear for the summit and then get some sleep. Our summit trek starts around midnight.

Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut

• Distance: 21km
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit and Moorland

You will be woken around 23:30pm, and after a hot breakfast we will start our final summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer point (5250m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of scree. From Gillman’s Point we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. After taking photos at the summit we start the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we pack up all your personal gear and trek down to Horombo Hut (3 hours). Tonight is our last night on the mountain.

Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Distance: 18km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

This morning we make our final descent down to Marangu Gate where we started. You will be taken for lunch and here you will receive your summit certificate to commemorate your great achievement. We will then drive you back to your hotel where we will say our farewell.

Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts

• Distance: 7km
• Hiking Time: 3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once signed in at the park and final preparations are complete, we start ascending on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. Our first night is at Mandara Hut camp set in a forest clearing. This camp consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts and flush toilets behind the main hut.

Day 2: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts

• Distance: 12km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

In the morning we leave camp and trek through a short stretch of forest through to moorland, circumventing the base of the Maundi Crater. In the afternoon we will reach the Horombo Hut where will we stay overnight.

Day 3: Horombo Hut To Kibo Hut

• Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Today we continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone to Kibo Hut. This afternoon we will have an early dinner, prepare your personal gear for the summit and then get some sleep. Our summit trek starts around midnight.

Day 4: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut

• Distance: 21km
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit and Moorland

You will be woken around 23:30pm, and after a hot breakfast we will start our final summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer point (5250m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of scree. From Gillman’s Point we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. After taking photos at the summit we start the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we pack up all your personal gear and trek down to Horombo Hut (3 hours). Tonight is our last night on the mountain.

Day 5: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Distance: 18km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

This morning we make our final descent down to Marangu Gate where we started. You will be taken for lunch and here you will receive your summit certificate to commemorate your great achievement. We will then drive you back to your hotel where we will say our farewell.