Day 1

Marangu gate – Mandara huts: 7k /mi | 4-5 hrs | rainforest

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2740m/9000ft

Departing from Moshi a 1-hour drive will take you through the village of Marangu to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

Day 2

Mandara huts – Horombo huts: 11km/3mi | 6-8hrs | Mooreland

Elevation: 2740m/9000ft to 3690m/12,100ft

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, to enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo huts late afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo summit viewpoint. Temperatures begin to drop.

Day 3

Horombo Huts - Kibo huts: 10km/6mi | 6-8hrs | semi-desert

Elevation: 3690m/12,100ft to 4695m/15,400ft

After breakfast, we continue through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here while we stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours.

Day 4

Kibo huts – summit: 4km /2.5 mi up | 5-7hrs | – Horombo huts: 14km /9mi down | 5-6hrs | glaciers, snow-capped summit

Elevation: 4695m/15,400ft to 5895m/19,340ft

Descent to 3690m/12,100ft

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow toward Gillman’s point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to mweka camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight mweka camp.

Day 5

Colombo huts – Marangu gate – Moshi: 18km/11mi |6-7hrs | rainforest

Elevation: 3690m/12,100 to 1830m/6000ft

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down stopping at the mandara huts for lunch. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. You return to the marangu park gate and receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep and we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 45 minutes).