Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be met at the Airport and transferred to the hotel in Arusha/Moshi for your overnight and briefing by our mountain guide.

Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Elevation(ft): 4,921/3,000 ft to 6,400 ft to 9,020 ft
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

Your day starts early with breakfast and a briefing. Transfer by Land Rover through many villages and coffee plantations for 4-6 hours to the attractive wooden village of Nale Muru (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing in and preparing the porters, you begin the hike on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, then enter pine forest. You then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin and Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) is near the “First Cave” at the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.

Elevation(m): 2,750 m to 3,450 m
Elevation(ft): 9,020 ft to 11,320 ft
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Your morning walk is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave. En route, you will enjoy superb views of Kibo and the eastern ice fields on the crater rim.

Elevation(m): 3,450m to 3,870m
Elevation(ft): 11,320ft to 12700 ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert

Your continuing steady ascent takes you up to the Third Cave. Closer now, the eastern ice fields on the crater rim continue to draw you upwards. On this day, be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness.

Elevation(m): 3,870 m to 4,695 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400ft to 12,700ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Today, you hike up to the Kibo Huts at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall, and this is where you join the popular Marangu Route. Plan on doing your hike early in the day, then resting in preparation for your final ascent. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, then turn in early.

Elevation(m ): 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Elevation(ft): 15,400 ft to 19,340 ft to 12,100 ft
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1 AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 AM. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 AM. This is Africa’s highest point, and you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re cross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep! You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!

Elevation(m): 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387/890 m
Elevation(ft): 12,100 ft to 6,000 ft to 4,921/2,920 ft
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

Wake as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to the Hotel in Arusha/Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebration!