Day 1: Arrival day
Upon your arrival, you will be picked up by the team at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Then, you will stay in a hotel provided by Sky View Adventure in Moshi, Tanzania.
Day 2: Marangu Gate (1,860 meters) - Mandara hut (2,715 meters)
- Hiking time: 5 hours
- Distance: Approximately 8.1 kilometers
- Habitat: Montane forest
The drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park's gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the park's office and make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will be seen arranging and loading their packs, containing the food, water, cooking gas, as well as most of your equipment. Make sure that you have all your daypack items (containing at least drinking water, your lunch pack, and extra clothing) with you, as the porters ascend a lot quicker than the hikers.
The guides will be available to assist with any additional information or needs you might have. You now leave the park's gate and ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. The forest, suffused with mist and dripping with beards of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro’s animals are found.
An alternative and more scenic parallel forest trail branches off to the left a few minutes after the gate. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail either after 1.5 hours of hiking, or 1 hour before you reach Mandara acclimatization.
Your first night stop, Mandara hut, consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. The water is piped into the camp from springs above and there are flush toilets behind the main hut. Dinner is prepared by the cook and served in a communal dining mess.
Day 3: Mandara hut (2,715 meters) - Horombo Hut (3,705 meters)
- Hiking time: 6 hours
- Distance: Approximately 11.6 kilometers
- Habitat: Moorland
From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into the transition from rain forest to moorland. It is well worth a short to have a detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first really impressive view of the Kibo Crater. On a clear day, Kibo will glimmer in the distance, showing off her majestic glaciers in the morning sun.
Once you are in the open moorland, you will get the chance to see some of Kilimanjaro’s most spectacular plants, the endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3 meters in height and the giant groundsel (Senecio Kilimanjari), which can reach heights of 5 meters! After about 6 hours' trek from here, you will reach the Horombo Hut, where you will have a hot bowl of washing water, rest, an evening meal, and overnight stay.
Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,705 meters) - Acclimatization day
Horombo Hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with buildings similar to Mandara, but with a total capacity of 120 climbers! Horombo is normally bustling with hikers, guides, and porters, with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here.
This extra day and night at Horombo is for additional acclimatization. A hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way (about 3 hours up and 1.5 hours down), is strongly recommended. This hike will further assist with the process of acclimatization. Remember to drink enough water and move slowly! All meals for the day are provided at the hut. Retire to bed early and get a last good night’s rest.
Day 5: Horombo Hut (3,705 meters) - Kibo hut (4,730 meters)
- Hiking time: 6 hours
- Distance: Approximately 9.6 kilometers
- Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast, you now continue your ascent into the Alpine desert habitat. From Horombo, there are two trails to the “saddle” (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). There is an upper route (right-hand fork) and lower route (left-hand fork) to choose from. The upper route (right-hand fork) should be very familiar, as you have climbed most of it on the previous day (on your acclimatization hike) towards Mawenzi hut. This section is very stony and eroded.
The recommended lower route (left-hand fork) is much easier and nearly an hour shorter, and it also passes the last watering point at 4,130 meters. You will have to fill your water bottles with all the water you will need until you return to Horombo hut in two night’s time (unless you are willing to buy mineral water at Kibo hut). Once again remember to slow down and drink enough water!
Situated in the barren Alpine desert, Kibo hut is a stone build block house which has bunk beds for 60 climbers, but there are no streams with water nearby. It is, however, possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. There are platform toilets behind the hut. The summit is now a further 1,195 meters up and you will make your final ascent on the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski-stick, and thermal clothing for your summit bid. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around 19:00 and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible.
Day 6: Kibo hut (4,730 meters) - Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) - Horombo Hut (3,705 meters)
- Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo
- Distance: Approximately 5.4 kilometers ascent and 15 kilometers descent
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise at around 23:20, and after some tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night and this is where the trail really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 meters), and it is also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman's point (5,681 meters), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly.
From Gillman's Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa. It is a total exhilaration and satisfaction, you made it! The weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend, taking photographs, before you make the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest, you gather all your gear you left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo Hut (3 hours) for your overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day. Later in the evening, you will enjoy your last dinner (with soft drinks and beer for sale at the camp office) on the mountain and a well-earned sleep, filled with memories and stirring emotions.
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3,705 meters) - Marangu Gate (1,860 meters)
- Hiking time: 6 hours
- Distance: Approximately 19.7 kilometers
After breakfast, you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu Gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Marangu Gate, you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5,685 meters) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations! Overnight at the Springlands Hotel.
Day 8: Departure day
This is your departure day. The team will drop you off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
