Day 1

Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

The Marangu Gate lies on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro, the trail ascends into a rainforest with Eucalyptus trees, bird life, blue monkeys, and colobus monkeys.

• Elevation(ft): 6,046 ft to 8,858 ft
• Distance: 8 km/5 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 2

Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut

Hike for an hour through rainforest glades, then follow an ascending path through heathland where you can look for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands with shrub vegetation. Halfway through one can enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi while having lunch. At Horombo Huts you can see Kibo’s summit and you may start to feel the effects of the altitude.

• Elevation (ft): 8,858 ft to 12,205 ft
• Distance: 12 km/7 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Day 3

Horombo Hut – Mawenzi Ridge
To aid your acclimatization, we will spend this day resting at Horombo or you can   take a stroll up to Mawenzi basecamp then return to the Horombo Huts. This will aid your acclimatization, and further your understanding of the mountain’s weather and altitude.

Horombo Hut to Mawenzi Ridge

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 14,400 ft
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Mawenzi Ridge to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 14,400 ft to 12,205
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Day 4
In the early morning, the sunrise is magnificent at this altitude. Hike through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping “saddle” connecting Mawenzi and Kibo.

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 15,430 ft
• Distance: 10 km/6 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 5
At midnight we prepare for the summit ascend. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Switching back up steep screes and possibly snow, we’ll 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 take you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak. 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! After your summit, we descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, and re-cross the “saddle” to the Horombo Huts for dinner and get some well-deserved sleep!

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak

• Elevation (ft): 15,430 ft to 19,341 ft
• Distance: 6 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 19,341 ft to 12,250 ft
• Distance: 16 km/10 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Day 6
Descend through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Push on with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate where you’ll collect your summit certificate. A vehicle will take you back to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebration!

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 6,046 ft
• Distance: 20 km/12 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest