Itinerary
- Day 1
Marangu Gate to First Camp
Your trek kicks off at Marangu Gate through thick forest where you'll likely see Kilimanjaro Colobus monkeys, those distinctive black and white animals moving through the canopy. The path gradually opens up as elevation increases, and you'll walk to your first camp at the moorland zone's edge. By the end of the day, the views stretch across the Kenyan plains below, giving you that first real sense of what you're climbing.
- Start point
- Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (at the hotel, 08:00 - 08:30)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through forest to First Camp (3-4 hours walking)
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs Marangu Gate Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 2
First Camp to Kikelewa Caves
After eating at camp, you head up steadily toward Second Cave with Kibo and the Eastern ice fields visible as you climb. Lunch comes partway through, then the route diverges from the main trail and crosses moorland toward Mawenzi's jagged peaks. You'll finish at Kikelewa Caves camp positioned in a sheltered valley with dramatic mountain walls surrounding you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Second Cave with views of Kibo and Eastern ice fields
- Trek across moorland toward Mawenzi peaks
- Trek to Kikelewa Caves campsite (6-7 hours walking)
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs Second Cave Kibo Mawenzi Kikelewa Caves - Day 3
Kikelewa Caves to Mawenzi Tarn
This one's short but tough, climbing grassy slopes that open into 360-degree views and real wilderness feeling. As you go higher, vegetation thins out completely before you reach Mawenzi Tarn, which sits dramatically in a cirque beneath Mawenzi's towering spires. The afternoon's yours to rest and wander around, which helps your body adjust to the altitude.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek up grassy slopes to Mawenzi Tarn (3-4 hours walking)
- Free afternoon for rest and acclimatization exploration
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs Mawenzi Tarn Mawenzi - Day 4
Mawenzi Tarn to School Camp
You'll cross the Saddle's lunar landscape between Mawenzi and Kibo, then arrive at School Camp at the base of Kibo's crater wall. From there, focus shifts to rest and mental preparation for tomorrow's push. An early night makes sense since your alarm will come very early in the morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek across the Saddle to School Camp (4-5 hours walking)
- Rest day in preparation for summit attempt
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs The Saddle Kibo - Day 5
School Camp to Uhuru Peak and Horombo
Around 1 a.m., headlamps light your way up switchbacks through loose volcanic scree toward the crater rim. Gillman's Point comes into view as sunrise breaks over Mawenzi. If you have energy left, continue three hours round trip to Uhuru Peak, the actual summit, passing glaciers and ice cliffs on the way. After that, descend to Kibo for food and water, then continue down to Horombo Camp where you'll sleep one final night on the mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Final summit push starting at 1 a.m. to Gillman's Point (5,685m)
- Sunrise viewing at Gillman's Point
- Optional three-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) with glacier views
- Descent to Horombo Camp (11-15 hours total walking)
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs Gillman's Point Uhuru Peak Kibo Mawenzi Horombo - Day 6
Horombo to Marangu Gate and Moshi
The last day is steady walking down through moorland to Mandara Hut, then on to Marangu Gate at the National Park boundary. From the gate, a private vehicle takes you back to your hotel in Moshi, where hot showers and proper beds are waiting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Final descent through moorland to Mandara Hut
- Descent to Marangu National Park gate (5-6 hours walking)
- Private vehicle transfer to Moshi hotel
- Professional mountain guide service
Landmarks/POIs Mandara Hut Marangu Gate
