Itinerary
- Day 1
Moshi/Arusha to Mandara Hut
You'll drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Kilimanjaro Park gate, then start hiking through the forest zone toward Mandara Hut. The trail takes you through thick vegetation where you'll spot monkeys and hear various bird calls throughout the day. Once you reach the hut, you can either walk out to Maundi Crater in the afternoon for crater views or just relax and take in the forest surroundings. Either way, it's a good day to let your body adjust to the altitude before things get more challenging.
- Start point
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Airport arrival gate)
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Soup of the day, bread, salad, meat/chicken/fish, rice/pasta/potatoes, vegetables, lentils, fruit. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
Included Activities
- Drive to Kilimanjaro Park gate
- Hike through forest to Mandara Hut
- Explore Maundi Crater (optional afternoon excursion)
Optional Activities
- Rest and enjoy the forest at Mandara Hut
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro National Park Maundi Crater - Day 2
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
This day involves a steep climb out of the forest and into open moorland. As the trees thin out, you'll see Kibo and Mawenzi peaks starting to come into view. The trail keeps climbing through grassland with giant heather and groundsel plants scattered around. By afternoon, you'll reach Horombo Hut, which sits at a good elevation and offers clear views of Kibo's icy summit. The altitude is getting real now, so take it slow and focus on your breathing.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Eggs, sausages, bacon, French toast/pancakes, bread/toast, cereal/porridge, fruit. Margarine, jam, honey, peanut butter. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice.), Lunch (Carrot and cucumber strips, avocado slices, boiled eggs, chicken, meat cutlets, sandwiches (egg, cheese, tomato, meat, tuna, or peanut butter), fruit. Meat sauce and bread.), Dinner (Soup of the day, bread, salad, meat/chicken/fish, rice/pasta/potatoes, vegetables, lentils, fruit. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
Included Activities
- Hike through forest to moorland
- Trek through moorland to Horombo Hut
Landmarks/POIs Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 3
Acclimatization Day at Horombo
You're staying at Horombo for acclimatization, which means your body gets time to adjust to the thinner air. In the morning, head out on a hike to Mawenzi Hut and back, which gives you added elevation exposure without having to push too hard. The walk provides great views of Kibo from different angles. After returning by late morning, grab lunch and spend the rest of the day and evening resting. Staying put at 12,000 feet helps prevent altitude sickness later.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Eggs, sausages, bacon, French toast/pancakes, bread/toast, cereal/porridge, fruit. Margarine, jam, honey, peanut butter. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice.), Lunch (Carrot and cucumber strips, avocado slices, boiled eggs, chicken, meat cutlets, sandwiches (egg, cheese, tomato, meat, tuna, or peanut butter), fruit. Meat sauce and bread.), Dinner (Soup of the day, bread, salad, meat/chicken/fish, rice/pasta/potatoes, vegetables, lentils, fruit. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
Included Activities
- Hike to Mawenzi Hut for acclimatization
- Return hike to Horombo Hut
Landmarks/POIs Mawenzi Hut Kibo Peak - Day 4
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
After breakfast, you'll leave Horombo and enter the alpine desert zone with its rocky, sparse landscape. The terrain shifts from moorland to a high-altitude environment as you pass Maua River and take a lunch break at Middle Red Hill. From there, continue through the Saddle, a wide plateau between Kibo and Mawenzi with incredible peak views on both sides. You'll arrive at Kibo Hut around 3pm, where you'll rest, eat dinner, and prepare yourself mentally for the midnight push to the summit.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Eggs, sausages, bacon, French toast/pancakes, bread/toast, cereal/porridge, fruit. Margarine, jam, honey, peanut butter. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice.), Lunch (Carrot and cucumber strips, avocado slices, boiled eggs, chicken, meat cutlets, sandwiches (egg, cheese, tomato, meat, tuna, or peanut butter), fruit. Meat sauce and bread.), Dinner (Soup of the day, bread, salad, meat/chicken/fish, rice/pasta/potatoes, vegetables, lentils, fruit. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
Included Activities
- Hike through moorland and alpine desert
- Pass Maua River
- Trek through Kilimanjaro's Saddle
- Arrive at Kibo Hut
Landmarks/POIs Maua River Middle Red Hill Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 5
Summit Attempt to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo
Around midnight, you'll wake up and begin the final summit push. The hike to Gillman's Point on the crater rim takes about five hours, and you'll pass William's Point at 5000 meters along the way. After reaching the rim, continue another two hours along the crater edge to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet, where you'll celebrate reaching Africa's highest point and take photos. The descent starts immediately after, with breaks at Kibo Hut before heading down to Horombo for your last night on the mountain.
- Meals
- Midnight Snack (Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, orange squash or soup), Snack (Short break and snacks at Kibo Hut during descent)
Included Activities
- Midnight ascent to Uhuru Peak
- Hike to Gillman's Point (5,681 meters)
- Crater rim hike to Uhuru Peak
- Photos at Uhuru Peak summit
- Descent to Kibo Hut
- Descent to Horombo Hut
Landmarks/POIs William's Point Gillman's Point Uhuru Peak - Day 6
Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate and Return to Moshi
The final day starts after breakfast with a long descent through the cloud forest back to Marangu Gate. The path can be muddy and slippery on the way down, so watch your footing carefully and take your time. By afternoon, you'll reach the gate where vehicles are waiting to drive you back to Moshi. It's a nice way to finish since you're moving through the beautiful forest zone and heading toward lower elevations and warmer air.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Eggs, sausages, bacon, French toast/pancakes, bread/toast, cereal/porridge, fruit. Margarine, jam, honey, peanut butter. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice.)
Included Activities
- Descent through cloud forest to Marangu Gate
- Return transfer to Moshi
Landmarks/POIs Kilimanjaro Cloud Forest
