Itinerary
- Day 1
Rongai Gate
You'll start at Rongai Gate where your Mount Kilimanjaro climb begins. The trail opens up through moorland with gentle grades, so the first day feels manageable even though you're getting acclimated to the altitude. Your guide will set a steady pace and you'll camp at around 8,000 feet. This initial stretch helps your body start adjusting before things get more challenging.
Landmarks/POIs Rongai Gate - Day 2
Second Cave Camp
From here you head to Second Cave Camp, moving higher on the mountain. The terrain shifts as you gain elevation, and you'll notice the vegetation changing around you. Your support team handles the camp logistics so you can focus on the trek. By evening you'll be at roughly 10,500 feet where the air feels thinner.
Landmarks/POIs Second Cave Camp - Day 3
Kikelewa Camp
The hike to Kikelewa Camp continues your steady ascent up Kilimanjaro. At this point altitude becomes something you really feel, so your guide keeps the pace slow and deliberate. You're getting higher each day, now around 11,000 feet. Acclimatization is happening whether you notice it or not, and it matters for later.
Landmarks/POIs Kikelewa Camp - Day 4
Mawenzi Tarn Camp
You'll reach Mawenzi Tarn Camp positioned at a significant elevation. From here you can see Mawenzi peak, and the landscape feels more like a high alpine environment. The air pressure drops noticeably compared to lower camps. This is where the acclimatization phase really kicks in as you settle at around 13,500 feet.
Landmarks/POIs Mawenzi Tarn Camp - Day 5
Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Today you stay put at Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which might feel like a break but it's actually crucial. Your body needs time to adjust to the altitude, so you'll take short walks around camp rather than tackle long distances. Rest, hydrate, and eat well. This extra day at altitude helps prevent altitude sickness when you push higher.
Landmarks/POIs Mawenzi Tarn Camp - Day 6
Kibo Hut
The trek to Kibo Hut moves you to the final camp before your summit push. You're getting close now at about 15,000 feet. Kibo Hut sits at the base of the crater, and from here you can see the route you'll take early tomorrow morning. Your guide will talk through the overnight summit attempt so you know what to expect.
Landmarks/POIs Kibo Hut - Day 7
Uhuru Peak
Summit day starts before midnight when your guide wakes you for the final push. You'll begin your ascent to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters in darkness, moving slowly and deliberately through the night. After hours of hiking, you'll reach the summit as dawn breaks, giving you views across the crater and surrounding landscape. The descent back to Kibo Hut takes several hours once you've spent time at the top.
Landmarks/POIs Uhuru Peak - Day 8
Marangu Gate
After your summit rest, you make the long descent toward Marangu Gate to finish your Kilimanjaro trek. The downhill journey takes most of the day but feels easier on tired legs than climbing. You'll pass through different ecological zones as you drop in elevation, eventually reaching the gate where your adventure ends. This is when the reality of what you've accomplished really hits.
Landmarks/POIs Marangu Gate
