Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will meet our HK (HIKING KILIMANJARO) representative and then proceed to transfer to the hotel. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay: cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. Later or tomorrow morning, you will have a short briefing with your expert tour leader about your expedition. We will also review your equipment needed for your adventure to ensure that everything is set for your journey to Kilimanjaro.
Day 1
Arrival
- Transport: Private transfer
- Accomodation: Hotel
Day 2
Hotel to Marangu Gate - Mandara Hut
After breakfast we will collect you from your hotel for your transfer to Marangu Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. The forest, covered with mist and dripping with beards of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro’s animals are found. We will spend our first night at Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-framed huts set in a forest clearing.
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 720 m
- Max. altitude: 2700 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
From Mandara Hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirting the base of the Maundi Crater emerging into the transition zone from rain forest to moorland. After about 6 hours we arrive at Horombo Hut.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Ascent: 1020 m
- Max. altitude: 3720 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
We continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone passing the last place where water is available at 4130m. From Kibo Hut, the summit is now a further 1195m of ascent. We will make our summit ascent tonight so we will go to go to bed early to get as much rest as possible.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
- Ascent: 980 m
- Max. altitude: 4700 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5
Kibo Hut to summit to Horombo Hut
We will wake up around 23:30 hours, and after some tea and biscuits we shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer point (5250m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gilman’s Point (5681m), 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.
From Gilman’s Point we will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long we will be able to spend taking photographs before the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we gather all the gear we left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo Hut, a further 3 hours. Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 12 - 14 hours
- Ascent: 1195 m
- Descent: 2175 m
- Max. altitude: 5895 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6
Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate -Hotel
Your final day on the trek, departing after breakfast we descend a further 1740m to Marangu Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. Transfer to your hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Descent: 1740 m
- Max. altitude: 3720 m
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7
Departure
After a much needed night’s rest, we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you in the morning for your onward journey.
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Meals included: Breakfast
