Day 1 Transfer from Moshi town to Marangu Gate - Mandara hut
On your arrival to Marangu gate which is located at the Marangu village normal formality of registration for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will take place. You now leave the park office and ascend on a cleared ridge route through the rain forest. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail either, after one and half hours hiking, you will reach Mandara hut.
Day 2 Mandara hut - Horombo hut
After breakfast you will starts climbing towards Horombo hut with your picnic lunch. From Mandara hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, and then heads around the base of the Maundi Crater where you will leave the forest and enter the moorland.
We recommend you take a short detour up to the rim of the Maundi Crater from here you see the impressive Kibo Crater, and on a clear day you will also be able to see the glaciers of Kibo. In the moorlands you will also encounter some of Kilimanjaro most spectacular and strange plants in the open moorland with giant lobelia and groundsel growing to heights of 3 and 5 metres respectively Later in the afternoon you reach Horombo Hut.
Day 3 Horombo Hut - Kibo Hut
The climb is becoming more difficult as the oxygen at these altitudes begins to thin out considerably. To begin today you can take one of the two trails to the “Saddle”, located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Stick to the lower route, which is much easier and has the added benefit of taking you past the last watering point. You should stock up with all the water you will need the next watering point will be at Horombo hut when you return there on your descent the night after next. Once again remember to take it slowly and drink enough water. It will take from 5 to 7 hours to reach Kibo Hut where you will rest and have dinner.
Day 4 Kibo hut - Uhuru Peak - Horombo hut
Today will by far be your toughest day, you will be woken just before midnight and soon head off into the cold night up a rocky path towards to the Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 metres you may take a short rest here before continuing your ascent up to Gillman’s point at 5680 metres. Probably the most demanding section of the entire route as it is very steep and stony go slowly and carefully here. From Gillman’s Point, you will more than likely be walking through snow for the next 2 hours, when you will finally reach the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres.
Day 5 Horombo hut – Mandara hut - Marangu Gate
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you continue your descent passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate this will take the best part of six hours. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. To make your achievement official, you will receive a summit certificate.
