Day 0: Arrival Tanzania.

Pick up from Kilimanjaro International airport and transferred to Arusha for your overnight stay.

• Overnight: Kiliwonders Hotel Moshi
• Meal Plan: HalfBoard.

Day 1: Nalemoru Gate to Simba Camp

• Elevation: 6,627 ft to 8612 ft
• Distance: 8 km/5 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park’s northern entrance: Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Simba Camp (2,625 m). Your trek this day will be moderate and take you through coniferous forest up Kilimanjaro’s northern slope. Remember not to hurry and always keep a comfortable pace. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will prepare everything necessary, put tents and cook dinner for you.

Day 2: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Cave

• Elevation: 8,612 ft to 11,910 ft
• Distance: 10 km/6 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart from Simba Camp to start trekking towards your second high altitude camp: Kikilewa Camp (3,630 m) where you can see Kibo Volcano at its finest (barring cloudy weather). This trekking is more physically demanding than the previous one, so once you are in the camp, full rest is recommended.

Day 3: Kikelewa Cave to Mawenzi Tarn

• Elevation: 11,811 ft to 14,160 ft
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

The hike today is short and steep up a grassy slope. Views of the wilderness area are stunning. As we exit the heath zone and emerge into the Alpine Desert zone, the landscape changes dramatically. Our camp is situated beneath the jagged spires of Mawenzi, at Mawenzi Tarn. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing or exploring the area.

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn to School Hut

• Elevation (ft): 14,160 ft to 15,430 ft
• Distance: 8 km/5 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

This day will be spent trekking towards School Hut Camp (4,715 m). The landscape will change significantly to give way to a rocky semidesert. The actual trekking is not very difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength for the trekking to Kilimanjaro’s summit. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much as you can, because that very night you will be ascending Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).

DAY 5: School Hut to Uhuru Peak

• Elevation (ft): 15,430 ft to 19,341 ft
• Distance: 6 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Arctic

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 19,341 ft to 12,250 ft
• Distance: 16 km/10 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Heath

After spending a few moments taking in the plains of Africa and your accomplishment, we descend to Horombo Hut. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 6,046 ft
• Distance: 20 km/12 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

On our last day, we have a long trek mostly downhill through the tropical rainforest. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu gate, we collect our summit certificates. A vehicle will meet us here and drive us to Airport. (One More night in the hotel is recommended).