Itinerary Details by Day

Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a private transfer will be waiting to pick you up and take you to Keys Hotel in Moshi. Keys Hotel is a beautiful hotel located on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, offering the perfect setting to prepare for your adventure. We will meet at 5:30 pm for a pre-climb briefing and equipment check. Additionally, we will ensure that you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance.

Day 2: Climb to Mandara Hut [3-5 hours walking]

After having your breakfast, we will take a short journey from your hotel to Marangu National Park Gate. After completing the entrance formalities at the National Park gate (1,830 m), we will climb up through the attractive and unspoiled forest to reach the clearing at 2,700 m. The volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to simply rest and enjoy the beautiful forest around you. The day will end with camping at Mandara Hut after 3-5 hours of walking.

Day 3: Climb to Horombo Hut (3,720 m.) [4-6 hours walking]

The initial part of the hike involves a steep climb through the forest, but the trail soon opens up into grassy moorland. In clear weather, there are excellent views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We continue our ascent through the moorland zone, which is home to giant heather and occasional stands of groundsel until we reach the hut complex at Horombo (3,720 m.). Spectacular sunrises and sunsets are common here, as the site is near the glaciated dome of Kibo, creating a feeling of being above the clouds. The walking time for this segment is approximately 4-6 hours.

Day 4: Climb to Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) [4-6 hours]

We ascend gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to scree and there is a palpable sense of high-altitude wilderness. Typically, we reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday. The afternoon is free for contemplation of the summit ascent. The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb, followed by an early night (4-6 hours).

Day 5: Climb up to Uhuru Peak  buck to Horombo hut (5,896 m.)

We will begin our ascent by torchlight at around 1 a.m. so that we can reach Gillman’s Point by sunrise. The initial climb is steep over loose volcanic scree, but there are some well-graded zig-zags, and a slow but steady pace will get us to Gillman’s (5,685 m) in about five or six hours. We will rest there and spend some time enjoying the sunrise with a cup of tea. Those who are still feeling strong can take the three-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers that still cover most of the summit area. The descent is surprisingly fast, and we will return to Horombo Hut for the night. This trek will take approximately 11-15 hours of walking.

Day 6: Retrace to Mandara and then a  walk to the National Park gates

We retrace our steps with a pleasant moorland walk to Mandara and then a lovely forest walk to the National Park gates. The greenness and lushness of the forest are quite a stunning contrast to the summit day, and it makes you realize how varied the scenery on Kilimanjaro is. [5-6 hours walking]

Kilimanjaro Includes:

• Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb (dinner and breakfast included) (double occupancy).
• Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents:
• Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
• Two nights hotel in Arusha
• All Park fees
• Rescue fees
• All meals while on the Mountain
• Arrival and Departure transfers
• Guides, Porters, cook salaries, and park fees
• Quality Mess tents with table and chairs:
• Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food:
• Clean, purified drinking water:
• Private, portable chemical flush toilets:
• Crisis management and safety procedures:
• Fair and ethical treatment of porters:
• Summit Emergency Oxygen:
• Pulse Oximeters:
• Walking Poles:
• Sleeping Mattress:
• Flying Doctor Service:

Kilimanjaro Excludes:

• Tanzania Visa: $50 per person on arrival
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Meals not listed above
• Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc)
• Tips and any items of a personal nature.