Itinerary in DetailsDay 1: Moshi/Arusha – Rongai Gate (1,950m) – Hike to Simba Camp (2,600m)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will drive for 2–3 hours to the Rongai Gate, located on Kilimanjaro’s remote northern side. The drive itself is scenic, taking you past rural villages and fields before reaching the trailhead. After registering with the park authorities, you begin your trek through farmland and forest. Keep an eye out for colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and diverse birdlife along the way.
The day’s walk is gentle, giving you time to adjust to the altitude and enjoy the surroundings. By mid-afternoon, you arrive at Simba Camp, which lies just above the forest zone with wide views across the plains of Kenya.
Hiking time: 4–5 hours | Distance: ~7 km
Meals & Overnight: Simba Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Simba Camp (2,600m) – Second Cave (3,450m)
Today’s trek ascends steadily into the moorland zone. The forest thins out, giving way to heathers, grasses, and shrubs. The views become more expansive, with Mawenzi Peak a jagged volcanic cone rising dramatically in the distance. The pace is deliberately slow to allow your body to adjust to the altitude.
By lunchtime, you will arrive at Second Cave, your campsite for the night. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views and a closer look at both Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s main summit, and Mawenzi. This area is excellent for photography and short acclimatization walks in the afternoon.
Hiking time: 6–7 hours | Distance: ~11 km
Meals & Overnight: Second Cave Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Second Cave (3,450m) – Kikelewa Camp (3,600m)
The trail continues across open moorland with sweeping views over the northern wilderness. Vegetation becomes sparser as you climb, and the air feels cooler and thinner. You’ll cross small ridges and valleys before reaching Kikelewa Camp, located in a sheltered valley surrounded by giant groundsels and lobelias.
This is a shorter walking day compared to others, giving you time to rest, recover, and prepare for higher altitudes. The campsite feels remote and peaceful, with spectacular sunset views.
Hiking time: 5–6 hours | Distance: ~9 km
Meals & Overnight: Kikelewa Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Kikelewa Camp (3,600m) – Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m)
The trail becomes steeper today as you climb grassy slopes with increasingly dramatic views. The air gets noticeably thinner, but the climb is short and rewarding. By midday, you will reach Mawenzi Tarn Camp, set beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak beside a small alpine lake.
This is one of the most beautiful campsites on Kilimanjaro. The afternoon is spent resting and acclimatizing. Your guide may lead you on a short hike around the tarn to further help with altitude adjustment.
Hiking time: 4–5 hours | Distance: ~6 km
Meals & Overnight: Mawenzi Tarn Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4,330m) – Kibo Hut (4,700m)
Leaving Mawenzi behind, you cross the barren Saddle—a vast high-altitude desert that links Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. The landscape is stark and lunar-like, with little vegetation but endless horizons. The trail is not steep, but the altitude makes every step more challenging.
Arrive at Kibo Hut by early afternoon, where you will rest, eat an early dinner, and prepare for the summit attempt. This is the calm before the storm the most important night on the mountain. Try to sleep early, as your wake-up call for the summit push comes around midnight.
Hiking time: 5–6 hours | Distance: ~9 km
Meals & Overnight: Kibo Hut – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Summit Day – Kibo Hut (4,700m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Descend to Horombo Hut (3,720m)
Your summit attempt begins around midnight. Equipped with headlamps and layers of warm clothing, you will start the slow, steady climb up steep scree slopes toward Gilman’s Point (5,681m) on the crater rim. This is the toughest part of the climb physically and mentally.
From Gilman’s Point, you continue along the crater rim, passing Stella Point, before the final push to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895m. Watching the sunrise from the summit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with glaciers glowing in the early light and endless views across the continent.
After celebrations and photos, you descend carefully back to Kibo Hut for a hot meal and short rest. Then continue further down to Horombo Hut, where the air is thicker and recovery begins.
Hiking time: 12–14 hours | Distance: ~20 km
Meals & Overnight: Horombo Hut – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3,720m) – Marangu Gate (1,970m) – Return to Moshi/Arusha
After breakfast, make your final descent through the moorland and rainforest zones to Marangu Gate. This long walk is filled with fresh air, lush vegetation, and the chance to reflect on your achievement.
At the gate, you will sign out with park authorities and receive your summit certificate—proof of your incredible accomplishment. Your driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower, a celebratory meal, and some well-deserved rest.
Hiking time: 5–6 hours | Distance: ~18 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included
- Private transport from Moshi/Arusha to park gate and back
- All Kilimanjaro National Park fees, camping fees, and rescue fees
- Professional mountain guide, assistant guides, cooks, and porters
- Full-board meals during the climb (3 per day)
- Clean drinking water throughout the trek
- Quality tents, mess tent, dining chairs, and tables
- Summit certificate upon successful climb
Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania entry visa
- Airport transfers (available at extra cost)
- Accommodation before and after the climb (available on request)
- Sleeping bag and personal trekking gear
- Tips for guides, cooks, and porters
- Travel insurance and medical expenses
- Snacks, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks
