Distance covered: 8 km

Approximate time taken: 4 hours

Habitat: Tropical Rain Forest

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Camping

This morning, a guide and mountain support crew will meet you at your hotel for a brief orientation before driving you to Nalemuru Gate (2,020 m / 6,627 ft), the northern entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. After completing permit formalities and registration with the search and rescue service, the trek begins toward Simba Camp (2,671 m / 8,612 ft). Today’s hike is moderate, winding through coniferous forest on the northern slopes. Take your time and walk at a comfortable pace, while the professional crew sets up camp and prepares dinner for your overnight stay.

Distance covered: 8 km

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Habitat: Moorland zone

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Today offers another spectacular day with breathtaking views of Kibo’s eastern ice fields, the highest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic peaks. You will trek for about three hours across the moorland zone, following a narrow path toward the jagged spires of Mawenzi (5,140 m). The day concludes at Kikelelwa Camp, where you will enjoy lunch and spend the night, resting and acclimatizing for the next stage of the climb.

Distance covered: 8 km

Approximate time taken: 4 hours

Habitat: Semi desert

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

Today features a short but steep climb up grassy slopes, offering panoramic views in every direction and a palpable sense of wilderness. The trail leads to a rocky cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi, where Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4,330 m) is located. After lunch, you’ll have free time to rest or explore the surrounding area, helping your body acclimatize to the altitude. Dinner and overnight stay are at Mawenzi Tarn Hut amidst the dramatic high-altitude scenery.

Distance covered: 8 km

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

Today’s trek crosses the lunar desert that stretches across the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi, a stark and otherworldly landscape of rocks and sparse vegetation. You will arrive at Kibo Hut, where lunch is served and the afternoon is spent resting and conserving energy in preparation for the midnight ascent to the summit, the most challenging and rewarding stage of the climb.

Distance covered: 22 km

Approximate time taken: 13 hours

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

The summit push begins around midnight. This stage is considered the steepest and most challenging, so your guide will set a slow, steady pace to help you conserve energy. After about five hours, you will reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point (5,685 m), where you can take a short rest, enjoy a cup of tea, and watch the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. From there, it’s roughly one more hour to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, passing close to the glaciers and ice fields that still cover much of the summit. After taking photos at the top, you will descend to Kibo Hut for a hot lunch and brief rest before continuing down to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight stay.

Distance covered: 20 km

Approximate time taken: 7 hours

Meal: Breakfast, and lunch included

Accommodation: Hut

On the final day, you will descend from the heath and moorland zone to Mandara Hut (2,700 m) for a hot lunch. The trek continues downhill through tropical rainforest until you reach the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, where you will complete the remaining formalities and receive your summit certificates, a proud memento of your achievement. From there, a vehicle will transfer you back to your hotel in Moshi, where a warm shower and celebration await to mark the end of your incredible journey.