Day 1
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, pick up and transferred to the Springlands Hotel or similar for overnight bed and breakfast.
Day 2
After breakfast at Springlands Hotel, you will meet your guides and porters and prepare your equipment before departing to Rongai Route. The climb begins from the attractive wooden village of NaleMoru on a small path that winds through crop fields before entering pine forest.
The track then starts to climb consistently, but gently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife, including the beautiful Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. The forest begins to thin out and the first camp is at the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains. Overnight 1st Simba Camp 2600m.
Day 3
The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave 3400m, with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch, we leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Our campsite is in sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves (3,600m). Dinner and overnight at 2nd Caves Campsite.
Day 4
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb all round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. We leave vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn 4150m, spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization. Overnight at Mawenzi Turn Camp.
Day 5
Cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent. Dinner and overnight at Kibo Camp, and midnight start the ascent to Summit.
Day 6
Wake at around midnight to a light breakfast, and then prepare for the summit ascent. This part of the hike is carried out during the early morning before dawn so that the climbers reach Uhuru Peak at around sunrise. Leave at about 1:00am and reach Gilman’s Point 5685m, at about 7:00am.
The climbers are met with views of the crater from Gilman’s Point because it is on the Crater Rim. Another 2 hours of hiking brings the climber to Uhuru Peak, the summit. From there you will descend back to Kibo Hut, collect your things and cross the saddle again at Horombo Hut where you will spend the night. Enjoy dinner and get some well-deserved sleep.
You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
Day 7
Wake as usual, pack and descend to Mandara Hut 2720m. Take lunch there and continue on to the park gate where you will be met by your transport back to Moshi. Continue on to the park gate where you will be met by your transport back to Moshi. Overnight in Springlands hotel.
Tips is recommended and highly appreciated and can be given to the Guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summitcertificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
Day 8
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.