8 Days Mt Kilimanjaro

DAY 01: Marangu

Welcome to Tanzania. Our representative will meet you at the airport and whisk you off to the hotel. Until then, just hang out at the hotel or go for a walk. The hotel is a short walk from the village’s bustling market and some excellent coffee shops. A 6pm appointment with your tour leader is on the cards this evening. Afterwards, head out for a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers and tour leader.

DAY 02: Mandara Hut ( 2720meters )

Start your trek at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro-Marangu, then continue to Marangu Gate the entrance to Mt Kilimanjaro National Park (1860 m). Here you will meet your guides and porters. Heading through Marangu Gate toward the beautiful tropical rain forest ascending to Mandara hut for the night.

DAY 03: Horombo Hut (3720meters)

Your second day on the mountain involves another long hike over a slightly steeper stretch. The total distance from Mandara to the Horombo huts is 12 kilometres (approximately 5–7 hours). Today you will see the rainforest give way to open and rolling alpine meadows dotted with giant heather trees. Once out of the forest canopy, the twin snow-tipped peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi lie directly ahead. These are two of the three great cones of Kilimanjaro (the other being Shira). During the day’s walk we will traverse several ravines before reaching the hut, which is set in a rocky valley. There is time to enjoy a wide variety of vegetation and changing landscapes on the way to Horombo Hut (3780 metres). We will spend the next two nights here at the hut.

DAY 04: Horombo Hut

After breakfast, walk towards Mawenzi Hut, passing the unusual Zebra Rocks on the way. It’s a steep climb up a grassy slope, but well worth it-the views over the area towards Kibo are second-to-none. Afterwards, return to Horombo for lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing and acclimatising to the altitude, or ask your guides about the short walks in the area. Take advantage of the rest day here and drink plenty of water – the next couple of days will be pretty intense!

DAY 05: Kibo Hut (4740meters)

Today you’ll walk the 10 kilometres from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (approximately 5–7 hours). As the journey progresses you will notice the landscape gradually becoming more rugged and rocky, and the air noticeably thinner. We will have to soften our pace a little to accommodate these environmental changes. Marvel at giant groundsels and lobelias while you travel across the sparse moorland. Skirt Mawenzi Peak and marvel at the stark lunar landscape of the Saddle, reaching Kibo Hut in afternoon (4740 m).

DAY 06: Uhuru Peak/Horombo Hut (3720meters)

Your guides will wake you up at 11 pm and hot tea will be served. Prepare for the last leg of the trek – to the summit. The distance from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak is six kilometres (approximately 6–8 hours), and the descent to Horombo will be approximately the same amount of time. The trek begins beneath the stars as you zigzag your way up a large scree slope, guided only by torch light, to reach Gilman's Point (5685 m). With some luck, arrive in time for breathtaking views of the sun rising why enjoying your champagne Breakfast at the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. This is the stretch that most people find the hardest, and you should be prepared for a very cold morning. The dramatic spectacle of the sun rising over the ice fields of the crater will make the early start worthwhile.

DAY 07: Marangu (1879meters)

Continue your descent through alpine meadows and rain forests to the park gate. The distance from Horombo to Marangu Gate is 20 kilometres (approximately 5–6 hours). Here your transport awaits and you will return to the hotel for a relaxing shower – a real treat after the physical exertions of the last few days! Over a celebratory meal we can relive and share our experiences of the past five days on the mountain.

DAY 08: Marangu

It’s time now to bid farewell to your tour leader and new friends but not without a backpack full of memories. Departure transfers are included on the day. Please consult with your tour leader or the hotel desk to confirm the check out time.