Kilimanjaro Trek
Overview
Join us on Africa’s highest (19,340 ft or 5,895 meters) and most famous mountain. Get to know the expert guides and porters assisting you and your team on the trek of a lifetime. For many people, “Climbing Kili” is one of the most memorable accomplishments of their lives.
This adventure will take you along the Marangu Route, one of the more popular routes due to the mountain hut accommodations along the way and its less technical trails up to the summit. The Marangu route covers forests, moorlands, and the Saddle (a high-altitude desert), on its way to Kibo Hut and then up to Uhuru Peak.
This is not a technical climb, so no ropes or specialized equipment is needed and summiting does not require that you be an expert mountaineer. Local guides, cooks, and porters will provide support during your trek and at mountain huts along the way.
Welcome to Tanzania! Meet your Trip Leader at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at 6:00 p.m. The included transport will take you to your accommodation in the lively town of Moshi, known as the Gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park.
Moshi dates back to the early 19th century when German colonists built settlements in Africa. Today, the town boasts little cafes serving traditional Tanzanian cuisine and art shops showcasing Swahili culture.
Join your mountain guides and new friends for an included dinner and start soaking up the Tanzanian vibes.
Today you will meet with your mountain guides for a full briefing on what to expect on your six-day, 45-mile (72-kilometer) round-trip Kilimanjaro trek, along the Marangu Route. Alongside your guides, you will undergo a detailed inspection of all your gear to determine what you can take up the mountain and what will be left behind.
Take a stroll through the town of Moshi and experience a local market with your Trip Leader. A visit to a coffee farm offers the opportunity to experience coffee production firsthand, alongside learning about the rich culture and traditions of the Chagga people.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and learn more about your trek up Kilimanjaro from your leader.
The adventure begins at Marangu Gate, the entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park. Here, you meet your porters, cooks, and support team, who prepare you for the journey.
From here on, you'll only carry your small daypack during the hikes, while our team of skilled porters will carry your main duffel bag between huts. On the Marangu Route, you'll sleep in shared mountain huts with bunk beds. Cooks serve hot meals each day in the communal dining areas.
The first day's train runs through a narrow rainforest trail of Kilimanjaro. A picnic lunch will be at Kisambioni. Continue walking through the rainforest until your group reaches Mandara Hut, your base camp for the first night on the mountain.
Opt to take a short walk to Maundi Crater for views to the east over Taveta, Kenya, and to the northwest to Mawenzi Peak. Travelers who prefer may remain at camp, rest, and take in the atmosphere.
Your second day on the mountain involves a long hike over slightly steeper terrain than the previous day. You'll be trekking through Kilimanjaro's moorland, a rocky landscape with desert-like plants.
Eat a picnic lunch at Kambi ya Taabu. The afternoon climb will gradually bring your group above the forest canopy, and the twin snow-tipped peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi will appear on the horizon. These two peaks, along with Shira, form the three great cones of Kilimanjaro.
Settle into Horombo Hut, your accommodation for the next two nights, and enjoy a delicious evening meal.
It's time to acclimatize! No, it's not an off day; it's actually one of the more critical days on the mountain. Today you will "climb high and sleep low," climbing up to Mawenzi Hut at nearly 15,000 feet, taking in magnificent views of Kibo along the route.
In the afternoon, you'll come back down to Horombo Hut for a late lunch with your group. The rest of the day, you can spend relaxing or playing cards with your friends. Drinking plenty of water is very important. If you want, you can ask the mountain guides for suggestions on shorter walks in the area.
Since everyone must remain strong, there is a built-in day in the schedule to allow the body to adjust to the altitude, as the next couple of days will become more intense.
After breakfast at Horombo Hut, the track continues through the moorland and alpine desert of Kilimanjaro's upper altitudes. As the day progresses, you will notice the landscape gradually becoming more rugged and rocky, and the air noticeably thinner with each step.
Along the hike today, you will see stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. The route then crosses the lunar-like landscape of Kilimanjaro's saddle before the group reaches Kibo Hut in the mid-afternoon.
Settle into Kibo Hut, have a good meal, and be sure to rest up in preparation for tomorrow's summit! Head's up because your trek to the summit begins at midnight!
Around midnight, you'll depart for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and the highest point in Africa! The trek begins under a sky full of stars. Headlamps light the zigzag route up a large scree slope to reach Gilman's Point on the crater rim.
After hiking along rocky switchbacks, you'll then begin a gradual climb to Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet. This section will feel the hardest as the altitude starts to take its toll. But the sun rising over the ice field of the crater will make it all worthwhile.
Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos with your team of the spectacular sunrise at the peak and marvel at the magnificent views. After catching your breath, begin the descent back down from the summit. You'll take a short break at Kibo Hut for snacks before continuing to Horombo Hut.
Your descent from Kilimanjaro is indeed beautiful and winds through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest. With likely rubbery legs from your climb, watch your step on the way down, as the 12.5-mile (20.12 kilometer) trail can be slippery.
When you arrive at Marangu Gate, you can purchase t-shirts and snacks while awaiting your official Mount Kilimanjaro summit certificate! Here, your transport will be waiting for you, ready to take you to our accommodation in Moshi for a well-deserved shower.
The evening closes with a celebratory dinner shared with fellow climbers and local guides to reflect on your Kilimanjaro experience!
After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure at 4:00 p.m. Take with you unforgettable memories of summiting Africa's highest peak and the friendships made along the way.