You’ll be met at Kilimanjaro airport by our representative who will guide you to one our vehicles for transfer to your hotel where you’ll receive a briefing on the following day’s climb. You’ll spend the night at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll leave the hotel and travel to Marangu Gate (1 800m). The actual hike begins at the here and you’ll trek for three to five hours through a fascinating rain forest to Mandara Hut (2 700m). Blue monkeys are sometimes seen but do look for a tiny flower called Impatiens Kilimanjaris. A hot lunch will be served en-route. You can either hike up Maundi Crater (45 minutes) or rest when you arrive at Mandara Hut. You’ll have afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut. The weather is warm and humid, so wear a t-shirt, shorts and lighter shoes. Water is available from a river along the route.

After breakfast you’ll take a slow hike Horombo Hut (3 700m). You’ll leave the last glade of forest and follow the gently ascending path through the open alpine moorland. Today’s hike will take about five to seven hours, and a hot lunch will be served en-route. You’ll start to feel the attitude so take it slow. “Pole pole” (slowly slowly in Swahili) is the order of the day – take in your surroundings or the flora, views and giant Senecios standing tall along the path. Kibo and Mawenzi Peak can be seen on a clear day. You’ll have afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut. The weather is warm in the mornings but cools down in the afternoons when the clouds gather. Wear a t-shirt, shorts and hiking boots, but carry a long-sleeved top. Fill your water bottles at Mandara hut – you can refill them in a stream that is half-way to Horombo Hut.

Today you’ll leave moorland and enter the alpine desert, walking on the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. You’ll have a hot lunch along the way, with afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut. The weather is now much cooler as the altitude has increased. Wear trousers and a long-sleeved shirt; pack a thin jacket or jumper in your day pack. Fill your water bottles at Horombo Hut. The porters will additional water.

You’ll start hiking at about 01:00 to reach Gillman’s Point (5 685m) at sunrise. The path from Kibo to Gillman’s is the most demanding four-hour trek on the route. You’ll continue for another two hours to reach Uhuru Peak (5 895m) – the roof of Africa. You’ll descend to Kibo Hut for hot lunch and then to Horombo Hut. You’ll have tea, dinner and over overnight at Horombo Hut.

You’ll hike back to the Marangu Gate and the park's headquarters. Here, you’ll sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Gillman's Point are issued with a green certificate and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. You’ll be met by a driver-guide who will take you to Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the airport for your flight home.

An extra day is offered at Horombo to acclimatise to the higher altitude. Here you’ll spend the day hiking to Zebra Rock, a formation of rocks that stripes create by the weather. If you feel fatigued, spend the day resting or exploring the area. Birdlife is abundant here. It rains almost every afternoon, so plan your day hike to be back inside your hut with a cup of tea a and a good book by 16:00. Most climbers begin to feel the altitude at this level. After the rain clears, Horombo typically has beautiful sunsets and a night sky full of stars. You’ll have all meals and overnight at Horombo Hut.