After an early breakfast, you’ll be driven to Marangu Gate, the starting point of the trek. Here, you'll complete the registration process while your porters prepare your gear. Once ready, you'll begin your ascent through the lush montane rainforest, where you’ll be surrounded by towering trees, mosses, and playful blue monkeys. The trail is scenic and easy to navigate, making for a relaxed introduction to the trek.

After 4-5 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at Mandara Hut (2,700m), where you'll settle into comfortable mountain huts. Later, you can take a short walk to Maundi Crater for stunning views of northern Tanzania and Kenya.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Duration: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Mandara Hut (shared huts with bunk beds)

After breakfast, you'll leave the forest behind and enter the heath and moorland zone. The vegetation becomes more sparse, with giant heather and lobelia plants dotting the landscape. The air begins to feel thinner, but the trail is well-maintained and relatively gentle.

During this trek, you may encounter views of Mawenzi Peak, Kilimanjaro’s second-highest peak. As you move higher, you’ll notice the drop in temperature and the change in landscape. After 6-7 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at Horombo Hut (3,720m), where you’ll enjoy hot meals and rest for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Horombo Hut (shared huts with bunk beds)

Today’s trek takes you across the striking alpine desert. This stretch is drier and more barren, with dramatic views of the twin peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. The air becomes noticeably thinner, so a steady pace is crucial to ensure acclimatization. You’ll trek past the Saddle, a vast plain of volcanic rocks, where you may spot herds of eland or small mammals.

After a 6-7 hour trek, you’ll arrive at Kibo Hut (4,700m), which sits at the base of Uhuru Peak. You’ll have an early dinner and go to bed early, as the summit attempt begins just after midnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Kibo Hut (shared huts with bunk beds)

Summit Day! You’ll be woken up around midnight for a light meal and final preparations for the most challenging and rewarding part of the trek. With headlamps to guide you, you’ll begin the slow, steady climb through the night. The most difficult part of the ascent is the stretch to Gilman’s Point (5,685m), where the path becomes steep and rocky.

Once at Gilman’s Point, you’ll witness a breathtaking sunrise over the African plains. From here, it’s a 1-2 hour trek along the crater rim to reach the ultimate goal – Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. This is a moment of victory, and you’ll have time to take photos and celebrate your accomplishment.

After soaking in the views, you'll begin your descent back to Kibo Hut for a short rest and lunch. Then, you'll continue down to Horombo Hut, where you'll spend the night. The descent is much faster, but it’s important to take it slow to avoid straining your knees.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking Duration: 12-15 hours (7-8 hours ascent, 4-6 hours descent)
Accommodation: Horombo Hut (shared huts with bunk beds)

After breakfast, you'll embark on the final leg of the journey, descending from Horombo Hut back to Marangu Gate. The descent takes about 6-7 hours, and the changing landscape is a welcome sight as you re-enter the lush rainforest zone.

At the gate, you'll be presented with a summit certificate to celebrate your achievement. Those who reached Gilman’s Point will receive a green certificate, while those who summited Uhuru Peak will receive a gold certificate. After a short break, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved rest and celebration dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi

For those opting for a 6-day trek, an extra day of acclimatization is included. This extra day is spent at Horombo Hut (Day 3), where you'll hike around the area to improve acclimatization before proceeding to Kibo Hut. This additional day increases your chances of successfully reaching Uhuru Peak.

Once you've returned to Moshi, you can extend your adventure with a wildlife safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, or enjoy the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. Omotangati Africa can arrange every part of your adventure.