Kilimanjaro represents a powerful life force for the local Chagga people and all those who have made their lives around this mountain, providing rich volcanic soils for agriculture and an endless source of pure spring waters.

Climbing Kilimanjaro
One of the most amazing aspects of the mountain in the present day is the accessibility of its peak to climbers with no mountain climbing equipment or real previous experience of scaling such heights.

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain that regular tourists can climb, although it remains a considerable feat of human endurance! The breathable oxygen at the top is less than half the amount than is common at sea level, and climbers cover at least eighty kilometres on nothing but their own two feet over the five days it takes to reach the top and return.

Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest free standing, snow-covered equatorial mountain. Now charted and climbed; stories of her resident man-eating spirits are relegated to the realms of folklore. But Mount Kilimanjaro continues to preserve a mysticism that defies all recent knowledge of her slopes.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Mt Kilimanjaro Trekking – Marangu Route

Day 1 Base Hotel (D)
Spend the night at the Capricorn Hotel, making final preparations for your ascent of the mount kilimanjaro. Overnight: Capricorn Hotel

Day 2 Mandara Hut 9,000 ft. (BLD)
Walk through the rainforest for approximately 4 hours. Overnight: Mandara Hut.

Day 3 Horombo Hut 12,450 ft. (BLD)
Trek across rolling moorlands for approximately 5 hours. Overnight: Horombo Hut

Day 4 Kibo Hut 15,450 ft. (BLD)
Walk for about 6 hours, through giant groundsel and up to the Kibo Saddle traversing the Alpine desert between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. Overnight: Kibo Hut

Day 5 Summit Day! 19,340ft. (BLD)
Leaving shortly after midnight, the tough 5 hour climb is up loose scree. On a starlit night there are amazing views of the towns and villages below. Arrive at Gillman’s Point just as dawn breaks and then the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. After photographs, return to Kibo Hut for a short rest. Continue the descent for about six hours. Overnight: Horombo Hut

Day 6 Base Hotel (BLD)
An easy descent to Mt Kilimanjaro through Marangu Gate. Transfer to the Capricorn Hotel for a celebration. Overnight: Capricorn Hotel

Day 7 Arusha (B)
After breakfast leave for Arusha.

Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb: Machame Route

Day 1 Base Hotel (D)
Arrive at Dik Dik Hotel at the start of your expedition.

Day 2 Machame Forest 10,000 ft. (BLD)
Walk through the Machame rainforest for 6 hours to your campsite in the giant heather.

Day 3 Shira Plateau 12,500 ft. (BLD)
Trek for approximately 6 hours up to the Shira Plateau.

Day 4 Barranco 12,795 ft. (BLD)
Climb and descend steep ridges with spectacular views of the glacier to Barranco during a 6 hour walk.

Day 5 Bafaru 15,092 ft. (BLD)
Follow the Kibo Southern Circuit up to Bafaru ‘ice’ hut after a 6 hour walk.

Day 6 Summit Day! 19,340 ft. (BLD)
Leaving shortly after midnight, the tough 5 hour climb is up loose scree. On a starlit night there are views to the town and villages below. Arrive at Hans Meyer Peak at 18,340 ft at dawn. Then the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. After photographs, return to Barafu for a short rest and then descend for about six hours to Mweka valley.

Day 7 Base Hotel (BLD)
An easy descent through the rainforest to Mweka Village. Transfer to the Dik Dik Hotel for a celebration.

Day 8 Arusha (B)
After breakfast leave for Arusha.