Day 1 – Hotel to Rongai Gate to Simba Camp

Our team will meet you at your hotel in the morning, and after breakfast, we will load all of your equipment into our vehicles. The drive to Rongai Gate will bring you around to the north side of Mount Kilimanjaro. After signing into the park, your first day will be a shorter and gentle hike through the rainforest. By the end of the day, you’ll leave the forest behind and sleep at Simba Camp in the Moorland zone. 

• Start point Rongai Gate elevation 2364 m (7756 ft)¶
• End point Simba Camp elevation 2671 m (8763 ft)
• Elevation gain 307 m (1007 ft)
• Distance covered 7 km (4.3 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately) 3 hours
• Climatic zones Montane Forest / Moorland

Day 2 – Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp

After waking up and having breakfast, you will start hiking through the moorland trail, where you’ll see Mawenzi and Kibo peaks in the distance if the sky is clear.  The trail features some different species of high-altitude flowers. The first half of today’s trek is a steady and gentle climb, and after the lunch break at Second Cave, the trail is more up-and-down. Having covered a long distance today, you will enjoy a good night’s sleep at Kikelelwa Camp.    

• Start point Simba Camp elevation 2671 m (8763 ft)
• End point Kikelelwa Camp elevation 3600 m (11,811 ft)
• Elevation gain 929 m (3048 ft)
• Distance covered 16 km (10 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately) 8 to 9 hours
• Climatic zones Moorland¶

***For the 7-day option, the trek from Simba Camp to Kikelelwa Camp is completed over 2 days instead of one. You will overnight at Second Cave Camp, which breaks the route into 2 segments of 8 kilometres each.  From Kikelelwa Camp onward, the 7-day option follows an identical itinerary to the 6-day route.   ****

Day 3 – Kikelelwa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn Hut

The trail to Mawenzi Tarn Hut is short but steep. Transitioning into alpine desert, most of the vegetation is now left behind you. After arriving at the campsite, you’ll have time to have lunch and relax for a while. In the late afternoon, there will be an acclimatization hike on Mawenzi Ridge, where you’ll get a good view of the whole summit of Kili. Following your mountain guide’s advice to “climb high and sleep low”, you’ll drop back down to overnight at Mawenzi Tarn Hut.       

 Start point Kikelelwa Camp elevation 3600 m (11,811 ft)¶

• Highest point reached Mawenzi Ridge elevation 4500 m (14,764 ft)
• End point Mawenzi Tarn Hut elevation 4315 m (14,157 ft)
• Elevation gain 900 m (2953 ft)
• Elevation loss 185 m (607 ft)
• Distance covered  3 km (2 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately) 2 to 3 hours
• Climatic zones Moorland to Alpine Desert

Day 4 – Mawenzi Tarn Hut to Kibo Hut

When you depart Mawenzi Tarn Hut, the trail heads back up and down over Mawenzi Ridge until you reach a long and wide saddle, which you need to cross to reach Kibo Hut. Crossing it sometimes evokes the feeling of a lunar desert, with crosswinds and a barren landscape.  You’ll see the Kibo Hut campsite from a distance away and the trail looks deceptively flat, but in fact it has a steady incline. Kibo Hut is your base camp for your summit attempt, and you’ll arrive with time to sleep during the afternoon and evening in preparation for your summit.   

• Start point Mawenzi Tarn Hut elevation 4315 m (14,157 ft)
• End point Kibo Hut elevation 4720 m (15,486 ft)
• Elevation gain 405 m (1229 ft)
• Distance covered 10 km (6 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately) 5 to 6 hours
• Climatic zones Alpine Desert

Day 5 – Summit Day! Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

Now you’ve reached the final stage of your journey to the highest point in Africa.  Kibo Hut is where Marangu Route converges with Rongai Route. You will depart from Kibo Hut at around midnight early on Day 5, and the trail will be a gradual climb at the start. The trail becomes steeper as you approach Gilman’s Point (elevation 5685 m / 18,652 ft), and it makes use of constant switchbacks to allow for a manageable yet challenging climb, which will require great physical and mental stamina. From Gilman’s Point to Stella Point (5756 m / 18,885, the trail follows along the crater rim, and although it is not so steep anymore, it is rocky and icy so you need to be careful and listen to your guide. At Stella Point, you’ll meet with the climbers from the other routes and then you are only about a hundred vertical metres until the summit at Uhuru Peak.  Congratulations!  You have now made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend there, but it is important to start your descent within good time to ensure you get enough rest back at Kibo Hut. After your rest, you’ll begin your descent to Horombo Hut where you’ll spend your last night on the mountain and have a well-deserved sleep.  

• • Start point Kibo Hut elevation 4720 m (15,486 ft)

• Highest point reached Uhuru Peak, the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro elevation 5895 m (19,341 ft)

• End point Horombo Hut elevation 3720 m (12,205 ft)
• Elevation gain 1175 m (3855 ft)
• Elevation loss 2175 m (7136 ft)
• Distance covered 21 km (13 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately): Total 11 to 14 hours
  • Ascent from Kibo Hut to Summit (Uhuru Peak)  6 to 7 hours
  • Descent from Summit to Kibo Hut 2 to 3 hours
  • Descent from Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut 3 to 4 hours
• Climatic zones Alpine Desert, Arctic Zone, and Moorland

Day 6 – Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Hotel

Although the final day is a long descent, it can be refreshing to return to lower altitudes and enjoy the feeling of your accomplishment. The route drops back from Moorland into the rainforest, and you’ll have a pleasant lunch in the forest at Mandara Hut. Now it’s the final stretch to Marangu Gate and you’ve made it!  Successful climbers will be awarded certificates from Kilimanjaro National Park. After the drive back to your hotel, it’s time to enjoy a shower, dinner and celebrations with a Kilimanjaro beer! (or beverage of your choice)

• Start point Horombo Hut elevation 3720 m (12,205 ft)
• End point Marangu Gate elevation 1879 m (6165 ft)
• Elevation loss 1841 m (6040 ft)
• Distance covered 19 km (12 miles)
• Trekking duration (approximately) 7 to 8 hours
• Climatic zones Moorland and Montane Forest

After your climb

After your celebrations and a well-deserved sleep at your hotel, we will be pleased to transfer you to the airport for your departure.  Or, better yet, extend your stay in Tanzania for a few more days.  Allow us to arrange a trip to the white sand beaches of Zanzibar or a safari to one of our magnificent national parks.  Karibu sana!

What’s included

All our trips on Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro include the following, which is covered in the cost of the trip.

• Mountain guide, cook, and porters
  • fair wages for all team members
• Quality camping equipment
  • Sleeping tents
  • Dining tent
  • Tables and chairs
  • Dishes and utensils
• All park fees.  
  • The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) charges various fees for activities within the park.  Some of these fees include: conservation fee (entry fee?), rescue fee, camping (or hut) fee.  We include all the park fees in the cost of your trip.
• Transportation
  • We will transport you from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel upon arrival, and we will bring you back to the airport at the end of your trip.  (If you don’t require this service, we can offer a reduction on the cost of your trip.)
  • We will transport you from your hotel to the start point of your trek and return you to your hotel after your climb.

• Food and water while on the mountain:
  • 3 meals per day. 
  • Treated drinking water.  Water is drawn from natural sources during the climb and we filter and use chlorine / iodine (boil?).  While we are confident our water is safe to drink, many climbers prefer to bring their own treatment methods, which you are free to do.
• Health and Safety equipment
  • Satelite phone? Or other communication?
  • Oximeter.  Used to measure blood oxygen levels.
  • First Aid Kit. (what’s included?) Note, climbers are expected to bring their own first aid kit to treat minor injuries.
  • Emergency oxygen tank (and mask etc?0
• Hotel accommodations
  • 2 nights of hotel accommodations are included.  The night before your climb and the night after.  
  • For Mount Kilimanjaro treks, your hotel will be located in either Arusha or Moshi.  We will consider the proximity to the entrance and exit gates of the chosen route as well as the rest of your itinerary.  
  • For Mount Meru, your hotel will be in Arusha.
  • Your hotel will be a mid-range option; we will include the specific hotel details in your quote.  If you prefer either a luxury hotel or budget hotel, we can easily accommodate that. 

What’s not included

• Tips
  • Tipping is customary on Kilimanjaro and provides a significant proportion of a guide or porter’s salary.  We recommend x per day per person.  (For example, if a group of 4 climbers treks the 6-day Machame route, the tip should be in the range of xxx USD.   
• Some food and drinks are not included:
  • Personal snacks that you may wish to eat while hiking. The type of food is personal preference and many of the types of food you are familiar with from your own country can be obtained in Tanzania. (Granola bars, candies, chocolate).  We especially recommend having some snacks on hand during the long summit hike.
  • Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water etc. are at your own cost
  • Meals eaten at your hotel
• Personal hiking equipment and clothing.
  • We will provide a detailed recommended packing list xxx when we give you a quote).   Items like your clothing, include cold weather gear and rain gear, hiking boots, sleeping bag, hiking poles, are not included.  Some of these items are available to rent at a reasonable cost. 
• Personal spending money for souvenirs and discretionary spending
• Travel insurance
  • Ensure that your travel medical insurance covers high-altitude hiking up to 5895 metres (Mount Kilimanjaro) and xxx (Mount Meru)
  • Coverage should include trip cancellation or interruption. Read your policy carefully
• International travel costs
  • Your flight
  • Your entrance visa.  US residents pay $100 USD while most other nationalities pay $50 USD.  
  • Pre-departure expenses such as passport photos or passport renewal, vaccinations and travel medicine

Pricing and Payment Overview

• Contact us for a quote. (We need to update the contact form to enter more details)
• Accommodation options
• Payment method.  We currently accept payment by bank transfer.  Although our quote will be in USD, we accept payment in either USD or the local currency, Tanzania Shillings.  We will provide our bank account details to receive the payment.  You should be able to set up a bank transfer via your home bank.  There are also many trusted third party transfer services (Wise, World Remit, Xoom, Western Union) who may offer better exchange rates or a more streamlined process.  We plan to provide credit card payment in the future, but we’re not there yet.
• Payment and Cancellation Policy:
  • 30 days in advance of your start date, we require a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total cost of your trip.
    • Date change?
    • Cancellation?
  • We require full payment 15 days in advance.
    • Date or itinerary change?
    • Cancellation outright?