This route to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is well-developed. The climb is constant and moderate.

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport to Marangu Gate (1,860 m) – Mandara Hut (2,700 m)
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be taken to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate situated at 1,840 meters catch a glimpse of the thumbless black and white colobus monkeys scrambling through the vegetation. After 4 hours of hiking, you will reach the Mandara Hut at 2670 meters. Your guide will take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Kenyan interior. You will spend the evening meal and overnight stay at Mandara Hut.

Day 2: Mandara Hut (2,700 m) – Horombo Hut (3,700 m)
This day continues through the heather to the edge of the short-cropped moorland plains to Horombo Hut at 3,760 meters, from where Moshi township and the Pare ranges can be seen. From the hut you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo peak and the Masai steppe. Dinner will be served at the Horombo Hut, where you will spend the night.

Day 3: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Zebra Rocks (3,980 m) – Horombo Hut (3,700 m)
After breakfast, you will set off on a 4-hour trek to Zebra Rocks at 3,980 meters. The distinctive black and white stripes give the formation its name. On return to Horombo Hut, your lunch will be waiting. You can relax in the afternoon and regain your strength for the hike the following day. You will spend your evening meal and overnight stay at the Horombo Hut.

Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)
Today’s destination is Kibo Hut and should be reached in about 6 hours. This stage is long and intense, and you will pass a plantless plateau which links the summit of Kibo with Mawenzi.

Day 5: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Horombo Hut (3,700 m)
You will start the journey in the middle of the night when the lava ash is still frozen and walking on it is easiest. Passing the Hans Meyer cave at 5,200 meters, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gilman’s Point (5,715 meters) on the crater rim and after another 1 hour, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters. The descent follows the same path. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits and you can rest a while to regain your strength. After the break, you will be on your way down to the Horombo Hut at 3,700 meters where you will arrive in the afternoon and have dinner.

Day 6: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Marangu Gate (1,860 m) – Moshi
The last stage passes through the heather and moor zone to the Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters where lunch awaits. Soon you will again be in the tropical rainforest and after 6 hours of trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park gate where you will be taken back to Moshi town and depending on your plans transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport or your safari.

This route offers views of Mount Meru, Shira Ridge and Kibo summit as you make your way through rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert.

Day 1: Machame Gate (1,790m) – Machame Camp (3,010m)
You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro Airport or your hotel and brought to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. Your destination for today is the Machame Camp, a 5 hour hike. Hiking through the rainforest with its large ancient trees, primeval ferns, and endemic flowers, you’ll spot black and white thumbless colobus monkeys, peeking through the leaves. Reaching the campsite, you will have time to relax, stretch your legs and enjoy a meal, before snuggling into your tent for the night.

Day 2: Machame Camp (3,010m) – Shira Camp (3,845m)
Today’s early start is not due to a long stretch, but rather to allow you to reach Shira Camp at around mid-afternoon. As you walk you will notice the dramatic change in the landscape – from lush and green rainforest to dry moor and heath land. Arriving at your campsite you will enjoy a beautiful view of the mountain range. The glaciers of Kibo glistens in the golden hue of the setting sun as you enjoy dinner before climbing into your tent.

Day 3: Shira Camp (3,845m) – Lava Tower Hut (4,640m) – Barranco Camp (3,960m)
In order to acclimatize you will climb 800 meters, but sleep on a level not much higher than the previous night. Starting at Shira Plateau, you will make your way up to Lava Tower at 4,640 meters, where you will rest before continuing through the Barranco Valley to the Barranco Camp. The trek will take 6 hours, and you will see the breathtaking alpine desert and the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant senecios. A well-deserved dinner awaits you at Barranco Camp.

Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,960m) – Karanga Camp (4,035m)
Today the Barranco Wall will be conquered. Some stages require use of hands for a better grip, but no actual climbing is necessary, and your guide will be with you every step of the way. The route with its numerous ascents and descents allows for further acclimatization, before reaching the mountain ridge. Walking along the ridge you can take in the beautiful landscape with its stunning contrasts of desert and vegetation, before reaching the cloudy Karanga Camp. Your trek will take 4 hours. Evening meal and overnight will be at Karanga Camp.

Day 5: Karanga Camp (4,035m) – Barafu Camp (4,640m)
Awakening to the sunlight dancing off the Kibo Summit, you will enjoy breakfast before setting out to today’s destination – Barafu Camp. Most of the day will be spent walking through dry desert terrain, with Kibo ever present on your side. After 3-4 hours you will reach Barafu Camp, where you will have an early dinner and a few hours of sleep as the highlight of your trip is not far away.

Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,640m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Mweka Camp (3,080m)
At midnight you will wake up for a warm cup of tea and biscuits to get ready for the final ascent. The moon and your headlamps will be your only source of light as you make your way up to Stella Point, reaching the crater rim in about 6 hours. After another hour you reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters sun rises over the African landscape, casting a pink hue over the snowy peak. After capturing this incredible view, you will start your descent back to Barafu Camp, for snacks and refreshments. Rested you will make your way to Mweka Camp for one more night on Africa’s highest mountain.

Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,080m) – Mweka Gate (1,630m)
Breakfast is followed by a traditional farewell ceremony from your mountain crew, before you start your final stretch down the mountain. You will trek through the rainforest, giving you another opportunity to spot colobus monkeys, reaching the Mweka gate in about 3 hours. You will be taken back to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure and give yourself a pat on the back for conquering the famous Kilimanjaro! Depending on your plans you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport, or safari adventure.

This route is scenically very appealing. It approaches the summit from the unfrequented and drier north-eastern side of Kilimanjaro. The tour departs close to the Kenyan border and offers impressive views over the African savannah and rugged Mawenzi. Just after Mawenzi Tarn Camp, climbers will pass the only mountain lake in Kilimanjaro National Park. The trails are well-developed and pass through fir forest, rain forest and alpine desert. Although the Rongai route is an easy route, the rockier stages in the summit area are sometimes a little more demanding. The descent follows the Marangu route and traverses the lush and green rainforest on good paths.

Day 1: Nalemoru Gate (1,990 m) – Simba Camp (2,625 m)
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be driven around the Kilimanjaro to its north-western side and after 3-4 hours, you will arrive at the Nalemoru Gate. After the registration process has been completed and your luggage has been assigned to the porters, your adventure begins. The path runs alongside mountain farmers’ fields and pine forests before it enters the sparse mountain forest zone, where black and white thumbless colobus monkeys can often be seen. After an approximate 3-to-4-hour hike, you will reach the Simba Camp where you will spend the night.

Day 2: Simba Camp (2,625 m) – Kikelewa Camp (3,630 m)
Today’s trek passes through the heather and moorland zones and the views of Mawenzi and the vast Kenyan steppes are nothing short of grand. You will have lunch at the Second Cave (3,450 meters) and after a short break, you will cross the undulating terrain to Kikelewa Camp. This camp offers incredible views and after a strenuous day’s climb, you can relax in its peaceful ambience.

Day 3: Kikelewa Camp (3,630 m) – Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4,310 m)
The typical vegetation will soon disappear and the scenery will become more barren with the occasional rock formations. Here you can enjoy the breath-taking views of the Kibo and Mawenzi summits as well as Kenya’s savannah grasslands. After passing a few more rock formations, you will arrive at the Mawenzi Hut. For many mountain climbers, this is the most atmospheric camp on the mountain.

Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4,310 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)
An easy path takes you over the Kibo Saddle. A lack of vegetation is characteristic for the landscape here as only a few types of grass and other plant species can survive in this dry area and thin air. Just before today’s destination is reached, one last rock passage has to be conquered. Finally, you will arrive at the Kibo Hut, where you can relax and mentally prepare yourself for tomorrow’s summit stage.

Day 5: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Horombo Hut (3,700 m)
The climb begins at around midnight and after a 5-7 hour walk on frozen volcanic ash, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5,715 meters) on the crater’s edge. The sun rays will warm you while you trek for another 1-2 hours until you reach Uhuru Peak and finally stand on Africa’s Roof. The descent on the now thawed lava ash runs almost along the same route and you will arrive at the Kibo Hut in the late morning. A warm meal will be served and after a well-deserved break, the descent continues to the Horombo Hut.

Day 6: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Marangu Gate (1,860 m) – Moshi
After trekking for approximately 5-6 hours, you will have managed the easy descent and you will return to the Marangu Gate during the early afternoon. You will say goodbye to your mountain crew and you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport or alternatively to your next destination if you plan on doing a safari or extend your stay in Zanzibar.