Elevation: 1997m to 2635m
Early in the morning after breakfast, meet with your guide and the entire team at your hotel, ready to start a drive of about 4 hours to Rongai gate, which lies near the Kenya border north east of the country.
Upon arrival at the gate park formalities are taken, at this moment you can sit waiting for lunch or take a move around the area,the rainforest with your eyes open, possibly spotting some blue monkeys swinging on the tree branches. Soon after lunch you continue with hiking to the first camp where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Elevation: 2620m to 3600m
After breakfast, our hike continues through the moorland zone where you will notice the vegetation changes to shrubs and grasses. You will stop for lunch at the second cave where we meet the junction to the third cave and the Kikelelwa Camp. You will then turn east towards Kikelelwa Camp and here you will stay overnight.
Elevation: 3600m to 4330m
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb views. Leave the vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization.
If you are spending an extra day on the mountain, you will camp for two nights here. You can hike up and around Mawenzi for your acclimatization hike.
Elevation: 4330m to 4700m
A beautiful lunar landscape is crossed today, after which the ascent to the higher camp is continued. The Kibo Camp is located directly below Kibo summit, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Kenyan plain. Here you can also see Mawenzi and the path very well. After lunch you can rest and regain your strength because the next day you will do the summit push to the peak of Kilimanjaro!
Elevation: 4700m to 5895m to 3720m
The hiking begins at midnight, you’ll be woken up with a hot cup of tea and a biscuit before you begin your ascent in the dark. Once we reach Hans Meyer Cave, you’ll be able to have a break and refuel with an energy bar. We’ll then continue zigzagging our way as the terrain steepens coming onto Gilman’s Point. Standing on this crater rim, you’ll take a short break, take on some water and rest a little before you cross the crater to Stella Point. Our porters will have arrived ahead and heated up some ginger tea for us to drink and warm our insides before the final push.
We’ll then gradually make our way to Uhuru Peak, where you will be able to soak up the incredible views, stay for a picture, and enjoy your great achievement while standing on Africa’s highest point! We will then descend straight down the mountain towards the Kibo Hut where we will stop for a rest, lunch, and a celebration before heading back down towards Horombo Hut.
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