We leave Nairobi at 6:30 a.m., bound for Moshi, Tanzania, where we will meet our mountain guides for a briefing and gear check. Thereafter, we shall have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we'll be picked up from the hotel and taken to the Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate (1,970m) for entry registration. We will then start the trek to Mandara Huts through the thick rainforest.

After registration, we will trek through the mountain rainforest zone. Expect to see a few animal sightings, including colobus monkeys and various bird species, on our way to Mandara Huts (2,720m). After a brief stop during which we will have our packed lunch, our trek continues to the rim of Maundi Crater with a spectacular view of Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we shall descend to Mandara Huts for the night.

Distance: 8km | Elevation Gain: 750m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Moderate

After breakfast, we continue our upward trek to Horombo Huts (3,720m). Our hike takes us outside of the rainforest and into the heath and moorland zone, ascending through the changing landscape. On this day, the hike feels like a mountain trek, with Kilimanjaro's two prominent peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi, towering in the background on a clear day. If we are lucky, we might catch sight of some birds along the trail and eventually come across the giant Kilimanjaro groundsels, unique to the park.

Distance: 12.5km | Elevation Gain: 1,000m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Heath & Moorland | Difficulty: Moderate

After breakfast and a lively round of introductions and dancing, we set off from Horombo Huts on a short acclimatization hike towards the striking Zebra Rocks, about 2 km away and 300 m higher. The gentle ascent winds through open moorland into the alpine desert, where streaked rock faces—banded black and white by centuries of mineral flow—offer a perfect backdrop for photos and sweeping views of Mawenzi and Kibo. After soaking it all in, we make our easy way back to camp for a late lunch, a few light games, and a slow afternoon that drifts into a restful evening and dinner under the Horombo stars.

Distance: 4km | Hiking Time: 2-3 hours | Terrain: Semi-desert | Difficulty: Moderate

Today's hike is a little more intense, as we take a direct path towards the Kibo cone. We will slowly but steadily climb through the alpine desert, navigating a dramatically changing landscape. Within no time, we shall bid farewell to the heath and moorland zone and continue the trek on the barren saddle (the dip between the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks). At the base camp, Kibo Huts (4,720m), we shall have an early dinner and rest for the night, as we eagerly await the summit attempt later tonight.

Distance: 9.5km | Elevation Gain: 1,000m | Hiking Time: 6-8 hours | Terrain: Alpine desert | Difficulty: Strenuous

We arise, have a cup of coffee or black tea, and start the midnight trek through the arctic zone. We will take the steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night, following a zig-zag pattern towards Gilman’s Point (5,681m), our first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here, a short (but challenging) hike remains to take us past Stella point (5,756m) and further around till Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. We hope to reach the summit at daybreak, celebrate our moment, have a short break, and then descend to Kibo Huts for breakfast. We shall rest a little, have brunch, and then continue down to Horombo Huts for the last night’s rest.

Distance: 6km ascent and 15.5km descent | Maximum Elevation Gain: 1,175m | Hiking Time: 7-9 hours ascent & 5-7 hours descent | Terrain: Arctic | Difficulty: Very Strenuous

After breakfast, we shall have a farewell and thanksgiving session with the crew before commencing our walk down the now familiar trail to end our expedition at Marangu Gate, where we will bid the larger mountain crew farewell. We shall have a packed lunch on the way to our hotel in Moshi. Thereafter, enjoy a leisurely afternoon and your celebratory dinner.
Congratulations on conquering yourself on the Roof of Africa!

Distance: 20km | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Easy

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and board our buses by 9:00 to begin our journey back to Nairobi. We will bid Moshi and Kilimanjaro farewell with fuller hearts and rich memories, having conquered ourselves on top of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain!