Assistance through immigration leads to lunch at Mount Meru Hotel or The New Arusha Hotel, from where you drive east to the town of Marangu and the Kibo Hotel on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain followed by a relaxing afternoon.
Your guide and porters meet you the next morning leading you to the Kilimanjaro National Park HQ at the Mangaru gate for registration. A 3-4 hour walk through fascinating jungle then brings you to Mandara Hut (9,000 ft.), near the Marangu Crater for lunch tea and then dinner prepared by your guide.
Leaving the glades you ascend through the mist, heather and alpine meadows for 10 miles the next day to arrive at Horombo Hut (12,000 ft.) You will need to tread slowly as the altitude starts to take its toll during the 5 hour walk. Meals are taken in the common dining area in this well maintained hut, in radio contact with the Park HQ.
Kibo hut (15,540 ft.) is the next destination, reached after passing through cactus-like vegetation and around the "saddle", through a lunar-style landscape between the twin peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo, a 5-6 hour walk.
The final ascent starts very early (1.00am) on the morning of the fifth day in order to reach Gillman’s point (18,640 ft.) on the craters rim by sunrise for an awe inspiring view of Africa stretching below. An hours break should refresh climbers for the walk across to the summit of Uhuru peak (19,340 ft.) in time for a rapid descent back to Kibo hut for a meal and some rest followed by a further hike to Horombo hut.
A long walk to the park HQ is rewarded by an official certificate from Tanzanian rangers before continuing to Kibo Hotel, for a well earned hot bath, meal and overnight. Before the drive back to the Kenyan border the next morning.
