Your journey begins with a scenic 3-hour drive from Kilimanjaro's foothills to Marangu, located on the southeastern side of the mountain. Upon arrival at Marangu gate, you will meet your team of guides and porters and complete the necessary registration process at the entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. The hike to Mandara Hut, which takes around 4 to 5 hours, leads you through patches of coffee plantations and dense rainforests. Along the way, you can spot a variety of colorful birdlife, colobus monkeys, and a rich array of flora. Weather permitting, you may even catch breathtaking views of the town of Moshi below.

On the second day, you'll embark on a steep climb through the remaining rainforest until you reach a rolling alpine meadow adorned with majestic giant heather. As you ascend, the magnificent twin peaks of Kilimanjaro, snow-capped Kibo and rocky Mawenzi, dominate the horizon. Crossing through open heathland and bleak moorland, you'll gain an altitude of approximately 1,000m during the 5 to 7-hour hike. Horombo Huts, similar in style to Mandara Hut, provide basic shelter and accommodation for trekkers.

Taking a day to acclimatize at Horombo Hut significantly increases your chances of successfully reaching the summit. You can utilize this time by undertaking walks in the vicinity of the hut, with the most popular being the trek to the base of Mawenzi Peak. This four to five-hour round trip hike allows you to reach an altitude of 4,600m before returning to the hut, preparing you for the challenges ahead.

As the landscape gradually transforms into rocky terrain, you leave behind the fascinating array of alpine plants and flowers. Giant groundsels and lobelias start to emerge in the sparse moorland. The trail to Kibo Hut, lasting between five and seven hours, skirts Mawenzi Peak and leads you across a stark, almost lunar landscape known as "The Saddle." This broad tundra desert lies between the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Kibo Hut, a dry-stone-walled hut with dormitories and limited facilities, serves as your base for the final ascent to the summit.

This is a challenging and exhilarating day. You'll begin the climb around midnight in darkness, ascending a long scree slope illuminated by your torchlight in the extreme cold. After approximately two hours, you'll reach Hans Meyer's Cave, named after the German geologist who made the first successful ascent in 1889. The terrain becomes steeper, and after three more hours of strenuous climbing, you'll reach the crater rim at Johanne's Notch. A short scramble from there brings you to Gillman's Point (5,685m) just in time to witness the awe-inspiring sunrise over the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi. For those with the energy and determination, it takes another couple of hours along the crater rim to reach Uhuru Peak (5,896m), the highest point on Kilimanjaro. After savoring the moment, you'll descend back to Kibo Hut (approximately 3 hours) and then continue down to Horombo Hut for a well-deserved rest.

The pace quickens as you make your way back across the alpine meadow, past Mandara Hut, and through the rainforest towards Marangu Gate. From there, you'll board a vehicle for the return journey to Arusha. Breakfast and lunch are included on this day. End of tour.

Additional Information: - Following breakfast, you celebrate with the staff and descend to Mweka Gate. Here, you receive certificates of completion from the National Park. Afterward, you descend to Mweka Village for lunch and return to Arusha for showers and further celebrations.