Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a Mountains 2 Marshes Tanzania Expeditions representative will welcome you warmly before transferring you to your chosen accommodation in Arusha. Depending on your preferred travel style, you may stay at the budget friendly Outpost Lodge, the comfortable midrange Arusha Planet Lodge, or the luxury Arusha Coffee Lodge. The drive from the airport to Arusha typically takes 1–1.5 hours, offering your first glimpse of Tanzania’s landscapes and the distant silhouette of Mount Meru. Once checked in, you can spend the rest of the day exploring Arusha town, visiting local craft markets, enjoying a coffee plantation stroll, or relaxing at your lodge as you prepare for your Kilimanjaro climb. Dinner and overnight stay are included.

Optional extra activities: Arusha city tour, visit to the Cultural Heritage Centre, canoeing at Lake Duluti, local coffee tour.

Day 2: Arusha to Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

After breakfast, you will travel approximately 2 hours (about 82 km) from Arusha to Marangu Gate, the official starting point of the Marangu Route at 1,860 meters. Here, registration formalities are completed while porters prepare the equipment. Your trek begins through the dense, mist covered rainforest, where you may encounter black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and various bird species. The first stretch covers 8 km and takes around 4–5 hours, gradually rising along a well defined trail with moderate inclines and occasional wooden footbridges. By afternoon, you will arrive at Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters, a cluster of A-frame huts surrounded by towering trees and volcanic vegetation. After settling in, enjoy dinner and rest comfortably in the huts.

Optional extra activity: A short walk to Maundi Crater for panoramic views of northern Tanzania and Kenya.

Day 3: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Today’s trek covers 12 km and takes approximately 6–8 hours, transitioning from thick rainforest into the heath and moorland zone. The vegetation becomes sparser, revealing giant lobelias, groundsels, and sweeping landscapes beneath clear skies. Along the route, you will catch your first views of the twin peaks Mawenzi and Kibo, rising dramatically in the distance. The ascent is steady but manageable, with wide, open trails ideal for acclimatization. You will arrive at Horombo Hut at 3,720 meters, a lively and scenic station perched above valleys and ridges. Enjoy dinner, breathtaking views, and an overnight stay at the hut.

Extra potential activities: Exploring nearby viewpoints, photography of the towering Mawenzi peak, or relaxing around the camp.

Day 4: Acclimatization Day at Horombo Hut

To improve acclimatization and increase the chances of reaching Uhuru Peak, today is dedicated to rest or short hikes. Many trekkers choose a 2–3 hour acclimatization walk to Zebra Rocks, a natural rock formation decorated with volcanic mineral streaks resembling zebra patterns. This hike helps the body adjust to higher altitudes while offering panoramic views of the Horombo valley and the rugged Mawenzi ridge. You may also spend time relaxing at the hut, interacting with fellow climbers, or taking gentle walks around the moorland terrain. Dinner and overnight stay at Horombo Hut.

Day 5: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

After breakfast, begin the gradual 10 km ascent to Kibo Hut at 4,700 meters, taking around 6–8 hours. This section traverses the alpine desert zone, characterized by vast, barren landscapes, dusty trails, and dramatic volcanic formations. You will pass the last water point and walk across the Saddle, a broad, moonlike plateau stretching between Mawenzi and Kibo. The air becomes noticeably thinner as you approach Kibo Hut, located at the base of the Kibo crater wall. After arrival, enjoy an early dinner and rest in preparation for your summit attempt, which begins shortly after midnight.

Day 6: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the expedition. Wake around midnight to begin the steep 6 km ascent to Gilman’s Point at 5,685 meters, taking approximately 5–6 hours over zigzagging switchbacks and loose scree. From Gilman’s Point, a further 1–2 hour trek along the crater rim leads you to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895 meters. Reaching the summit at sunrise offers extraordinary panoramic views of glaciers, vast plains, and neighboring peaks. After celebrating and taking photos, begin the long descent back to Horombo Hut, covering about 15 km in 6–8 hours. Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

Day 7: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Arusha

Today marks the final descent of your Kilimanjaro journey. The 20 km hike takes 5–7 hours and passes back through the moorland and lush rainforest zones where the air becomes warmer and more humid. Upon reaching Marangu Gate at 1,860 meters, you will sign out and receive your official Kilimanjaro summit certificates. A private transfer will then return you to Arusha for a relaxing night at Outpost Lodge (Budget), Arusha Planet Lodge (Midrange), or Arusha Coffee Lodge (Luxury). Dinner is provided.

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, you may enjoy additional time exploring Arusha’s markets, cafes, or cultural attractions. You will then be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport, marking the end of your unforgettable Kilimanjaro trekking adventure with Mountains 2 Marshes Tanzania Expeditions.