Rongai

After breakfast, we plan to leave Moshi towards Kilimanjaro. It will be a 4–5-hour-long car journey through coffee plantations and the village of Nale Muru. Once we reach the Rongai Gate at 2364 m and complete all the formalities, we will start our first day of trekking. This will be a short and pleasant day, mostly including moving through the rainforest.

On this day, we plan leave the forest and continue along a path through heather moorlands. We’ll see stunning views of the Kibo summit and for the first time catch sight of the ice fields on the eastern edge of the crater. At Second Cave Camp at 3450 m, you may start to feel a drop in temperature and notice the heather becoming significantly sparser due to the altitude.

This day is usually relatively easy and short. After breakfast, we will continue trekking and slowly reach the high-altitude desert landscapes. Once we arrive at Third Cave Camp at 3800 m, we will have time to rest and recover before the following day, which will be a bit more challenging.

We are getting closer and closer to our goal – the summit. This day will involve crossing the "Saddle", which is a lunar desert between Mawenzi and Kibo, and heading southwest to our camp - School Hut at 4800 m. The Hut will be a starting point for the summit attempt. The only activities planned for after is resting, regeneration and sleeping to be well prepared for the nighttime adventure.

At night, around midnight, we are going to start the summit attempt. This will undoubtedly be the most demanding day in terms of both physical and mental preparation. The climb in the dark will take several hours, including frequent but short breaks to ensure everyone’s well-being. Firstly, we are going to reach Gilman's Point at 5685 m. where you will witness a stunning sunrise over Mawenzi. Another 1.5 hours of trekking will finally lead us to the summit - Uhuru Peak at 5895 m. After that, we must descend to Horombo Hut at 3720 m for our last night in the region. On the way back, there is going to be a break at Kibo Hut (4720 m) for a lunch.

After breakfast and saying goodbye to the porters and guides, we will start our last hike along the slopes of Kilimanjaro. On this day, we will mainly walk through the tropical rainforest. After reaching the Mweka Gate at 1640 m and taking care of formalities together, we ought to finally head back to the hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved rest and shower. In the evening, there’s going to be dinner and handing out of certificates for reaching the summit. :)