Mount Kilimanjaro Adventure

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Mount Kilimanjaro, arriving on day two.

You'll be met on arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and transferred to Aishi Machame Hotel located in Moshi Town close to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here you'll have a climb briefing and time to prepare and overnight.

Stay: Aishi Machame Hotel

The National Park Gate (1,830 m.) lies at the edge of Marangu, which is an attractive village with many small coffee and banana plantations. After completing the entrance formalities, you will climb up through attractive and unspoilt forest to reach the clearing containing Mandara Hut (2,700 m), a group of comfortable ’A’ frame wooden huts. The largest cabin has a downstairs dining area and an upstairs dormitory and mattresses. The volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to rest and enjoy the beautiful forest. There is a rich birdlife at the huts and monkeys are often seen as well. (3-5 hours walking)

Stay: Mandara Hut

The first part of the walk is a steep ascent through the forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland and in clear weather, there are good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heathers and occasional stands of groundsel, to eventually reach the hut complex at Horombo (3,720 m.). Sunrises and sunsets here are often spectacular and the site is close to the glaciated dome of Kibo. There is a real sense of being above the clouds here. (4-6 hours walking)

Stay: Horombo Hut

Climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to scree and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness. We usually reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday. Kibo is a stone-built block house with a small dining area and a number of dormitory rooms leading off a main corridor. There is no water here so one has to bring an ample supply from the ’last water’ supply above Horombo Hut! The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night! (4-5 hours walking)

Stay: Kibo Hut

An early start by torchlight at about 1.00 am., aiming to be up at Gillman’s Point and the summit by sunrise. The initial climb is steep over loose volcanic scree, but there are some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will have you up to Gillman’s (5,685 m.) in about five or six hours. Rest there and spend some time taking in the sunrise. For those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent is surprisingly fast and you return to Horombo for the night. (11-15 hours walking)

Stay: Horombo Hut

Retrace your steps with a pleasant moorland walk to Mandara and then a lovely forest walk to the National Park gates. The greenness and lushness of the forest is quite a stunning contrast to the summit day and it really makes you realise how varied the scenery on Kilimanjaro really is. (5-6 hours walking). When you finish the climb, there will be a vehicle waiting to meet you and transfer you back Springlands Hotel for overnight

Stay: Aishi Machame Hotel

After breakfast you'll transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight, arriving in the UK the next day.

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