DAY 1:

Arrive Arusha, clear Customs and Immigration formalities and transfer to the Springlands Hotel where a  climb briefing will be done, followed by dinner and overnight.

DAY 2:

Transfer to Kilimanjaro Park + After completing the entrance formalities at the National Park gate (1,830 me.) we climb up through attractive and unspoilt forest to reach the clearing containing Mandara Hut (2,700 me.). The volcanic remains of Maundy Crater  are nearby, and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to simply rest and enjoy the beautiful forest  around you. [3-5 hours walking]

DAY 3:

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

DAY 4:

We 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 (4,703 m.) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday and the  afternoon is free (to contemplate the summit ascent!!). The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night! [4-6 hours]

DAY 5:

We will start our ascent by flashlight at about 1 a.m. so  that we can be up at Gillman's Point 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 should reach Gillman's (5,685 m.) in five or six hours. We will rest there and spend some time taking in the sunrise over Mawenzi. 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 we return to Horombo for the night. [11-15 hours walking]