Touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where our friendly team will be waiting to welcome you to Tanzania. From here, relax as your driver transfers you to your hotel in Arusha, the vibrant gateway to the mountain and the wild heart of northern Tanzania.

Framed by coffee plantations and the towering peaks of Meru and Kilimanjaro, Arusha hums with life, colourful markets, aromatic local coffee, and the rhythm of Maasai culture blending effortlessly with modern adventure.

Later in the evening, meet your Hola Africa mountain guide for a detailed briefing on the climb and a gear check, the final preparation before your once-in-a-lifetime ascent begins.

After breakfast in Arusha, set out on a scenic three-hour drive to Londorossi Gate for registration. Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch before meeting your mountain crew and beginning your adventure at the starting point (2,100m).

Your trek begins gently, winding through Kilimanjaro’s lush rainforest zone, where the air is cool, the ground soft, and the canopy alive with the chatter of colobus monkeys and tropical birds. The path climbs steadily, revealing the raw beauty of the mountain’s lower slopes until you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650m), “Big Tree Camp,” your first night beneath the stars of Africa’s tallest peak.

• Distance: 7 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 3 hours
• Elevation Gain: 550 m
• Vegetation Zone: Rainforest

Today’s trail unveils a dramatic shift in scenery as you leave the thick rainforest behind and climb into the heather and moorland zone. The air grows crisp, the views expand, and Kilimanjaro’s majestic outline begins to dominate the skyline.

You’ll enjoy a relaxed pace with a packed lunch along the way, soaking in the changing landscape, dotted with giant heathers, lobelias, and volcanic ridges shaped by time. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Shira Camp 1 (3,610m), where a warm meal and the golden glow of sunset over the Shira Plateau await.

• Distance: 10 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
• Elevation Gain: 960 m
• Vegetation Zone: Heath & Moorland

Today’s trek unfolds across the vast and ancient Shira Plateau, one of Kilimanjaro’s most stunning high-altitude landscapes. The trail is gentle and scenic, revealing uninterrupted views of the mountain’s soaring glaciers and rugged volcanic plains.

You’ll cross open moorland to visit Cathedral Point (3,872m) for short acclimatisation walks and take in incredible panoramic views. Afterwards, continue to Shira Camp 2 (3,850m), where a hot lunch and a relaxing afternoon await beneath the towering summit.

• Distance: 10 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 4–6 hours
• Elevation Gain: 240 m
• Vegetation Zone: Moorland

Today, you leave the moorlands behind and venture deeper into the High Alpine Desert, a land of sweeping volcanic plains and sculpted ridges. The trail ascends gradually as the Lemosho Route meets the renowned Machame Trail, before veering off to the quiet northern slopes, where solitude and stillness prevail.

This stage is designed to aid acclimatisation, gently exposing you to higher altitudes while offering vast, open panoramas of the surrounding mountains. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Moir Hut (4,161m), nestled beneath the striking Lent Hills, the perfect place to unwind, enjoy a hot meal, and rest under a sky blazing with stars.

• Distance: 11 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
• Elevation Gain: 311 m
• Vegetation Zone: Heath & Moorland

After an early breakfast, you’ll ascend out of the dramatic Moir Valley, joining the great Northern Circuit trail as it curves around the northern slopes of Kibo, a region rarely explored by most climbers. The route is tranquil and remote, offering a true sense of wilderness and solitude high above the African plains.

The day’s gradual climbs and gentle descents are perfect for steady acclimatisation, with sweeping views across Kenya’s Amboseli plains stretching endlessly below. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Buffalo (Pofu) Camp, where the air is crisp and the silence deep, a serene place to rest, dine, and recharge under the alpine stars.

• Distance: 12 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 5–7 hours
• Elevation Loss: 166 m
• Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

Your day begins with a steady ascent to the top of Buffalo Ridge, revealing sweeping views of the endless northern plains and the curve of Kilimanjaro’s summit above. After a scenic lunch stop, the trail winds eastward through High and Low Alpine Desert, blending silence, wind, and mountain grandeur in equal measure.

As you circle the northern slopes, you’ll approach Third Cave Camp (3,800m) — a quiet base that marks your transition toward summit preparation. By now, your body will be fully acclimatised, your pace measured, and your confidence soaring with the mountain itself.

• Distance: 8 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
• Elevation Loss: 195 m
• Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

This is the final stretch before your summit push. Today’s journey takes you across The Saddle, a vast lunar landscape connecting Mawenzi and Kibo peaks, where every step brings you closer to the crown of Africa. The air grows thin, the horizon endless, and the anticipation electric.

You’ll ascend steadily toward School Hut (4,710m), your base for the night and the launch point for your early morning summit attempt. After arrival, your guides will conduct a final gear and health check, ensuring you’re well-prepared, hydrated, and ready to conquer Uhuru Peak.

• Distance: 8 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
• Elevation Gain: 910 m
• Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

Summit Day, the moment you’ve been preparing for. Before dawn, under a blanket of stars, you’ll begin your final ascent with your headlamps cutting through the thin mountain air. Step by step, guided by determination and your expert team, you’ll rise past Gilman’s Point and Stella Point, edging closer to the very top of Africa.

As the first rays of sunrise spill over the horizon, you’ll stand on Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the Roof of Africa. It’s a moment of triumph, stillness, and soul, a reward for every challenge faced along the way.

After celebrating at the summit, you’ll begin your descent via the Mweka Route, heading toward Millennium Camp (3,720m). Here, in the calm of the forest’s edge, you’ll enjoy a hearty meal and a deep, well-earned rest under the stars.

• Total Distance: 15 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
• Elevation Gain: 1,185 m
• Elevation Loss: 2,175 m
• Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, begin your final descent through the misty, emerald canopy of Kilimanjaro’s rainforest zone. The path is alive with birdsong and the scent of wet earth, a gentle, beautiful contrast to the stark alpine world you’ve just conquered.

As you approach Mweka Gate, you’ll share smiles, laughter, and farewells with your guides and porters, the heroes behind every step of your climb. After signing out, a short transfer will take you back to Moshi or Arusha, where a hot shower, a hearty meal, and the comfort of a soft bed await.

• Distance: 13 km
• Estimated Hiking Time: 4–6 hours
• Elevation Loss: 2,080 m
• Vegetation Zone: Transition from Moorland to Rainforest

After a well-earned rest at your hotel, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and take in your final views of Kilimanjaro, the mountain you’ve now conquered. Later, your driver will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, marking the end of an unforgettable adventure on the Roof of Africa.

Note: Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Should you have a late evening flight, extended stay arrangements can be made upon request for an additional fee.