Ready and raring to go, we wake up to a sumptuous  buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart Moshi for a 45 Min drive through Machame village to the Marangu Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. After a few formalities and paperwork, it’s time to say goodbye to civilization and commence our trek up the tallest free-standing mountain in the world! The hiking trail begins by ascending a beautiful tropical rain forest. The trail then widens to expose beautiful hillsides until we reach Mandara Hut our home for the night.

After a good night’s sleep in the warm huts and a hearty breakfast it’s time to roar again! We continue gently upward through the forest until the trail opens into high moorland. If the weather is good we will get our first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro. We will stop halfway for lunch enjoying amazing views of Mawenzi and Kibo. Arrive at Horombo Hut our home for the night by late afternoon.

The adventure goes on, with temperatures now dropping its time to dress more warmly and continue with the climb! We continue gently with snow caped Kibo now in full view to cross the lunar desert; the “saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo. We stop for lunch somewhere midway then get to Kibo Hut by late afternoon. Once here, we rest enjoy an early dinner in readiness for the summit day.

The moment of glory we have been waiting for, the summit push! It’s time to give everything we got! We break camp from Kibo at 12 midnight for a gentle paced 5- or 6-hour push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. Time to have your ‘A’ game ON. Guide ratio for summit push will be 1:1 so not to worry, there will be someone to hike with you at your pace, to cheer you on and carry your bag if need be. We ascend in the dark for several hours while taking frequent short, breaks. 6am should find us at Gilman’s point (5685m), and if the sky is clear we will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise coming over Mawenzi Peak. After another 1-2-hour trek on the snow-capped Kibo we finally arrive at Uhuru Peak; the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. After a few pictures at the summit and doing a happy dance, its time to descend to Kibo where brunch awaits after which we descend to Horombo Hut. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Being the easiest day, we will have late breakfast at 8am then begin our final leg of the descent, a gentle 18 kms downhill. We will stop briefly at Mandara hut for lunch then get to Marangu gate by late afternoon. Have a victory dance at the Marangu gate with our guides and porters then catch our transport back to Moshi. Check in back to the hotel at Moshi, enjoy a long overdue shower and fresh change of clothes! Come evening we will have a celebratory dinner and a brief ceremony to receive our well-earned certificates.

Mission accomplished! it’s the end of the epic adventure. After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to the lovely town of Moshi and catch our transport back to Nairobi.