Long day hike, having a rest mid way at Kikelewa tarn for hut lunch, reaching the camp early evening, rest, dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Climbers retrace their path of the previous day for a short distance, and then descend to the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo.  There follows a 6 kilometre walk across the gradually ascending high altitude desert to Kibo Hut.  Camp is made close to the hut at 4700 metres.  Total time is about 5 to 6 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Climbers are woken at about 11pm.  After dressing in all their warm clothing, they have a hot drink and then set off at midnight. The first part of the ascent to the Hans Meyer cave is quite indirect, going around large rock outcrops and it is not as steep as the latter part. The surface is loose and can be hard going.  After the cave the scree slope becomes extremely steep and you have to climb in a zig-zag fashion.  It takes an average of 6 hours to reach Gillman's Point on the crater rim. On a fine morning, the views of the sun rising from behind Mawenzi are spectacular. Gillman's Point is at 5,700 metres. From here, the path goes around the crater rim for a further one and a half to two hours to the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5896 metres. The descent back to Kibo Hut can take a further 3 or 4 hours. After a rest and a meal, the descent continues to Horombo Hut via the lower route, a further trek of around 3 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The descent from Horombo to Mandara Hut takes around 3 hours, and the final part of the descent through the forest to Marangu Gate takes another 2 hours.  At the Gate vehicles will be waiting to take you and your crew back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast