The second day on the mountain Kilimanjaro starts just after breakfast with a steep climb through the last swathe of rainforest, though this soon gives way to a rolling alpine meadow dotted with giant heather. Once you leave the forest sunshade, Kilimanjaro’s two peaks snow covered Kibo and rocky Mawenzi – lie straight ahead overlooking the skyline. Further on you cross a zone of open moorland with diminutive vegetation, today you gain roughly 1,000m altitudes; the walk can take five to seven hours depending on your pace but always POLEPOLE. Tonight for Dinner and overstay at Horombo Huts.

You may gradually adjust to the altitude here over the course of a day, and because research indicates that doing so effectively doubles your chances of reaching the summit, the time is well spent. The day isn't entirely wasted, either, since there are numerous treks you can go on right near the hut. The hike, which lasts 4-5 hours round trip and ascends to a height of 4,600 meters before returning to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight, will get you in condition for the future.  We'll go on the most well-known one, though, as it takes you to the base of Mawenzi Peak, the striking Kilimanjaro's eastern peak, and is the one that most people use to acclimate. The trek of Mt Kilimanjaro will benefit you physically and mentally because it takes 4-5 hours to complete and ascends to a height of 4,600 meters before returning to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight. 

On day fourth 6 days mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route as you leave behind Kibo, everlasting flowers, and other strange alpine species, the environment becomes more rocky and hard. In the thin moorland, enormous groundsels and lobelias may be seen. It will take five to seven hours to hike up to Kibo. As you pass the Last Water point and skirt Mawenzi Peak, you will next travel a desolate, almost lunar environment to the Saddle, which is a vast tundra desert situated in between Mawenzi and Kibo. Here you will start getting fantastic views of the upper ranges of the mountain before arriving at Kibo Hut (4,705m), a dry-stone-walled hut with dorms and limited facilities. Tonight you prepare for tomorrow’s final assault – THE SUMMIT – re-packing to leave any non-essential items with the porters; you need to summon all your energy to get to the summit so there’s absolutely no point in carrying anything you don’t need! An early night is imperative as you must make a midnight start in order to reach the summit in the morning before the cloud cover settles, and then have time to get back down to the hut. Overnight stay at Kibo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

This is a long and demanding day! The guides wake you soon after midnight and you start out in the darkness, zigzagging up a long scree slope by the light of your torch in the extreme cold. At this time of day, the scree is still frozen – which makes it easier to walk on! After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave – named after the German geologist who made the first successful ascent in 1889 – where he found the remains of a frozen leopard. The  6 days Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route gradient gets steeper and three hours on (this is the hardest stretch of the climb! you should reach the crater rim at Johanna’s Notch. From here it’s a short scramble to Gillman’s Point (5,685m) in time for dawn. Your reward is the dramatic spectacle of the sun rising over the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi – the profusion of colors and shapes makes all the suffering seem worthwhile! For those who still have the energy and drive, it takes another couple of hours along the crater Rim to reach Uhuru (Freedom) Peak (5,896m). Your descent (approx. 3 hours) retraces the route back down past Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut for a well-deserved rest.

Overnight stay at Horombo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

On the Last 6  Days of mount Kilimanjaro hiking Via the Marangu route pace quickens as you continue your triumphant way back down across the alpine meadow and past Mandara Hut through the rainforest to Marangu Gate where you board the vehicle for the journey back to Moshi.