Jambo! Welcome to Tanzania - your adventure begins now!

As soon as you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, one of our friendly team members will be there to greet you with a warm smile and transfer you to your base for the next couple of days the vibrant Springlands Hotel.

After your journey, today is all about unwinding. Take a hot shower, stretch out, soak up the atmosphere, and start settling into the rhythm of Tanzanian life. This is your time to relax and recharge before the real adventure kicks off.

Because EverTrekkers usually arrive at different times, your full trek briefing will happen on Day 2. The hotel staff will let you know when and where to meet your expert guide, who’ll walk you through everything you need to know before you hit the trail.

Get ready, the mountains are calling!

Today is all about exploring the vibrant local area around Moshi, nestled at the foot of mighty Kilimanjaro.

You’ll stretch your legs and venture out past lush rice paddies and through shaded forest paths as you make your way towards the heart of Moshi town. Along the way, you’ll soak up the sights, sounds, and scents of everyday life in Tanzania. At the bustling markets, you’ll get a real taste of local culture, a perfect way to ease into the rhythm of the region.

If today falls on a weekday, there may also be an opportunity to visit one of the nearby schools, a chance to connect with the local community and see a different side of life here. Later in the day, you’ll have your all-important trek briefing and meet your mountain guide. This usually takes place at either 11am or 4pm, the exact time and location will have been confirmed with you on Day 1.

After your tour and briefing, the rest of the day is yours to relax and make final preparations. Gather your gear, check your kit, and soak in the excitement, tomorrow, the adventure truly begins!

After breakfast and a final briefing from your guide, it’s time to gear up and hit the road, your Kilimanjaro adventure officially begins!

We’ll leave our hotel in Moshi and drive to Londorossi Park Gate (2,250m), a scenic journey of around 1.5 hours. Here, the team will handle park registration and permits while you take in your first real glimpse of Kili. From Londorossi, we will head along a forest track to Lemosho Glades (2,000m), about 11km away.

‘It all starts here.’ This is where our trek truly begins.

We will start trekking in shade of the rainforest and follow winding trails through lush, green canopy as we make our way to Mt Mkubwa Camp (Big Tree Camp) at 2,750m. This gentle introduction to the trail usually takes around 3 hours.

Tonight, we will camp at Big Tree Camp, your first night on the mountain. Get ready to fall asleep to the sounds of the forest and dreams of the summit ahead.

It all starts to feel real now as the trail begins to steepen and the landscape shifts dramatically.

Today’s hike takes us steadily uphill as we leave the dense rainforest behind and ascend onto the Shira Plateau at around 3,600m. We enter the stunning giant heather moorland zone, a surreal landscape of twisted trees and open skies. Crossing the Shira Ridge, we’ll then descend gently to reach Shira 1 Camp at 3,500m, our home for the night.

Keep your eyes peeled along the way, this area is rich in wildlife, if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the striking Augur Buzzard, soaring on the thermals.

As we hike along the ridge, you'll begin to see the dramatic Western Breach wall of Kibo rising in the distance. When it’s capped with snow, it’s nothing short of breathtaking, a powerful reminder of the adventure still to come.

Today is all about taking it slow and letting our bodies acclimatise to the increasing altitude.

We’ll set off on a relaxed hike across the vast, open Shira Plateau, making our way to Shira 2 Camp at 3,850m. It’s a short trek, which gives us time to enjoy the incredible scenery and take in the fresh mountain air.

With the extra time in camp, we’ll explore the nearby Shira Caldera, the remnants of Kilimanjaro’s oldest volcano, which last erupted around 700,000 years ago. It’s a dramatic and ancient landscape that adds a whole new layer to the adventure.

If you’re feeling strong, we’ll take on the optional hike up to the summit of Shira Cathedral, gaining around 200m in elevation. It’s a great way to acclimatise the body the and the views from the top are well worth the effort.

Each step brings you closer to the roof of Africa!

Today, the landscape changes once again as we leave the moorlands behind and make our way into the alpine desert zone.

We’ll ascend a rocky trail that winds its way up towards the striking Lava Tower, an impressive volcanic formation that rises dramatically from the landscape at around 4,600m. This is one of the key acclimatisation points on the route, and while we won’t be camping at this height, the time spent here helps your body continue adjusting to the thinning air.

From the Lava Tower, we descend steadily into the beautiful Barranco Valley, surrounded by towering cliffs and bizarre, alien-looking giant groundsels.

We will take it slow and steady as we make our way to Barranco Camp at 3,950m, one of the most scenic campsites on the mountain.

After breakfast, we set off to conquer one of the most iconic features of the mountain, the Barranco Wall.

From Barranco Ridge, we begin our steady ascent up the imposing wall, a thrilling climb that offers spectacular views back across the valley. While it may look daunting from below, the climb is achievable with careful footing and a bit of determination, and it’s often a favourite part of the trek for many climbers.

Once we’ve reached the top, we continue along a gentler path towards the foot of the Heim Glacier, where the dramatic ice and rock landscape reminds us just how close we’re getting to the summit.

Today is a relatively short hiking day, giving you a free afternoon to rest, refuel, and take in the incredible scenery. Soak up the atmosphere, snap some photos, and let your body recover as we prepare for the challenges ahead.

Today, we gain serious altitude as we make our way to Barafu Hut, perched at 4,550m.

The landscape becomes stark and dramatic, a rugged, windswept volcanic wilderness that feels like another planet. As you hike higher, you’ll find yourself well above the cloud line, with breathtaking views stretching out beneath your feet.

From this vantage point, the twin peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo come into full view, a powerful reminder of what lies ahead. Barafu Camp, which means "ice" in Swahili, will be our final base before the summit attempt. We’ll arrive in time to rest, eat, and make our final preparations. It’s an early night tonight as you’ll want all the energy you can muster for the push to the summit in just a few short hours.

You're so close now, the Roof of Africa is within reach!

This is it, summit day. Time to take on the highest mountain in Africa and one of the legendary Seven Summits!

We’ll rise around midnight and fuel up with a light breakfast to prepare our bodies for the challenge ahead. Head torches on, layers zipped up, and then we begin the long, steady climb in the dark.

The incline becomes steep and demanding, but we’ll move slowly and deliberately, step by step, in the cold silence of the early hours. After several hours of determined trekking, we’ll reach Stella Point on the crater rim, just as the sun begins to rise. From Stella Point, it’s another couple of hours along the rim to the summit, Uhuru Peak at 5,895m, the highest point in Africa.

You’ve made it. YOU’VE DONE IT. Welcome to the Roof of Africa!

After taking in the incredible views, snapping your summit photos, and catching your breath, we begin the descent back to Barafu Hut for a well-earned meal and a bit of rest.

But the day’s not over yet, we’ll continue down to Mweka Camp, dropping to lower altitude where your body can start to recover. Dinner awaits, along with your final night sleeping on the mountain.

Your legs may be a little sore this morning, but the hardest part is behind you.

After breakfast, we begin our final descent through the lush rainforest, making our way down to Mweka Gate. Here, you’ll sign out of the national park and say a heartfelt goodbye to the mountain that’s challenged and inspired you over the past week.

From the gate, you’ll be transferred back to Springlands Hotel in Moshi, where a hot shower, clean clothes, and some well-earned rest await. Depending on your group’s descent time, and if you haven’t already had the chance, there may be an opportunity this afternoon to visit a local school and connect with the Moshi community.

Then it’s time to kick back, celebrate your achievement, and toast your incredible journey, perhaps with a cold Kilimanjaro beer in hand. You’ve done something truly remarkable, and tonight is all about enjoying it with your fellow trekkers.

What an achievement, you conquered Kilimanjaro!

The adventure may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime.

After an unforgettable journey, one of our team will transfer you from Springlands Hotel back to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your onward flight.

As you say goodbye to Tanzania, take a moment to reflect on everything you've achieved, from rainforest trails to glacier views, and of course, standing on the summit of Africa’s highest mountain.

What a journey, and one you’ll never forget.

Why not add on an epic safari or a relaxing beach experience - check out our trip extensions tab!