Tour overview

This 9-day trek climbs Kilimanjaro by the Rongai Route with an extra night high on the mountain to help you acclimatise. A tour leader, local mountain guides, porters and a cook look after a group of ten to sixteen. You stay at a lodge in Moshi before and after the climb and spend six nights at mountain camps, with nearly all meals included.

From Nalemoru near the Kenyan border you climb through forest to Simba Camp, then up to Second Cave and Kikelewa in the moorland. A short, steep climb leads to Mawenzi Tarn, a tiny lake beneath the jagged peak of Mawenzi.

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You cross the high desert of the Saddle to Kibo, set off at midnight for the summit and Uhuru Peak, then descend to Horombo and on through the rainforest to Moshi. Oxygen and a portable altitude chamber are carried on the trek.

The physical rating is high. This trek suits fit walkers who want a steady ascent on a quieter route.

Trip highlights

  • Simba Camp (Day 2)
  • Second Cave and Kikelewa (Days 3–4)
  • Mawenzi Tarn (Day 5)
  • Kibo Hut (Day 6)
  • Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m (Day 7)

Your route

11 stops from Moshi to Moshi

9-day route: Moshi – Simba Camp – Kikelewa – Mawenzi Tarn – Kibo – Uhuru Peak – Moshi
  1. Moshi Day 1
  2. Nalemoru Gate Day 2
  3. Simba Camp Day 2
  4. Second Cave Camp Day 3
  5. Kikelewa Camp Day 4
  6. Mawenzi Tarn Hut Day 5
  7. Kibo Hut Day 6
  8. Uhuru Peak Day 7
  9. Horombo Hut Day 7
  10. Mandara Hut Day 8
  11. Moshi Days 8–9

Why choose this tour

A steady ascent with time to acclimatise. Oxygen and an altitude chamber carried.

Best suited to

  • Fit walkers
  • First-time high-altitude trekkers
  • Bucket-list climbers
  • Solo travellers
Hikers approaching a mountain camp on Kilimanjaro

Day-by-day itinerary

9 days from Moshi, Tanzania to Moshi, Tanzania

  1. Day 1 · Moshi Moshi

    Welcome to Tanzania.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Nalemoru Gate, Simba Camp Simba Camp

    Through the forest.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Second Cave Second Cave

    A steady climb.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Kikelewa Kikelewa

    Across the moorland.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Mawenzi Tarn Mawenzi Tarn

    Beneath Mawenzi.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · The Saddle, Kibo Hut Kibo

    Across the Saddle.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Uhuru Peak, Horombo Hut Uhuru Peak

    Summit day.

    Hotel
    Mountain camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Mandara, Moshi Moshi

    Down through the rainforest.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Moshi Moshi

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Kilimanjaro's snow-capped crater from the air

Where you stay

  • Moshi (1 night) Lodge
  • Kilimanjaro (6 nights) Mountain camp
  • Moshi (1 night) Lodge

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 2 lodge nights and 6 nights camping
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Kilimanjaro National Park fees
  • Tour leader, mountain guides, porters and cook
  • Transfers to and from the park gates
  • Oxygen and a portable altitude chamber

Not included

  • Flights
  • Tanzania visa
  • Optional Arusha game drive
  • Tips and travel insurance covering trekking to 6,000 m
Elephants on the savanna with Kilimanjaro behind

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You have never trekked before
  • You dislike camping
  • You want a small group
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2–8 · Dinner: Days 1–8
Hikers with flags at a cave on Kilimanjaro

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,885 per person, twin share, tour only. 6 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Yes, UK citizens need a visa; apply for an e-visa well before travel.

How hard is the climb?

Very demanding: long days at high altitude and a night-time summit push. Good fitness and training beforehand are essential.

Where do I sleep on the mountain?

In tents at the mountain campsites, with a mess tent for meals and a toilet tent; porters carry the camping kit.

Which meals are included?

8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners.

How many people travel together?

Between ten and sixteen, with a tour leader and mountain crew.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £2,885
See dates & prices