Some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a small percentage if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps me cover the costs of running my site - so thank you in advance!
Dreaming about hiking Mount Kilimanjaro? Let’s dive into what it’s really like—from the planning stages to what it feels like standing at the top of Africa!
Mount Kilimanjaro, located in northeastern Tanzania, is the largest free-standing mountain in the world and one of the famous Seven Summits. It’s a dormant volcano, standing at 5895 meters (19,341 feet), and features five different climate zones from base to summit!
Thousands of hikers cross the summit off their bucket list every year, and I was lucky enough to be one of them, alongside my dad and brother.
If you’re considering this adventure, here’s a full breakdown of my 8-day Kilimanjaro itinerary, what I wish I had known before I went, and all the FAQs you’re probably wondering about.
Let’s get into it!
🌟 Hi, I’m Maddie Wilten, the New York City-based travel blogger and creator behind Mad Travels. Through my content, I aim to inspire people to chase adventure, embrace solo travel, and design a life of freedom. And now I can’t wait to tell you about my experience hiking Kilimanjaro.
Article overview
- Mt. Kilimanjaro 8-day itinerary overview
- Day 1: It begins!
- Day 2: Hiking through the clouds
- Day 3: Stars, mountains, and above the clouds
- Day 4: Touching 15,000 feet
- Day 5: Scrambles and sunsets
- Day 6: Base camp bound
- Day 7: Summit day– Let’s go!!
- Day 8: Down, down, down
- What surprised me about the hike
- What to know before hiking Mount Kilimanjaro
- Kilimanjaro alternative experiences
- Final thoughts
Mt. Kilimanjaro 8-day itinerary overview
Typical routes range anywhere from 5-9 days. We did the 8-day Lemosho Route with GM Expeditions, which I highly recommend if you want better altitude acclimatization and a higher chance of making it to the summit.
We flew into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) near Moshi, where GM Expeditions picked us up.
⛰️ Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp (Rainforest Zone)
⛰️ Day 2: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp (Moorland Zone)
⛰️ Day 3: Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp (Moorland Zone)
⛰️ Day 4: Shira 2 to Lava Tower, then down to Barranco Camp (Alpine Desert Zone)
⛰️ Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (Alpine Desert Zone)
⛰️ Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Base Camp (Alpine Desert Zone)
⛰️ Day 7: Base Camp to Summit (!!) and down to Mweka Camp (Arctic Zone-Rainforest Zone)
⛰️ Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (Rainforest Zone-Cultivation Zone)
Day 1: It begins!
Starting elevation: 7,850 ft.
Camp elevation: 9,160 ft.
From the second we started, I had all the excited nerves like it was Christmas morning. It felt like a pure adventure—and I was so grateful to be there. We hiked for about 3-4 hours through the rainforest before setting up camp.
Initially, I was shocked by how large our support team was (we had 16 porters, a chef, and two guides!). I’ll be honest: it felt a little uncomfortable having such a big team supporting us– I’ve never done a backpacking trip with so much help before.
But hearing our guide Chi Chi’s stories about how COVID shut everything down for almost two years shifted everything. We were only their third trip back since then. This trek wasn’t just about us, and that perspective stayed with me the whole trip.
The campsite that night was busy but lively. This adventure already felt like it was going to be unforgettable.
Day 2: Hiking through the clouds
Camp elevation: 11,500 ft.
Today we hiked for about 5.5 hours—and it was so beautiful!
We hiked through clouds. We also got our first clear view of the summit, which made everything feel so real.
I was shocked at how good the food was (shoutout to our chef, Emmanuel!)—I was expecting backpacking food and instead got real, delicious meals.
I did have a mild headache from the altitude, which made me a little nervous for the days ahead. But overall, it was a great day! Also, it’s incredible to be unplugged and present the entire time (there’s no cell service the whole trek)!
Day 3: Stars, mountains, and above the clouds
Camp elevation: 12,780 ft.
Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night and stepped outside the tent– I was stunned. The stars were unreal. I could see the whole Milky Way, the summit lit up with hikers’ headlamps, and it was just me out there under this insane sky.
Today was easier hiking-wise. We only hiked for about 4 hours at a relaxed pace. We were above the clouds all day—it felt like we were on another planet. Our camp was super exposed and windy, but the views made up for it.
Chi Chi joined us for dinner tonight, and it was so much fun hearing more of his stories. I can’t say enough good things about our guides—they were such a huge part of making this trip what it was (highly recommend booking through GM Expeditions). It’s illegal to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro without a guide, so they literally made this experience possible.
Day 4: Touching 15,000 feet
Camp elevation: 13,000 ft.
Today was a big one! We gained a lot of elevation (made it to 15,000+ ft!) before descending to our camp.
The landscape changed again—huge boulder fields, trees that looked straight out of Jurassic Park, and misty clouds rolling in and out. I was pretty tired by lunch, but otherwise feeling strong (no major altitude sickness yet!).
Also, I cannot overstate how beautiful the sunsets were every single night. Tonight, the sky above the clouds lit up in pinks and oranges. You just don’t get views like this normally.
Due to taking the 8-day route, you hike fewer miles per day to acclimate to the altitude. The first few days were much easier mileage-wise than I was expecting. This was the first day where hiking felt harder due to the altitude.
Day 5: Scrambles and sunsets
Camp elevation: 13,200 ft.
Today was one of my favorite days!
We started by climbing the Barranco Wall—basically, a giant rock scramble where you have to use your hands. It was challenging and exposed in places but so much fun!
After that, the trail descended steeply, fog rolled in, and it felt like we were hiking through another world. The entire experience felt so different than anything else I’ve experienced. Our camp tonight was more crowded and super exposed, but again, the sunset was magic.
We could see Mount Meru poking out like an island floating in the clouds. I will never get over that view.
Day 6: Base camp bound
Camp elevation: 15,280 ft.
Today was a shorter but steep hike up to Barafu Base Camp—our launching point for the summit.
The afternoon was all about resting, eating, and trying to sleep (which was impossible because of the anticipation). We also needed to start hiking at midnight to reach the summit early in the morning (to avoid storms at the exposed peak), so sleeping that early was not easy!
I couldn’t believe summit night was finally here!
Day 7: Summit day– Let’s go!!
Summit elevation: 19,341 ft.
Where do I even begin? Summit night was insane. We woke up at 11:00 PM, bundled in every layer we had, and hit the trail by midnight. Little did I know I would need even more layers.
The first few hours were cold but manageable, and hiking felt fairly easy. It was stunning and so surreal—seeing the line of headlamps snaking up the mountain and experiencing the vastness of all the stars. Such a special moment! I felt small in the best way and was completely present.
After about 5 hours… it got tough. My feet froze solid (even with toe warmers) and hurt so badly that I had silent tears running down my face. It was a serious mental battle to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. However, luckily, no altitude issues for me.
My dad was struggling with nausea and dizziness, so we had to go even slower than planned. Honestly, it tested my patience more than anything else. There was no rushing it—you just had to keep going. Our guides were absolutely incredible, ensuring we would make it to the top without risking our safety.
And then… after about 6 or 7 hours, the sun started rising. We had just hiked 4,000 vertical feet– the sunrise was the best reward!
The most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen—on top of the world, above a sea of clouds, with the sky exploding in color. It gave me a second wind, and I warmed up a bit.
We finally made it to Stella Point, then pushed on to the true summit: Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters.
We were exhausted but so, so happy, and the views were mindblowing! It was an incredibly surreal moment and felt like we were on top of the world–literally and figuratively! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
You can’t stay too long at the top as it’s very cold and oxygen levels are lower. We quickly made our descent back to base camp in about half the time it took to go up! We recovered for an hour or so and then continued 3,000 more vertical feet down to camp. Staring up at the peak from camp made it hard to believe we were at the top just a few hours earlier.
Day 8: Down, down, down
Today we hiked down through the rainforest to the trailhead.
We met up with my mom and sister at the bottom—and then the real rewards began: showers, clean clothes, and beds!
What surprised me about the hike
- The first few days of hiking were easier than I expected, but the summit day was tougher.
- Wear more layers than you think you need for the summit, especially if you get cold easily. I wore lots of layers and was still cold.
- The altitude is no joke. Although I’m grateful, I didn’t get sick, hikers around me did. You will feel it either way– I tried to hike more quickly up a hill and was exhausted and out of breath.
- Summit day is 100% more of a mental battle than a physical one.
- Your guides make the trip! I underestimated their role and am so grateful for them.
- I didn’t expect to have such a large team helping us. However, looking back, our team was larger than normal due to smaller numbers of hikers at the time.
- The stars, sunsets, and views are far more incredible than I expected. The photos don’t do them justice.
What to know before hiking Mount Kilimanjaro
Here’s everything I wish I had known beforehand and some helpful tips to prepare:
🛂 Visa info: You need a visa to enter Tanzania. You can get it at the airport or online ahead of time. (We did it online—it was easy!)
⛰️ Altitude is NO joke: Even if you feel strong, the altitude can hit you hard. Go slow, hydrate, and listen to your body.
🥾 Summit night is difficult (but so worthwhile):
It’s freezing, steep, and exhausting. Layer up, listen to music (so helpful), and expect some difficulty, but know it’s 100% worth it. There were people around us who didn’t struggle at all and some who couldn’t make it to the summit, so just focus on doing what’s best for you.
💳 Price: Expect around $2,000–$5,000 depending on the company and route, plus flights, gear, tips, and visa fees.
🪙 Tipping: Tipping your guides, porters, and crew is expected and important—budget for it. (Your guide company will usually give you suggested amounts).
🦁 Adding a safari: We did a short safari afterward, which was amazing—but I won’t lie, we were tired. (Totally still worth it though!)
💉 Vaccines and medications:
Talk to your doctor about travel vaccines and definitely about Diamox (for altitude sickness). Also, the sun at altitude is no joke—pack strong sunscreen.
📆 Best time to hike: December–March and June–October are the best (dry seasons). I hiked in August.
🗂 Plan ahead: Climbing Kilimanjaro is not something to do on a whim. You will need adequate time to organize visas, choose excellent guides, book travel plans, and train. I’d recommend starting to plan 6-9 months ahead of time, especially if you’re hiking during peak season. The earlier you start, the more flexibility you’ll have in choosing routes and dates.
🏃 Training helps: You can climb Kilimanjaro as a beginner, but it helps to have strong cardio endurance and hiking experience. Training made a huge difference for me.
🏨 Hotels: Book at least one night before and after your trek. You’ll want the extra sleep, real food, and hot showers. Book a couple of nights before if you want to be fully adjusted to the time change.
Kilimanjaro alternative experiences
If you’re limited on time or not quite ready to tackle the summit, then this highly-rated day hike is your best option.
After reaching the gates at Marangu, you will hike for 3-4 hours to the first lodges, 2,700 meters from the base of the mountain. Here you will enjoy a lunch surrounded by beautiful views and wildlife before starting your descent.
Another incredible experience is biking in West Kilimanjaro. Exploring one of Tanzania’s great game reserves on two wheels is one of those one-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Final thoughts
Hiking Kilimanjaro is one of the hardest, most beautiful, and most rewarding things I’ve ever done, and it is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. It pushed me physically and mentally in ways I didn’t expect, but it was also incredibly worthwhile, and I’d 100% do it again!
Of course, the summit was unforgettable– but so were the stars, hiking through clouds, the insane sunsets, the wild terrain, connecting with our guides, and being completely unplugged for 8 days.
Did I feel safe? Yes. Altitude sickness is the biggest danger, but good guides watch carefully and take care of you.
I’m sharing my experience in the hopes it helps you prepare—and maybe even gives you the nudge you need to go for it.
If Kilimanjaro’s on your mind… take the leap! It really is the adventure of a lifetime.
🐘 Read next >> How to organize the perfect Tanzania and Zanzibar safari
Leave a Reply