RONGAI CAMP. Altitude: 6,396' to 8,530'; Hiking time: 3 hours. Register at the Marangu park gate and transfer by four wheel car (approximately two and a half hours) to the Rongai trailhead. Meet your climbing staff and begin hiking from the village of Nale Moru. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering pine forest, and then climbs gently through a forest sheltering a variety of wildlife, including the Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. Our campsite is on the edge of the moorland zone with expansive views of the Kenyan plains.

KIKELEWA CAVES. Kikelewa Caves Altitude: 8,530' to 11,320'; Hiking time: 6-7 hours. Challenging ascent to the "Second Cave" where you will relax and take lunch with superb views of Kibo and the ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch proceed towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, where we camp in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves.

KIBO CAMPSITE. Altitude: 14,210' to 15,580'; Hiking time: 4-5 hours. We cross the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo Campsite. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent.

DESCENT TO MARANGU. Altitude: 12,200' to 6,250'; Hiking time: 5-6 hours. Descend steadily through the moorland, past Mandara Hut and through a lush rain forest to the Marangu park gate. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.