Climbing Kilimanjaro Pt.2: My Mountain Experience
So, you’ve prepped, planned, trained, packed, and psyched yourself up for climbing Kilimanjaro. Now it’s time to do the thing and actually climb Kilimanjaro! If you’re wondering what it’s really like out there on the mountain, let me take you behind the scenes. This is Part 2 of my 3-part Kilimanjaro blog series, a day-by-day look at my trek along the lesser-travelled Northern Circuit route. Spoiler alert: it was one of the hardest, most incredible things I’ve ever done.
Day 1 – Londrossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp (31st Jan)
After a slightly restless night (equal parts excitement and nerves), the big day finally arrived. We set off on a scenic (and very bumpy!) three-hour drive towards Londrossi Gate. Winding through small villages and farmland, it suddenly hit me that we were really here, about to climb that mountain.
To top it off, we spotted a giraffe just casually hanging out by the roadside. One of our porters noticed our excitement and showed us photos from previous treks where they had seen a tower of giraffes en route to the base of Kilimanjaro. Turns out, this was pretty normal here. Still, for us, it felt magical.
At Londrossi Gate, the atmosphere was buzzing with trekkers sorting gear and finalising paperwork. After a long wait (standard for Kili), we finally set off around 2:30pm.
The rain-forest was lush, humid, and far steeper than I expected for a “gentle start.” Within minutes, we were sweating buckets, but the sight of colobus and blue monkeys swinging amongst the trees kept our spirits high.
Our guide, full of energy, set quite a fast pace, overtaking a large group ahead. At first, it felt great to move, but my legs definitely protested later. In hindsight, I wish we’d eased into “pole pole” (slowly) a bit more!
Arriving at Mti Mkubwa Camp felt like reaching an oasis. Our tent was already up, and we were greeted with a tray of hot tea, popcorn, and biscuits, simple comforts that felt utterly luxurious out there. Dinner was a feast: soup, fried fish, veg, avocado salad… Honestly, there was more food than we could finish and this seemed to be a recurring theme whilst on the mountain. Our chef was great but the portion sizes were hearty to say the least!
Top Tips from Day 1:
🌟 Bring snacks you actually love. The meals are hearty, but altitude can mess with your appetite, and having familiar treats can be a real boost.
🌟A private toilet tent = game changer. We didn’t realise we had one at first, but once we discovered it… bliss.
🌟 A pee bottle for nighttime is essential. Trust me, you do not want to stumble to the camp toilets at 2am!
Day 2 – Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp (1st Feb)
We woke up to the sounds of birds and monkeys which turned out to be an incredible alarm clock! Breakfast was porridge, pancakes, and eggs, and then we packed up for what turned out to be a tough day.
The trail quickly became rocky and steep, cutting through the upper rain-forest into moorland. Every ascent left me breathless, but our guides were fantastic, pointing out animal tracks and telling us about the buffalo that sometimes roam these parts (although they’ve been pushed further out by increased trekking activity).
When we finally stumbled into Shira 1 Camp, we were extremely grateful to be done with the day’s trek! The camp felt like another world with wide open, windy plains and a beautiful stream stretched out under an enormous sky.
It’s important to note here that if we were doing a shorter route, e.g a 6 or 7 day route, we would have only stopped at this camp for lunch and then hiked to Shira 2 Camp. At this moment, I was extremely grateful that we were doing the 9 day route as I’m not sure my tired legs would have been able to hack it!
After lunch (more deliciousness), we took a quick nap, something that soon became a daily tradition. Waking up to a sunset spilling over the clouds was pure magic. It made all the aches and breathless moments feel totally worth it.
Top Tips from Day 2:
🌟 Don’t be shy about asking for breaks. It’s your climb, and “pole pole” isn’t just a cute phrase; it’s how you make it to the top.
🌟 A simple poncho is gold. It kept me dry on trail and doubled up as a windbreaker at camp.
Day 3 – Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp (2nd Feb)
This was meant to be an easier day, and on paper, it was. Less climbing, more meandering across the Shira Plateau. But between the residual soreness from yesterday, awkward stream crossings, and a few surprise rain showers, it still packed a punch.
At one point, I slipped slightly on some muddy rocks and felt that little rush of adrenaline. All part of the adventure, right?
When we reached Shira 2, we found our tent had taken a bit of a battering from the rain, but our incredible porters swooped in and sorted everything while we dried off and dug into a steaming bowl of Tanzanian stew (bananas, meat, and veg – surprisingly delicious!).
That evening, the clouds suddenly cleared, revealing Kilimanjaro’s majestic peak in the distance. For the first time, I truly saw where we were headed and it sent a proper shiver down my spine.
Top Tips from Day 3:
🌟 Make sure your backpack has padded straps — or add your own. My shoulders were so grateful.
🌟 A simple tarpaulin under your sleeping mat helps avoid that miserable soggy sleeping bag situation!
Day 4 – Shira 2 to Moir Hut (3rd Feb)
This day was an absolute joy. The trail rolled gently upwards, offering views for miles throughout the mountain. It finally felt like we were properly in the wild.
I spent a lot of the morning fiddling with my backpack, shifting more weight into my duffel so I wasn’t carrying so much. Adjusting my straps properly made a huge difference, something I wished I’d done sooner!
In the afternoon, we did a short acclimatisation hike up to around 4200m. It was tough, but the view down over camp was stunning. Every step made me feel stronger and as if I was earning this experience, slowly but surely.
Moir Hut Camp was blissfully quiet, just our small group with the mountain all to ourselves. We even managed to dry some soggy clothes in the sun: a rare treat! That night, the team surprised us with mountain pizza. Yes, pizza at 4000m! It was delicious and was probably (embarrassingly) my favourite food that we had on the mountain.
Top Tips from Day 4:
🌟 Keep the clothes you’ll wear next day inside your sleeping bag overnight. There’s nothing worse than putting on freezing gear first thing.
🌟 Dry your kit the second the sun appears; Mountain weather changes quicker than you can say “pole pole.”
Day 5 – Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp (4th Feb)
This day humbled me.
We clambered up rocky ridges, scrambled over boulders, and tackled endless ups and downs. The Northern Circuit was stunning but completely remote. We didn’t see another group all day, which was surprisingly nice as it made us feel more connected to the team and nature without interruptions.
At one point, faced with a steep rocky climb, I had a proper wobble. My legs felt useless, and doubts started creeping in. But our guide, ever patient, broke it down: “Just to the next rock. Then we rest.” Step by step, we made it. Although there was a point where the guide had to pretty much pick me up and put me down over the rock at one point as my little legs weren’t cooperating 😂.
We were told that this hike would take about 6 hours but we somehow made it in 4. Small wins!
At Buffalo Camp, surrounded by wide open plains and huge skies, I finally felt a bit of that summit confidence coming back.
Top Tips from Day 5:
🌟 Adjust your backpack straps during the day. Shoulders and hips need little shifts to stay happy.
🌟 Tell your guides if you’re struggling. They’ll tweak the pace or offer quiet encouragement when you need it most.
Day 6 – Buffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp (5th Feb)
A shorter day, but far from easy.
The trail was rocky and uneven, and I found myself concentrating so hard on every step that I barely noticed the landscape shifting around me. Still, there was something lovely about the simplicity: one foot, then the other, over and over again until we finally made it to camp!
During the trek, our guides pointed out a cave and told us stories about when the porters used to sleep in the caves on the mountain, before they were given tents. This shocked me and reminded me of the incredible feat that the guides and porters put themselves through just to ensure that we make it safely to the summit. The porters are incredible and so supportive and encouraging. We even had a group photo shoot at some of the caves! Picture below.
At Third Cave Camp, we found a beautiful flat spot tucked between rocky outcrops. Some of the porters had hiked over 3 hours to collect water for camp. Once again, this is a staggering reminder of how hard they work behind the scenes.
That afternoon, we chatted with Peter, our waiter, who shared stories about his hometown and how he got into mountain work. Those conversations are some of my favourite memories.
Top Tips from Day 6:
🌟 Take time to talk with your crew. They’re the heart of the mountain experience.
🌟 A hot water bottle in your sleeping bag is life. Instant cosy vibes.
Day 7 – Third Cave to Kibo Hut (6th Feb)
This was the day it got real.
The walk itself wasn’t long, but by now, altitude sickness had hit me hard. Waves of nausea, no appetite, crushing tiredness. I skipped lunch entirely and just curled up in the tent, willing myself to feel better.
Our guides kept checking my oxygen levels, reassuring me that although I felt awful, my stats were fine. That small boost of confidence meant a lot.
After an early dinner, we were told to sleep as much as possible before the midnight summit push. I tried, but between nerves and nausea, I only managed a light doze. We had to pack all our gear before sleeping so we could head straight off, something I really wish I’d prepared for mentally.
Top Tips from Day 7:
🌟 Prioritise rest wherever you can. Summit day is the real test.
🌟 Pack your bag before dinner, you’ll thank yourself when you’re groggy at 11pm!
Day 8 – Summit Day (7th Feb)
There are no words that truly capture summit day, but I’ll try.
Despite barely sleeping the night before, I woke up feeling surprisingly upbeat. At breakfast, I was in good spirits, fully aware of the huge challenge ahead but ready to face it. Some of our wonderful porters even came out to wish us luck, which felt incredibly touching and gave me an extra boost of motivation. Before setting off, our guides gathered us for a final pep talk, reminding us of the most important advice for the day: focus on yourself, not on others. They gently warned us that along the way, we might pass climbers heading back down, unable to reach the summit, but that we had to stay in our own lane, mentally and physically.
This day was particularly special as it was not only our Summit day but also my 30th Birthday! Although, I had asked my Fiancé and our guides not to mention it until we were safely at the summit, worried that any extra attention might add unnecessary pressure to what was already going to be the toughest physical challenge of my life.
We set off just after midnight, stepping into the frozen darkness.
The first stretch was actually quite beautiful. The sky was blanketed with stars, and for a while, I could enjoy the quiet magic of it all. I was wrapped up perfectly in multiple layers so didn’t feel too cold, but the mountain made it clear just how bitter the temperatures were! My backpack froze itself shut, and I quickly noticed icicles forming on my trekking poles❄️.
About four hours in, the struggle really began.
My legs were already tired from days of hiking and grew heavier with each step. The lack of sleep hit me hard, and every twenty steps or so, I had to stop to catch my breath. It was disheartening because every time that I thought we must be close to the top, I would quickly realise that we still had so much further to go. To make things worse, a pounding headache started to set in, which was another unwelcome gift from the altitude.
During summit night, it is important to keep moving and to not stop for more than 5 minutes at a time due to the harsh temperatures near the Summit. This felt like an added pressure because all I wanted to do was curl up in the snow for a nap! But I kept reminding myself of my reason for climbing Kilimanjaro and I soon found an extra push.
Soon after, one of our lovely guides noticed I was struggling and offered to carry my backpack. I could’ve cried with gratitude! (And yes, it really did feel like a huge weight off my shoulders, no pun intended!) This gave me a new lease of life and when we reached Gilman’s Point, I knew that reaching the summit was achievable.
The next stretch to Stella Point (the point before Uhuru Peak) was a blur of exhausted steps and deep, frozen breaths, but one thing I vividly remember was the amount of snow. It was everywhere, way more than we’d seen the entire trek, and it made the trail look like a different place entirely!
Reaching Uhuru peak was a feeling like no other and it felt particularly special to be able to share it with our lovely guides. We hugged each other and then posed for photos and soaked up the amazing atmosphere whilst admiring a beautiful sunrise. It kind of hit me all at once that I had just climbed Kilimanjaro. Here I was at 6am on my 30th birthday, standing on the roof of Africa. I have no other words but WOW.
The descent was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I fell multiple times! This was also when the altitude symptoms got the better of me and I was sick on the side of the mountain (luckily not at Uhuru Peak), which was not one of my finest moments.
I felt better as we were descending and it was nice to stop and have some breaks on the way to camp. When we arrived at camp we were greeted by an applause from our porters, alongside some high fives and hugs, accompanied by some much appreciated Mango juice! The moment was surreal and it wasn’t until we were relaxing at camp that we were able to fully comprehend what we had just achieved.
Later that evening, we celebrated properly. The team surprised me with a beautiful birthday cake and a bottle of prosecco, which was very much appreciated after the day’s effort. It was the perfect way to end one of the most extraordinary, emotional, and unforgettable days of my life.
As you can imagine, we had an early night that night for our official last sleep on the mountain⛰️.
Top Tips from Day 8:
🌟 Focus on your own breath and rhythm and block out everything else.
🌟 Keep moving on the summit. Standing still in that cold is a fast way to freeze.
🌟 Fill a bottle with hot tea for summit night, it was still warm 10 hours later and saved my soul.
Day 9 – Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (8th Feb)
Our final day began with stiff legs and achy knees, but spirits were soaring.
The rain-forest greeted us again with its humid warmth and slippery roots which was very different to the icy summit that we had experienced less just 24 hours before.
The downhill was harder than expected, each step a reminder of our tired joints, but the thought of hot showers and Kilimanjaro beers, once we were back at the hotel, kept us moving.
At Mweka Gate, we received our certificates and were taken to our hotel where we shared emotional goodbyes with the team who had carried, fed, encouraged, and laughed with us all the way to the summit.
And then, just like that, the mountain released us back into the world and I will never quite forget that surreal feeling of knowing that nothing has changed since before we began the climb but in a weird way, everything has changed.
Top Tips from Day 9:
🌟 Invest in trekking poles: they’ll save your knees on steep descents.
🌟 Shoes with proper grip are absolutely essential for the rainforest section within the descent.
My Overall Experience Climbing Kilimanjaro
Climbing Kilimanjaro was more than just a bucket list tick: it was emotional, exhausting, rewarding, and totally unforgettable. The Northern Circuit gave us peace and solitude, the support crew became like family, and the summit moment… well, you just have to experience it for yourself.
If you’re thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro, I hope this gives you a real taste of what it’s like day-to-day on the mountain. You’ve got this!
FAQs – My Experience Climbing Kilimanjaro
Without a doubt, summit night was the toughest part of the entire climb – physically, mentally, and emotionally. You start hiking around midnight in the freezing cold, with nothing but your head torch lighting the rocky, icy path ahead. It’s an intense and steep ascent at high altitude, and it really pushed me to my limits.
I was absolutely exhausted, stopping every 20 steps or so just to catch my breath. My legs felt like lead and mentally, I had to fight to keep going. The altitude had already taken a toll on me the day before, so I was also nervous and unsure how my body would cope. Thankfully, our amazing guides and Chris helped carry some of the load (literally and emotionally) and kept encouraging me all the way to the top.
When we finally reached Uhuru Peak, just as the sun began to rise over the snow-covered summit, it was one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen. It genuinely brought tears to my eyes. That moment made all the struggle and self-doubt worth it.
Yes, I definitely felt the effects of altitude sickness, especially on day 7, right before summit night. I had nausea, no appetite, and extreme tiredness. I actually skipped lunch that day and just went straight to sleep, which turned out to be a good decision because the rest really helped me recover.
Luckily, our guides were amazing and kept a close watch on my oxygen levels, which were in a good range despite how I felt. That reassurance gave me the confidence to attempt the summit.
What helped the most was taking everything slowly (“pole pole” as they say on the mountain), staying hydrated, and making the most of every opportunity to rest. I also stopped taking Diamox early on because of some unpleasant side effects (tingling feet, peeing non-stop, and feeling off-balance). Everyone reacts differently, but for me, hydration, rest, and listening to my body made the biggest difference.
100% yes – I absolutely loved it. The Northern Circuit is the longest route up Kilimanjaro, which means you get more time to acclimatise and a much better chance of reaching the summit successfully.
What really stood out for me was how quiet and peaceful it was. Most days, we didn’t see any other trekking groups at all, which felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. The views were stunning, especially from the northern side of the mountain, which fewer people get to see. Camps like Moir Hut and Third Cave were peaceful and scenic, and the solitude made the experience feel even more special.
If you’ve got the time and want a less crowded, more scenic experience, the Northern Circuit is definitely the route I’d recommend.
You can view the full list of Kilimanjaro routes here.
Honestly, there were a few items I was so grateful for every single day:
○ My pee bottle – sounds funny, but it was an absolute lifesaver at night, especially in freezing temperatures when the thought of trekking to the toilet was unbearable!
• A decent poncho – perfect for quickly throwing on during unexpected showers, and I even used it inside the tent.
○ A hot water bottle – I filled mine before bed and popped it in my sleeping bag. It made such a difference on cold nights.
• Trekking poles – I didn’t think I’d need them until summit day, but they helped take pressure off my knees and kept me balanced on steep descents.
○ Snacks I actually liked – Some of the meals were huge or hard to finish due to the altitude, so having familiar snacks helped keep my energy up.
• Warm clothes you can sleep in – I even tucked my clothes for the next day into my sleeping bag to keep them toasty for the morning.
Being warm, dry, and comfortable makes all the difference when you’re pushing through long days at altitude.
The length of each climbing day varies depending on the route and the specific day of your trek. On average, you’ll be hiking for about 4 to 6 hours a day. Some days, like acclimatisation hikes, are shorter and more relaxed, while others can be long and challenging, especially summit night, which can take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours to reach the top, followed by a long descent that adds several more hours.
During my Northern Circuit trek, most days were quite manageable, with enough time in the afternoons to rest, nap, or just soak up the views at camp. But summit day? That was a real marathon!
Yes – but not in the way people often think. You don’t need to be a mountaineer or super-athlete to climb Kilimanjaro, but it’s still a serious challenge. The main difficulty isn’t the terrain (which is mostly hiking trails), it’s the altitude, the cold, and the mental grit it takes to keep going, especially on summit night.
For me, the physical fatigue really hit during the final push to the top, but the mental battle was the biggest one. If you pace yourself, listen to your guides, and keep a positive mindset, you absolutely can do it.
Related Posts
Climbing Kilimanjaro: Part 1 – Preparing for the Climb can be found here
Part 3 of my Kilimanjaro Experience is underway and is a reflective piece looking back at my time climbing Kilimanjaro and the lessons learnt during the whole process.
In the meantime, You can view more of my blog posts around my whole experience of preparing for and climbing Kilimanjaro on my main Kilimanjaro page. From training plans and my opinions of what I did and didn’t need on the climb – you will find lots of helpful advice✨
Also, make sure to check out my review of the tour company that I used, Adventure Alternative.
