Kilimanjaro Day Hike | Tanzania | (DAY TRIP)

Tour overview

Climb a part of Mount Kilimanjaro with a one-day hike. This hike has probably been on your bucket list for a while now, and if you don’t have the time or budget (or both) to climb it, then this is definitely your best option. You’ll get up really high and have the best view of the mountain, without having to pay the full price. Get a nice taste of the highest mountain in Africa: Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 5,985m tall.

 

  • Start Location: Arusha or Moshi
  • Start time: Early Morning
  • Duration: Full Day
  • Availability: Daily

Kilimanjaro Day Hike Description

The day trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro starts around 5 AM from Arusha (or even earlier to avoid traffic). Depending on the location of your accommodation, the journey will take 1.5 to 2.5 hours. From here, you’ll depart with your guide after an early breakfast to start the drive to Kilimanjaro National Park and begin the Kilimanjaro day hike.

The Kilimanjaro day hike begins on the western side of the mountain and goes up through the forests to the Londorossi Gate. Here, at an altitude of 2,100m, the hike begins. The ascent is over 1,000m, moving steadily up through tropical mountain forests, home to a variety of animals and birdlife. With the help of your guide, you may spot colobus monkeys, crested turacos, and more. It is not uncommon to hear elephants rumbling through the forest; you may even catch sight of them through the trees.

The Kilimanjaro day hike takes you up to the vast Shira Plateau, at 3,600m. It is a 500,000-year-old volcanic caldera that is now a World Heritage Site. You can stop for lunch here or continue on to Shira 1 Camp, Lion Gorge, and the foothills of the Shira Pinnacles. Kilimanjaro’s iconic snow-covered tabletop, Kibo Peak, should be visible from here, as well as neighboring glaciers.

Day Hike Kilimanjaro Options:

  • Lemosho Route Day Hike: The Lemosho Route Day Hike starts on Kilimanjaro’s remote western side, offering a quieter, more scenic trail through dense rainforests up to the vast Shira Plateau (as described above). It’s a more challenging hike with breathtaking views and diverse landscapes, perfect for adventure seekers. Price from €220,- per person

    Marangu Route Day Hike: The Marangu Route Day Hike starts at Marangu Gate on Kilimanjaro’s southeastern side, taking you through lush rainforests to Mandara Hut, with chances to spot monkeys and enjoy views of Maundi Crater. It’s a well-maintained, less challenging trail compared to Lemosho, making it ideal for a more relaxed hike. Due to the starting point being closer and the absence of forest fees, this route is substantially cheaper but does not visit the Shira Plateau. Price from €195,- per person

How Fit Should I Be:

It’s ‘just’ a day hike, but the fast pace and elevation make it quite exhausting. So don’t underestimate this hike. It is definitely challenging.

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Giulia Domitilla Bruni
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It was an unforgettable experience. Lazaro is a highly knowledgeable and professional guide, very experienced and an excellent driver, and he speaks English and Italian perfectly. He knows the parks and the locations where you can find wildlife and zebra migrations throughout the year inside and out. He also gave us lots of tips for our time in Zanzibar and recommended that we contact his colleague Salimu for transportation and activities on the island; he, too, was very kind and reliable. We’ll be back!
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Flavia Pellicci
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Abbiamo fatto il Safari con Lazaro (o meglio Lazarino, il suo soprannome, e la storia del perchè quel nome ve la racconterà lui di persona) dall 8 all 11 marzo 2026. Preparato, con esperienza (e si vede), parla italiano in maniera perfetta, simpatico e disponibile per foto/ecc ecc ... ci ha fatto vivere il nostro primo Safari in maniera pazzesca, un esperienza meravigliosa. Ritmo serrato e all'Avventura, come piace a noi. Non c é un momento di noia. La sera nei Lodge si faceva il biefring per il giorno dopo. Con lui sei sempre immerso nell avventura. Abbiamo avuto la fortuna di veder veramente tanti animali, praticamente tutti... rimarrá un ricordo bellissimo. Magari Lazaro ci rivedremo per il Serengeti 😉... Alessio & Flavia
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Lazaro Laizer
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Serengeti national park
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Michela Di Giusto
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Nel Giugno 2025, abbiamo vissuto un emozionantissimo Safari nel Serengeti all’inseguimento ed incrocio della Grande Migrazione. Dobbiamo ringraziare Lazaro, guida molto preparata e professionale, che parla un italiano molto chiaro, con uno strordinario fiuto per animali in situazioni interessanti ed inoltre: gentile, instancabile, disponibile e mai ripetitivo.
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Asha Lubuva
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We had a wonderful day trip with Lazarino Tours & Safaris, my girls enjoyed alot! All the questions were replied very very proffesionally!
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Paulo Sumaye
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I had the privilege of visiting the stunning Ngorongoro Crater on 21st June with Lazarino Tours and Safaris, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, everything was professionally organized and thoughtfully executed. My guide, Lazaro, was exceptional—knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about nature and wildlife. He went out of his way to ensure we had the best views, saw the most wildlife possibleWhat stood out most was the personalized service and the warm, welcoming attitude of the entire Lazarino team. This wasn’t just a tour—it was a meaningful and inspiring adventure that I’ll never forget.
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Francesca Romana Mastropaolo
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Abbiamo avuto il piacere di vivere un viaggio straordinario in Tanzania grazie a Lazaro, la nostra guida maasai, con cui abbiamo condiviso ogni tappa del tour organizzato dall’agenzia I Viaggi dell’Elefante. Fin dal nostro arrivo, Lazaro si è dimostrato una presenza affidabile, professionale e attenta. Ci ha accompagnati con discrezione, conoscenza del territorio e grande disponibilità, rispondendo a ogni nostra esigenza con naturalezza. Abbiamo visitato insieme il Lake Manyara, il cratere di Ngorongoro, un villaggio masai tradizionale e il Parco nazionale del Serengeti, e in ogni tappa abbiamo sentito di essere in ottime mani. Lazaro ha saputo raccontarci il Paese in modo autentico, arricchendo ogni momento con spiegazioni chiare, aneddoti e tanta passione. Ha risposto a tutte le nostre domande, altro che Google 😁 Siamo grati per la sua presenza e il modo in cui ha reso questo viaggio non solo sicuro e ben organizzato, ma anche personale e memorabile. Se ricorderemo questa esperienza per tutta la vita, è anche grazie a lui. Consigliamo Lazaro a chiunque voglia scoprire la Tanzania in modo vero, rispettoso e ben accompagnato.
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Roberto Mingardi
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Abbiamo vissuto un’esperienza semplicemente indimenticabile grazie alla nostra guida Lazzarino sin dal primo momento si è dimostrata professionale, appassionata e incredibilmente esperta della fauna e della natura circostante. Ogni dettaglio dei comportamenti degli animali ai segreti della savana è stato raccontato con entusiasmo e precisione, rendendo il safari ancora più affascinante.
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Nadia Fasoli
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Safari meraviglioso … La guida Lazarino ha saputo adattarsi perfettamente alle nostre esigenze, garantendoci avvistamenti straordinari e momenti emozionanti in totale sicurezza. Il suo occhio attento e la conoscenza del territorio ci hanno permesso di vedere leoni, elefanti, giraffe e perfino un leopardo nascosto tra gli alberi e tanto altro… Un’esperienza che consiglio a chiunque voglia vivere un safari autentico e ben organizzato. Grazie di cuore per aver reso questo viaggio così speciale!
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