This is the big day. Your guide will wake you at midnight for a light breakfast and final preparations before you start the climb. At this height, in the dark and cold, it’s very important to dress in layers. Your guide will show you exactly how to dress, from your base layer to your outer jacket, so you stay comfortable. Remember, it’s easier to take off a layer if you get warm than to try to warm up if you get cold.

The climb from Kibo Hut follows the crater wall in the dark, and you’ll move at a slow, steady pace, ‘pole pole’ as your guide will say in Swahili. Climbing in the dark helps you focus on each step rather than worry about how far you have left, which is helpful during this tough part of the trek. Your guide will lead the group at a pace that matches your fitness and how you’re handling the altitude.

When you reach Gilman’s Point (5,681m) on the crater rim, you’ll see the first light of sunrise over Mawenzi Peak, an unforgettable sight for any trekker. From Gilman’s Point, you’ll walk along the crater rim to Stella Point and then to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. At the summit, you’ll have time to take in the glaciers, the crater, the curve of the earth, and the feeling of standing on the Roof of Africa.

You’ll go back down the same way to Kibo Hut for lunch, a rest, and to collect your gear, then continue down across the Saddle to Horombo Hut. Trekking poles are very helpful on the descent. Your legs will be tired, and it’s a long walk, but arriving at Horombo Hut feels rewarding. You’ll have dinner and spend the night at Horombo Hut (3,765m).