Begin your Londorosi Hike Day Tour by departing from your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi with your guide after an early breakfast. Depending on the location of your hotel, the drive to Kilimanjaro National Park will take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours. You will be taken to the western side of the mountain, passing through forests to the Londorossi Gate, located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, where the hike begins. The ascent is over 1,000 meters, gradually moving up through tropical montane forests that are home to a variety of animals and birdlife.

With the assistance of your guide, you may spot colobus monkeys, crested turacos, and more. This western region, being less-visited, is also frequented by large game from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, which borders Kilimanjaro National Park. It’s not uncommon to hear elephants rumbling through the forest, and you may even catch a glimpse of them through the trees. Your hike will take you to the vast Shira Plateau, located at 3,400 meters. This 500,000-year-old volcanic caldera 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. From this vantage point, you should be able to see Kilimanjaro’s iconic snow-covered table top, Kibo Peak, as well as the neighboring glaciers.

For those with limited fitness or mobility, it is possible to drive all the way up to the Shira Plateau and then explore the surrounding areas on foot. A reasonable level of fitness is ideal for those planning the longer hike. At the end of the day hike on the Shira Plateau, most walkers are driven back to their accommodations, allowing you to maximize your time on the mountain.