After arriving at Kilimanjaro airport, you check into our hotel. We spend two nights in Moshi allowing you time to regenerate and meet with your guides as they give you a detailed climb orientation and gear check.

After breakfast, you hand your gear to the porters, and then head out by vehicle to the gate to KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK. We pass the banana and coffee plantations, and stop briefly at a couple small shops en-route to pick up a few last-minute supplies.

After your guide takes care of the paperwork, we start our climb. The track narrows, and then leads us uphill for about 5-6 hours through the tropical rain forest to Machame Hut. Your tent will already be set up for you by our campmaster. So all you have to do is enjoy the natural beauty and solitude.

We start out at about 8 a.m. and leave the last glades of the rain forest behind. On a clear day you can see your first close-up of Kibo Peak - from 20 miles away.

Passing through fields of heather, the mountainside gradually opens up. You now begin to feel the effects of the altitude, and should walk slowly for two reasons -- because that's all you can do; and to enjoy the hike. In other words, "stop to smell the giant lobelia". After 9,000 ft. you pass the first lobelia, protea and giant senecia, and reach Shira in 7-8 hours.

We hike uphill, past the Lava Tower, and slowly trek downhill through the Giant Senecios toward Barranco, around Kibo's spectacular south-facing glaciers. The view of the towering peaks are spectacular.

After descending through the heather and lobelias we arrive at Barranco Camp.

Our first challenge of the day is to breach the 500 ft. Barranco Wall - not too tough, but a challenge nonetheless. Most of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo peak over our left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, and climb up the other side, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up to Barafu hut.

The air starts getting quite thin, and you will be running short of breath. It's a tough, but a rewarding uphill climb to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. "Barafu" means, "ice" in Swahili, and it is extremely cold at this altitude. There is a buzz of excitement in the air, as climbers anticipate the toughest day just ahead. The clouds move in and out, revealing the eroded peak of Mawenzi, painted with colors of the African sun.

Dress warmly, because we start climbing around midnight, on the steepest and most demanding part of the mountain. The moon, if out, will provide enough light, and we'll reach the Crater rim by sunrise, after a 7 hour hike, and welcome a new dawn.

Mawenzi Peak is a thrilling sight, with the Kibo saddle still in darkness beneath you, and the crater's ice-walls looming ahead. We now continue to Uhuru Peak (1-2 hrs.) This is the highest point in Africa, and the world's highest solitary peak (19,340 ft). It's the best view in Africa. The descent is invigorating. It's a good idea to have a little rest once in awhile as you continue down back to Barafu Camp, and then down to Mweka camp. This is where we spend our last night on the mountain.

In the morning we have a 4-5 hour walk down to the gate, where the Tusker vehicles meet us and take us back to the hotel and a well-earned shower.

Fly home, or head out on an exciting Wildlife Safari!

Tusker safaris take you through some of the most spectacular wildlife reserves on the planet. You stay in some of the finest lodges and camps in the SERENGETI, at the NGORONGORO CRATER and the LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.