Night Owl or Early Bird: Nighttime vs. Daytime Summits on Kilimanjaro

Both daytime and nighttime summiteers will start at Barafu camp, but their experiences will unfold a bit differently… Depending on the route you take up the mountain, your summit bid may be a 10-15 hour night bid, or you may have the opportunity to summit during the day. Shorter routes, like Umbwe, include nighttime summits with immediate descents, since limited acclimatization time on these treks makes it uncomfortable for climbers to stay at the summit elevations for long.