WHEN TO GO.
JUNE THROUGH FEBRUARY.
Trekking Summary.
The Marangu route is one of the most classic and popular trail to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the only one provides mountain huts for the duration of the hike. The Marangu route usually takes 5 days 4 nights round trip, still we provide 6 days 5 nights round trip to add acclimatization with an extra day at Mandara hut.
Mandara Hut: 2,715m: A wooden hut, a huge cabin modified with a first floor dining room and an upstairs dormitory, equipped with a bank bed and mattresses, accommodate up to 8 trekkers in each small hut, water are piped from the spring, flush toilets are available behind the hut.
Horombo Hut: 3,705m: The hut similar to Mandara, fitted with bed and mattresses, water are piped from the above stream, flush toilets provided within the complex of small huts.
Kibo Hut: 4,703m: The stone house with a dining room and a number of dormitory rooms, fit out with bunk bed and mattresses, also platform toilets are available.
Detailed Itinerary
Kilimanjaro International Airport / Arusha
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by our airport representative and transferred to a hotel in Arusha, for pre- briefing and overnight stay before set out for a lifetime adventure.
Marangu Gate 1860 meters – Mandara Hut 2715 meters
– Elevation: 1,860 meters to 2,715 meters
– Hiking Duration: 5hrs
– Distance: Approximately 8.1 km
– Habitat: Montane Forest
Departure is after breakfast, we’ll drive from Arusha to Kilimanjaro National Parks eastern gate. After entry formalities and organizing belongings, you will start the ascent to Mandara Hut. Through the rain forest, with its high probability of rain showers. We recommend carrying a rain jacket with you. This side of the mountain is a favorite habitat for Kilimanjaro’s wild animals. An outstanding forest trail stretches uphill along an undergrowth bank stream. We will learn about its glorious fauna and flora, before you opt to either return to the main trail or stay on terrain towards Mandara. We arrive at the camp for siesta and overnight stay.
This being the groups first night at this elevation, we advise that you follow the hiking rules:
– Do not consume any alcohol and minimize your caffeine intake
– Drink enough water, at least 4 liters a day
– We encourage you to use Diamox in the mornings prior the days climb, this reduces altitude sickness symptoms. Consult your doctor on the use of Diamox prior to traveling to Tanzania. We encourage you to follow the advice of your guides if any altitude sickness symptoms occur. Please consult your safari guide immediately!
-Overnight stay at Mandara Hut 2715 meters
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
– Elevation: 2,715 meters to 3,705 meters
– Hiking time: 6hrs
– Distance: Approximately 11.6 kilometers
– Habitat: Moorland
The trail from Mandara hut goes through a few minutes of forest to the base of the Maundi crater. It is well worth to take this short route up the rim of the Maundi crater for a first stunning view of the summit. As the trek crosses the moorland you will have great opportunities to learn some of Kilimanjaro’s glorious plants. The endemic giant lobelia and the giant groundsel are some of the wild natives. You will be entering the Horombo Hut for a siesta and overnight stay before dinner.
Horombo Hut 3705 meters – Acclimation Day
Elevation: 3,705m
Horombo has sets of huts nestled on a plateau. Very often the area is incrusted with many groups of adventurers, plus guides and porters, with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. This is a stopover for both ascending and descending adventurers.
We strongly recommend this extra day at Horombo, a day hike to Mawenzi hut via Zebra Rocks. It is a 3 hour ascent and 1.5 hour descend back to the camp. The stay and a day hike will further assist the process of acclimatization. All meals for the day are provided at Mandara Hut. Retire to bed early and get a good night sleep, because the following nights will provide you less sleep due to the summit attempts.
Horombo Hut 3705 meters – Kibo Hut 4730 meters
– Elevation: 3,705 meters to 4,703 meters
– Hiking Time: 6hrs
– Distance: Approximately 9.6 kilometers
– Habitat: Alpine Desert
You will set-off after breakfast, continue with a trek along the Alpine desert. There are two trails to the Saddle. An upper route on right hand and lower route on left hand. The upper one is stony and eroded, very similar to the one you took on the previous day to Mawenzi.
We recommend you to take the lower trail, it is the easiest and nearly an hour shorter. It will give you enough time to relax before your summit attempt, it also crosses the last water spring at 4130 meters. Opt to fill your water bottles with all the water you will need for two nights before returning to Horombo, otherwise you will have to buy Mineral water at Kibo hut. We remind you not to rush during your hiking and please drink enough water to avoid dehydration!
By then you will be entering the barren Alpine desert where Kibo hut is located. The house has no water pipeline like the previous one. It is however possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. There are platform toilets behind the hut.
Nearly 1195 meters away from the summit, the same night you will set out for a final ascent. Organize your equipment, hiking pole and thermal clothing for your summit bid. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries make sure you have a spare set of batteries as well. To avoid freezing, we advise carrying your drinking water in a thermal flask. We recommend you go to bed early before the midnight summit attempts.
Kibo hut (4730m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo hut (3705m)
– Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo
– Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 15 km descent
– Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Your guide will give you a wakeup call at 00 h30, you will set out after a cup of tea and biscuits, towards the summit via a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave on 5150m, the excellent resting spot. The zigzag trail to Gillman’s point on 5 681m, this portion of the treks is steep, also covered with stone scree, requiring a lot of physical and mental effort.
From Gillmans Point your walking boots will hit on snow, all the way up the roof of the Africa. Total exhilaration and satisfaction – you made it. No other things to do, than taking your breath and celebrate taking stunning sunrise photos, before the 3 hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short relax you will setoff, ascent 3 hours down to Horombo hut, descent to Horombo hut will be surprisingly fast compared to the ascent, as you entering the Hut you will spend the rest of the evening celebrating in your last dinner and overnight.
Horombo Hut 3705 meters – Marangu Gate 1860 meterrs
– Elevation :3,705m to 1,860m
– Hiking Time: 6h
– Distance:19.7 kilometers
After breakfast you continue your descent past Mandara hut to the Marangu gate. Here at Marangu Gate we will follow the exiting protocol. All adventurers that made it to the summit will receive their summit certificates. Adventurer who’ve reached Gillman’s Point 5685 meters are issued with green certificates and those reached Uhuru Peak on 5895 meters, will earn gold certificates. Then we will drive back to Arusha for refreshing hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
-Overnight at Arusha Kahawa Hotel.
Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport
You will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to fly out of the country or Arusha Domestic Airport and fly to Zanzibar or join another wildlife safari if extended excursions are selected.
- PRICE FROM: $1,910pps
- Government Taxes
- All National Park entrance fees
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Overnight stay at hotel as per itinerary
- Guide, porter and cook salaries (not including gratuity)
- Crisis management and safety procedures. Rescue fees.
- All three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner while on mountain.
- All transfers mentioned above, upon your arrival and departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha domestic airport.
- Gratuity
- All Personal Items (Example toiletries, cameras)
- Excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary