MOUNT KILIMANJARO TREK – MARANGU ROUTE

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400) and drive to Marangu Gate (1980). The drive to Marangu takes approximately 2 hours. At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongs for the trek while your guide is doing some registration with the Tanzania National Park. After registration, you will then begin the ascent into the rain forest. During this section of the hike, you should expect rain, mud, and fog. And also keep your eyes open for wildlife, including Colobus monkey ! After 3-4 hours of ascending you will reach Mandara Hut (2700m). The A frame Mandara Hut can accommodate up to seven people, and the area is consist of several sleeping huts and dining area. After evening tea with snacks, as part of acclimatization program (go higher sleep low policy), you can always take a short evening walk to Mahundi Crater and return to the hut for dinner and overnight At night, mountain temperature may drop to freezing point so be prepared!.

After breakfast, Leave Mandara Hut and Kilimanjaro forest for Horombo hut. Most of the day’s hike will be through Kilimanjaro’s Moorland, a rocky landscape with desert lake plants. After 6 hours of hiking, we will reach Horombo Hut and spend the rest of afternoon relaxing. Although extremely busy, the Horombo Huts are considered to be the nicest on Kilimanjaro. The small A- frame buildings can accommodate up to eight people each, and provide lodging for hikers, ascending , descending and acclimatizing. Horombo can accommodate up to one hundred hikers and all the porters, cooks and guides for all the trekkers lodging there.

After breakfast, you leave Horombo to hike through the Moorland and Alpine desert of Kilimanjaro’s upper altitudes. Hikers have two options of trails to get to Kibo Hut (2700m). The upper route (located to the right of the folk) is the same trail used the previous day for the Day hike to Mawenzi Hut. The lower route ( located to the left of thefolk) is more popular route because of a shorter hiking distance (one hour shorter).

Your guide will wake you up 23-23:30 for tea and snacks. You will then begin your summit attempt. The hike begins with 5 hours hike to Gillman’s point on the crater rim (5681m). Reaching this section is quite an achievement as the trails is steep, rocky and zigzag at a high altitude. Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend short time on the summit taking photos and having some victorious celebration, before descent to Kibo Hut begins. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 hours. At Kibo Hut, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After lunch, you will start your journey back down to Horombo Hut (3720m). After getting there, you will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at the hut after a very long and strenuous day.

After a well deserved breakfast, your staff will prepare for you a big celebration of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guides, cook, and porters. After the celebration, you will descent for about 6 hours back to Marangu gate (1980m). The trek down from Horombo to Marangu Gate takes about 6-8 hours. At the gate you will be required to sign your names to receive your victorious certificates. The car will be there waiting to take you back to Arusha for long overdue shower and more celebration.