8DAYS:KILIMANJARO MOUNTAIN CLIMB -MARANGU ROUTE.

Our staff will meet you at the airport to pick up you. We will introduce to you before starting the drive to our hotel in Arusha. After check in, we will arrange the good time to come and have a briefing for Kilimanjaro trekking for which things should be carried for necessary and the general things to do while you’re on the mountain. Then we will leave you for relaxing until the next day ready to the gate. The accommodation and meal plan will be Bed and Breakfast at Iliboru safari Lodge (BB).

The Marangu Route begins at Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) on the South-East side of Mount Kilimanjaro Typically you will be driven to the gate from Moshi, which takes approximately an hour and passes through the village of Marangu. It takes over three hours to reach Marangu gate from Arusha town. At the gate you will meet your trekking team, register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities and witness porters assembling and weighing packs of gear that they will be carrying up the mountain. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest and takes 5-7 hours to complete. Your first night is spent in the MandaraA-frame Huts (2,700 meters) which come equipped with solar generated lighting, flush toilets and water piped in from a nearby mountain stream. Each hut has 6-8 bunk beds. If you are a light sleeper we suggest bringing ear plugs! Accommodation is full Board on the camp.

Day three on the Marangu Route begins with an early start. You will be served breakfast and should be on your way by latest 08:30. The trek continues through the rainforest, around the base of the Maundi Crater and then transitions rather rapidly into the low alpine moorland zone. If the weather is clear you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater to get your first full view of Kibo. During the trek you will also see giant lobelias which are scattered throughout the landscape at this altitude. Day two takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete and covers a significant distance (11.5km / 7miles). At Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) you will be served dinner and shown to your sleeping quarters for the night.

At Horombo Hut, you will spend the day allowing your body to acclimate to high altitude. You will have the option of doing a day hike to Mawenzi Hut (4600m) for further acclimatization with your guide. Breakfast and dinner will be at the hut and lunch will either be packed or at the hut depending on your preference for the day.

After the great Breakfast, we will depart from Horombo Hut early and begin a 1,000 meter ascent to Kibo Hut which covers a distance of approximately 10km. There are two routes to Kibo. The first, or upper route, forks to the right. Six day trekkers would have trekked this route on their acclimatisation day to Mawenzi Hut. You will most likely take the lower left hand route as it is easier and nearly an hour shorter. On the left hand route you will pass the last water point at 4,130 meters. Make sure to fill up your water reserves here as you will not find another watering point until you get back to Horombo Hut from the summit (you are able to buy bottled mineral water at Kibo Hut). At Kibo Hut you will be served an early dinner and should try get to bed before 19:00 as you will be awoken around 23:30 to start your 1,150 meter ascent to Uhuru Peak. Make sure that you have all your gear ready for a prompt departure, including insulated water, snacks, your headlamp and camera.

Day six begins with summit night. After being awoken you will be served some hot tea and biscuits and will then begin your summit ascent. The route follows a rocky path to the first check point, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 meters. It then continues to zigzag for a good 2-3 hours until you get to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters) on Kibo’s crater rim. You will most likely be very tired at this point. Take some time to rest and refuel with a snack. The final push is tough and requires mental stamina. Focus on moving slowly and deliberately for the final 200 meter ascent. At Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) you will not be able to stay too long so make sure to get all the pictures you want to take and then begin your descent back to Kibo Hut, and onto Horombo Hut. In total you will be trekking upwards of 12-16 hours. It will be one of the longest days of your life but well worth it! Here’s the good news, beers can be bought at Horombo!

Day seven from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate is nearly 20km but usually only takes 7 hours to complete. You will be exhausted at this stage and spend most of the hike imagining the hot shower you will be having that evening. At Marangu Gate you will be presented with your certificate, either for Gilman’s Point or Uhuru Peak (depending on how far you managed to get). It is customary to present your trekking team with their hard-earned tips at this point. You will welcomed with the buffet at the gate with drinks and then be driven back to your hotel in Arushawhere celebrations can begin. Accommodation at Iliboru safari Lodge.

After the great breakfast from our hotel, we will have transfer to town for shopping on the way to airport. This will depends on the flight time as we advise to arrival at airport 2 hours before departure. We will drive to airport for your onward flight.

You can now consider yourself amongst the most experienced of safari travelers, having accomplished a round Tanzania trip and back again, visiting the most renowned game reserves in Tanzania and witnessing nature in all its great abundance. Well done!