6 Days 5 Nights Marangu Route

Kilimanjaro Trek Itinerary

Itinerary:

1. Day 1: Moshi – Marangu gate – Mandara Hut
   Elevation: 1900M to 2700 M
   Distance: 8 km
   Hiking time: 4-5 hrs
   Habitat: Montane Forest
   After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (45 minutes), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment located at 9000 ft / 2740 m. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
2. Day 2: Mandara Hut– Horombo Hut
   Elevation: 2700M to 3,700M
   Distance: 11 km
   Hiking time: 6-8 hrs
   Habitat: Heath and moorland
   An early breakfast strengthens you for the trek ahead and shortly after leaving Mandara Hut you will reach the cross roads between Horombo Hut and Maundi Crater. Heading in the direction of Horombu Hut the vegetation will change to shrubs and you will cross the open moon land reaching your destination in approximately 4 – 6 hours. Looking back your path will already be shrouded in clouds and looking forward you will catch glimpses of Mawenzi, Kibo peak and the Maasai steppe. After your evening meal you will drift off to sleep at the Horombu Hut.
3. Day 3: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Zebra Rocks (3,980 m) – Horombo Hut (4,700 m)
   Elevation: 3,700M to 4700M
   Distance: 4 km
   Hiking time: 1-2 hrs
   Habitat: Heath and moorland
   Ascend through the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and groundsels. You will start to feel the effects of the altitude. (Here, an extra day for acclimatization is recommended)
4. Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)- Alpine Desert
   Elevation: 3700M to 4700M
   Distance: 9 km
   Hiking time: 6-8 hrs
   Habitat: Alpine desert
   After breakfast start your hike up to the Mawenzi Hut. Just outside the Hut area you will find a split in the road. For today you will go right and pass the Zebra rock, one of the many land marks found in the Kilimanjaro National Park. This day must be used to walk high and sleep low (the best way to acclimatize). Although this day can be excluded from your itinerary, it is highly recommended to increase your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak, after reaching the Mawenzi Hut, return to Horombo Hut for dinner and rest.
5. Day 5: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – Horombo Hut (3,700 m)
   Elevation: 4700M to 5895 and down to 3700M
   Distance: 6 km up/15 km down/9 km to Horombo
   Hiking time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
   Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
   Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim at 18640 ft / 5861 m (4-7 hours). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa: 19340 ft / 5895 m (1-2 hours). Unbelievable views at every turn get your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. From here, we now descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment for dinner and a tired but happy overnight (1-2 hours). This beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. “Pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
6. Day 6:Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate– Moshi
   Elevation: 3700M to 1900M
   Distance: 19 km
   Hiking time: 5-8 Hrs
   Habitat: Moorland to Montane forest
   After breakfast, A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2700m / 8858 ft), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. Continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1830 m / 6004 ft). At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your Hotel in Moshi. Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION: Moshi

Inclusions:

• All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
• Professional, experienced, and friendly mountain guides
• Medical evacuation with Kilimanjaro Search and Rescue> Flying Doctors.
• 2 night and accommodations-one before and after the trek in good hotels.
• Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
• Pulse-oximeter – To measure the oxygen level, for each climber daily
• Portable Emergency Oxygen tanks
• Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents
• Sleeping Mattress
• All meals while on the Mountain
• Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
• Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
• Clean, purified drinking water
• Crisis management and safety procedures
• Fair and ethical treatment of porters
• Conservation fees (part of park fees)
• Arrival and Departure transfers
• Rescue fees (part of park fees)
• All Government Tax and Park Entrance Fees
• VAT (18% charged by the Government)

Not Included:

• Tips for guides, cook and porters
• Track your trek by satellite device services
• Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
• Tips and gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Tanzania Visa on arrival
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc)