8 Day Kilimanjaro Track Marangu Route

Met on arrival at the Kilimanjaro international airport, briefed and transfer to your hotel, in time for lunch. Afternoon spent at leisure. Dinner and overnight in an Arusha Hotel. Brief city tour of the town and later drop of at the Hotel for overnight stay.

You will drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the Park office and make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will be seen arranging and loading their packs, containing the food, water, cooking gas as well as most of your equipment. You now leave the Park gate and ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rain forest. Your first night stop, Mandara hut.

From Mandara hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, then skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into the transition from rain forest to moorland. After about 6 hours from here you reach the Horombo hut, where you will have hot washing water, rest; an evening meal and overnight.

This extra day and night at Horombo is for additional acclimatisation. A hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way is strongly recommended. This hike will further assist with the process of acclimatisation. Retire to bed early and get a last good night’s rest.

After breakfast you now continue your ascend into the Alpine desert habitat. From Horombo there are two trails to the “Saddle” (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). There is an upper route (right hand fork) and lower route (left hand fork) to choose from. The upper route (right hand fork) will be very familiar, as you will have climbed most of it the previous day towards Mawenzi hut. It is very stony and eroded. The recommended lower route (left hand fork) is much easier and nearly an hour, and it also passes the last watering point at 4130m. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible.

You will rise around 2330hrs, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, The trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point, From Gillmans Point you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. You made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend, taking photographs, before the 3 hour descent back to Kibo hut.

After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower, Dinner and Overnight in a hotel.

After breakfast. Transfer to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.

End of tour