DAY OF ARRIVAL:
picked up from the airport but depends what time are you landing, if it’s night you should take a rest at the hotel,for dinner and rest, depends on your choice too,and if it’s morning and you prefer to rest for a day then it’s ok ,
Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate, Hike to Mandara Hut
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register, and commence the climb. Walkthrough the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. 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, birdlife, and Colobus monkeys.
Elevation: 1800m to 2720m
8 km, 3-4 hours
zone: rain forest
Day 2: Hike Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and groundsels. You may begin to feel the effects of the altitude. This method of climbing high but sleeping low allows your body to acclimatize to the differing altitudes and gives you a good idea on how your body react to changes in altitude.
Elevation: 2720m to 3720m
11 km, 4-5 hours
zone:rain forest to mooland
Day 3: Hike Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with the upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest and prepare for the summit climb.
Elevation: 3720m/ to 4720m
9 km, 4-5 hours
zone: mooland to derset
Day 4: Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch an
d a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.The 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. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
Elevation: 4720m/ to 5895m to 3720m
18 km, 14 hours
zone: derset to iceland to mooland
Day 5: Hike Horombo Hut to the trailhead, drive to Moshi
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through a lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. 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 be waiting for you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).
Elevation: 3720m to 1800m.
19 km, 6-7 hours
zone: mooland to rain forest
