Itinerary
Marangu Route
7 Nights (6 Days on Trek)
Day 01
Kilimanjaro-Moshi
Upon arrival Kilmanjaro airport, transfer to Moshi at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Our driver will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing around 5pm at your Moshi hotel. The crews will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Meal: -/-/-
Day 02
Marangu Gate (1,860m) - Mandara Hut (2,700m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours Distance: about 8 km
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the climb. Walk through 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, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
Overnight: Montane Forest
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 03
Mandara Hut (2,700m) - Horombo Hut (3,700m)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours Distance: about 12 km
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 grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
Overnight: Heathland
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 04
Rest Day at Horombo Hut (3,700m)
Rest day at Horombo Hut with optional hike by Mawenzi Peak.
Overnight: Heathland
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 05
Horombo Hut (3,700m) - Kibo Hut (4,700m)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours Distance: About 9 km
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Overnight: Alpine Desert.
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 06
SUMMIT ATTEMPT
Kibo Hut (4,700m)- Summit (5,895m) -Horombo Hut (3,700m)
Hiking time: 6-8 hours to up Distance : About 6 km
Hiking time : 6-7 hours down Distance : About 15 km
The beginning of the ascent starts at about 3.00am in the morning while the scree is still frozen, then takes about 5 hours to climb the very steep part of the route to GILMAN's POINT (5,680m) which is the most difficult and tiring part of the route. Uhuru peak (5,895m/ 19,344ft) is reached within an hour's walk along Crater's rim. Finally, start the descent to Horombo Hut.
Overnight: Alpine Desert
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 07
Horombo Hut (3,700m) - Marangu Gate (1,700m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours Distance: About 20 km
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through 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).
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Meal: Breakfast/-/-
Day 08
Kilimanjaro
After breakfast transfer to Kilimanjaro airport.
Machame Route
8 Nights (7 Days on Trek)
Day 01
Kilimanjaro-Moshi
Upon arrival Kilmanjaro airport, transfer to Moshi at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Our driver will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing around 5pm at your Moshi hotel. The crews will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Meal: -/-/-
Day 02
Machame Gate (1,830m) - Machame Camp (3,050m)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours Distance: About 11 km
Drive from Moshi to Machame Gate takes about 45 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.
We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp
Overnight: Montane Forest
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 03
Machame Camp (3,050m) - Shira Camp (3,850m)
Hiking time: 4-5 hours Distance: About 5 km
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.
Overnight: Moorland.
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 04
Shira (3,850m) - Lava Tower (4,630m) - Barranco Camp (4,000m)
Hiking time: 5-6 hours Distance: About 10 km
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Overnight: Semi-desert
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 05
Barranco Camp (4,000m) - Karanga Camp (4,050m) -Acclimatization -
Hiking time: 3-4 hours Distance: 5 km's
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Overnight: Alpine Desert
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 06
Karanga Camp (4,050m) - Barafu Camp (4,700m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours Distance: About 4 km
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Overnight: Alpine Desert
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 07
SUMMIT ATTEMPT
Barafu Camp (4,700m)-Summit (5,895m) -Mweka Camp (3,090m)
Hiking time: 5-7 hours to up Distance : About 5km/
Hiking time : 5-6 hours down Distance : About 13k
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Overnight: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meal: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Day 08
Mweka Camp (3,090m) - Machame Gate (1,680m)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours Distance: About 10 km
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. 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).
Monkey Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
Meal: Breakfast/-/-
Day 09
Kilimanjaro
After breakfast transfer to Kilimanjaro airport.
