Climbing Kilimanjaro via Marangu Route ( East African Community Offer)

Departing from Moshi 1-hour and a half drive to Marangu gate, where you will complete entry formalities. We will patiently wait for our permits, On the way you will enjoy your picnic lunch at Kisambioni Picnic Site, before at the hut at Horombo after lunch we continue commencing trek through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys. The path undulates, steeply in places. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here. We will spend until we reach the camp

On the way you will enjoy your picnic lunch at 13.00hrs, before continuing your climb and arriving at the hut at Horombo around 16.00hrs. Dinner will be served at 18.00hrs. On today’s walk, you will note that the forest landscape is quickly replaced by moorland and heather, as your route takes us past the renowned Maundi Crater. Altogether, the scenery today becomes more barren, but nevertheless some of Kilimanjaro’s iconic plant species can be seen today. Look out for the fascinating giant groundsels, lobelias and proteas. If you are lucky enough to have a clear day, you should get the first chance to see the snow-capped peak of Kibo and also the distinctive Mawenzi peak. Like Mandara, Horombo also consists of A-Frame huts and caters for those on the way up the mountain and those on the way back down. Once again, you will be in dormitory accommodation.

Today is your extra day for acclimatization, a very important part of your program as it allows vital extra time for adapting to the mountain air, which becomes ever thinner as you ascend. Everyone is given the option today to visit the Zebra Rocks (4,100 meters), which involves a 90 – minute climb and a return descent to the Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) for a second night. Don’t expect to see a zebra at these rocks, however, as they take their name from their stripy black and white color, caused by the effects of mineral-laden water on the lava rockface. Horombo is a busy stopover, being used by both climbers and descenders on Marangu, as well as those descending on the Rongai Route. The presence of abundant water at Horombo (3,720 meters) means that you have the ‘luxury’ of toilets and even washbasins! Look around you today and you will notice that you are reaching the point where the moorland scenery runs out, to be replaced by Alpine desert. And although there is definitely no zebra here, you may be surprised to find some species of rodents and birds this high on the mountain. Overnight Horombo Hut

From your Horombo starting point a 3,720m, today, you ascend a further 983 meters, covering around 9 km/6 miles and aiming to arrive at the hut at Kibo for your overnight stop by around 15.00hrs. Once again, you will start early, with a 07.00hrs breakfast and a 08.30hrs departure. Your walk to the Kibo Huts is expected to take you around 4-5 hours. Where the path divides today, you choose to take the southern (left-hand) route. On this path you take the opportunity to fill up your water reserves at the Maua River, the last useable water supply at a height of around 4,000 meters. At first today’s stage is rather steep, and there is less vegetation, but you are rewarded with your first sight today of some of the famous ‘cones’ of Kilimanjaro. Picnic lunch is once again scheduled for 13.00hrs. After the Maua River, you climb towards the Mawenzi Ridge and across the barren, dry terrain known as the Saddle and head for the huts, which are at the bottom of the Kibo summit. Dinner tonight is at 17.30hrs and you are advised to get to bed early, in preparation for the midnight departure for the summit. Kibo Huts are made of stone and quite basic.

Your schedule for your ‘Summit Day’ is very different. Rising at 23.00hrs, you take your tea and biscuits (23.30hrs) before a midnight departure. Today, you have 1,192 meters to climb, on what will be your toughest day, with around 10-13 hours of actual walking time and a total distance of 22 km/14 miles. Your expectation is to reach the summit from 07.00hrs onwards. You begin on a rocky path, and then climb via a series of zig-zags which get ever tighter as you climb. Your reference points on your ascent today are, first, William’s Point (5,000 meters), Hans Meyer Cave (5,151m/16,890ft) and then Gilman’s Point (5,685m/18,652ft). The focus today is on walking pole pole – that is, slowly. On reaching the top (5,895m/19,341ft), you take time to celebrate the successful climb, take photos and congratulate yourself, then make the descent to return to Kibo Hut (4,703m/15,429ft) for about 11.00hrs and take a very well-deserved, two-hour rest and enjoy a welcome brunch. Setting off again at 14.00hrs, you continue your descent until you reach the now- familiar Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,205) for about 17.00hrs. Dinner today will be served at 19.00hrs.

Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight, or if you’ve decided to extend your Tanzanian adventure, begin the next part of your journey! After breakfast at your now-familiar time of 07.00hrs, you take the chance to thank your hard- working guides and porters at the important ‘Tipping Celebration’. Afterwards, you depart from Horombo Huts (3,720m/12,205ft) and start your descent down towards Marangu Gate (1,879m/6,164ft), stopping at Mandara Hut (2,720m/8,924ft) around midday for a cooked lunch. Marangu Gate (1,879m/6,164ft) is usually reached by 16.00hrs, and today’s section is approximately 20 km/ 12 miles which takes you between 6.5 to 7 hours of walking time. Having reached Marangu Gate, you will be presented with your certificate, a fitting souvenir recognizing your tremendous effort. You then return by vehicle to Moshi, to the comfort of your hotel, for your overnight stay and some deserved relaxation. Or perhaps, if you still have some energy, you can celebrate your wonderful achievement. After all, you have just climbed Africa’s highest mountain!