Arusha to Mount Kilimanjaro via Marangu Gate
On the morning of your adventure, a friendly guide from the company will pick you up from your accommodation in Arusha. From there, drive for just over two hours to the foot of Kilimanjaro's southeast face.
To condense an epic ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro into an enjoyable day hike, begin your trek at Marangu Gate in Kilimanjaro National Park and venture as far as the first stop on the larger Marangu Route, Mandara Hut. This hike takes you from the mountain's lower slopes to about 2,700 meters in elevation, and the ascent from the emerald green of Kilimanjaro's scattered lowland farms to the exceptional beauty of its montane rainforest should take about three to four hours.
When you arrive at Mandara Hut, enjoy a packed lunch while watching trekkers coming and going on their ascents and descents of the mountain. After lunch, make a short side trip to Maundi Crater. From here, enjoy gobsmacking views of Kilimanjaro's two summits and an astounding panoramic vista of the African plains stretching all the way to Kenya.
After taking in the splendid scenery, descend the mountain using the same path followed in the morning. While retracing your steps, the rainforests of Kilimanjaro may still have a few surprises in store. As you trek beneath the shadowed canopy of leaves, stay on the lookout for sunbirds, butterflies, and even black-and-white colobus monkeys.
After a final few hours on the trail, return to Marangu Gate and drive back to Arusha.
