Arrival in Moshi and Marangu Route Climb
Day 1: Arrival: Kilimanjaro International Airport - Moshi Town
Upon arrival at Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet and greet, then transfer by minivan to Moshi Town for evening relaxation.
Dinner and overnight at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel on a half-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Room
Day 2: Marangu Gate (6000 ft) - Mandara Huts (9000 ft)
Hiking Time: 4 Hours
Habitat: Mountain Forest
Leave Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel at about 0800 hrs and drive for about 45 minutes to Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro. Complete the necessary paperwork at the park gate, including registration, and begin hiking at about 1030 hrs. Hike through the rainforest from the park gate (6000 ft) to Mandara Hut (9000 ft), taking about 4 hours. Stop halfway for lunch.
Reach Mandara Huts at about 2:00 or 3:00 PM. Unpack, rest, and enjoy some tea or coffee. Dinner is served in the early evening, at about 7:00 PM. A side trip to Maundi Crater, about 15 minutes away, is a good way to see the surroundings as well as views of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Bathrooms are available with running water.
Dinner and overnight at Mandara Huts on a full-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Hut
Day 3: Mandara (9000 ft) - Horombo Huts (12,000 ft)
Hiking Time: 6 Hours
Habitat: Heathland
Breakfast at 0730 am, then at about 0800 hrs pack up for the next leg and start hiking to Horombo Huts for about 5 to 6 hours. You will pass through lower heathland, with small shrubs as the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, then proceed on as you begin to see amazing views of Mawenzi as you approach Horombo Huts. The Kibo summit can also be seen very clearly from Horombo Huts.
You will arrive at Horombo Huts at about 3:00 PM, unpack, relax, and prepare for dinner. Bathrooms are available with running water.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo Huts on a full-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Hut
Day 4: Extra Day for Acclimatization - Horombo Huts (12,000 ft)
Breakfast at 0800 am. An extra day will be spent at Horombo Huts, meaning both the second and third nights on the mountain will be here. You will hike to Mawenzi Base Camp and return to Horombo Huts. This day is for acclimatization, walking, and getting familiar with the weather and altitude on the mountain before returning to Horombo Huts. Bathrooms are available with running water.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo Huts on a full-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Hut
Day 5: Horombo Huts (12,000 ft) - Kibo Huts (15,500 ft)
Hiking Time: 7 Hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Breakfast at 0730 am, then at about 0800 hrs pack up for the next leg and start hiking to Kibo Huts (15,500 ft) for about 6 to 7 hours. The first half of the day's hike traverses the upper heathland, while the second half crosses the vast saddle that connects Mawenzi and Kibo. The saddle is an alpine desert that resembles a lunar landscape. Be careful to notice signs of altitude sickness. Stop halfway for lunch.
Arrive in the late afternoon, unpack, and rest. There is no running water at Kibo Huts.
Dinner and overnight at Kibo Huts on a full-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Hut
Day 6: Kibo Huts (15,500 ft) - Summit Day (19,340 ft) - Horombo Huts (12,000 ft)
Hiking Time: 7 Hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Wake at around midnight for a light breakfast, then prepare for the summit ascent. This part of the hike is carried out during the early morning before dawn so that climbers reach Uhuru Peak at around sunrise. Leave at about 0100 hrs and reach Gilman's Point at about 0700 hrs. Climbers are rewarded with views of the crater from Gilman's Point because it is on the crater rim. Another 2 hours of hiking brings you to Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft) at about 0830 hrs.
From there, descend back to Kibo Huts, collect your things, and cross the saddle again to Horombo Huts, where you will spend the night. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo Huts on a full-board basis.
Room Category: 1 Double Hut
Day 7: Horombo Huts (12,000 ft) - Marangu Gate (6000 ft) - Moshi
Breakfast as usual, then pack and descend to Mandara Huts. Take lunch there and continue to the park gate, where you will be met by your transport back to your hotel. You should reach the park gate around 12:00 hrs, then drive to Moshi Town for evening relaxation.
Dinner and overnight at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel on a half-board basis.
Room Category: Standard Room
Day 8: Departure: Moshi Town - Kilimanjaro International Airport
Breakfast, then transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home or an extension of your holiday to the beach in Zanzibar Island. That marks the end of the wonderful hiking trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro.
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