Tanzania · Mountain Biking

5-Day Kilimanjaro Bike Trek to Uhuru Peak via the Kilema Route

5 Days Round trip from Kilema Rd Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Cycle the Kilema route, the only mountain bike route to Kilimanjaro's summit
02 Ride through Kilimanjaro's diverse landscapes from foothills to alpine desert
03 Reach Uhuru Peak at 5895 m, the highest point in Africa
04 Descend by bike through alpine and rainforest terrain to Kilema Gate

Check out this bicycling and hiking trip to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Kilema route, the only route used to reach the top of Kilimanjaro by mountain bike. The experienced guides have completed several successful bike treks to the 5895 m summit. This 5-day trip combines proper acclimatization with the challenge of riding and hiking to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

This 5-day trip combines proper acclimatization with the challenge of riding and hiking to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Mount Kilimanjaro, Marangu

Languages Afrikaans

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Ride from Kilema Gate to Horombo Hut

Get picked up from Springlands Hotel at 8:30 am.
Drive through Kilimanjaro's semi-tropical foothills to Marangu Gate.
Spend some time on registration and permit formalities.
Continue driving to Kilema Gate, enter Kilimanjaro National Park, and start riding up to Horombo Hut.

Today is 100% cycling by bike.

Cycling distance: 19 km

Vegetation: Forest and Moorland

Day 02

Horombo Acclimatization Ride to Mawenzi Hut

Start cycling after breakfast, riding through the alpine desert. In some areas, you will ride over small stones up to Mawenzi Hut and then return to Horombo.

Today is 90% riding.

Cycling distance: 10 km

Vegetation: Alpine desert

Day 03

Ride from Horombo to Kibo Hut

Continue after breakfast with your ride to Kibo Hut; in most areas, you will ride over small stones.

Cycling today is 90%.

Vegetation: Alpine Desert

Day 04

Summit Uhuru Peak and Descend to Horombo Hut

Get awakened by your guides at 4 am to start the zigzag trek up a long scree slope.
Travel for roughly two hours, and you should reach Hans Meyer's Cave, where the gradient becomes steeper.
Continue your climb to Gilman's Point for approximately another 3 hours.
Take your bike from the porters and start riding to Uhuru Peak.
Arrive at Uhuru Peak to spend some time there and take photos.
Ride down to Stella Point.
Proceed to ride down to Horombo after lunch.

Today, cycling from Kibo to Uhuru and then back to Kibo is 15%-20%, while from Kibo to Horombo it is 100%.

Vegetation: Alpine desert / Icecap

Day 05

Final Descent to Kilema Gate

Eat a leisurely breakfast.
Make your final ride down to Kilema Gate across the alpine zone and the rainforest.
Transfer to Marangu Gate for check-out and then continue to Springlands Hotel.

Where this trip takes you

Uhuru Peak, Kibo Hut, Horombo Hut, Kilema Gate

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kilema Rd 2 cities · 5 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Two nights of accommodation at Springlands Hotel in Moshi (before and after the climb), including breakfast and dinner
Mountain bike and mountain guide
Arrival and departure transfers from the airport
Quality, waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tents (or hut fees for the Marangu route)
Professional, experienced Kilimanjaro mountain guides
All park fees
Rescue fees
All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Salaries and park fees for guides, porters, and cook
Quality mess tents with tables and chairs
Large portions of fresh, healthy, and nutritious food
Clean, purified drinking water
Crisis management and safety procedures
Boiled water on the mountain
Accommodation and entry fees on the mountain for the guides, porters, waiter, and cook

What's Not Included

Single room supplement at Springlands Hotel (except on the 1-person rate)
Airport transfers
Tips for guides, porters, cooks, and waiters (much appreciated)
Meals and drinks not specified
Gear for your climb, such as a sleeping bag and hiking poles (can be rented on arrival)
Items of a personal nature
Additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
Your flights and visas
Emergency oxygen
Portable toilets - can be provided for USD 80 per toilet

Know before you go

Kilimanjaro Biking
Kilimanjaro bike trek is a new trekking product on Mount Kilimanjaro; the Kilema route is the only route a bike trek can take to reach the top by mountain bike. The experienced guides have completed many successful bike treks to the 5895 m summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, and the trip takes five days with proper acclimatization.
This activity provides physical exercise and recreational use of the natural environment with minimum impact while enhancing visitors' experience. Summit-bound visitors use the Kilema route (19 km), and cyclists meet their porters at Horombo and continue to the summit. For non-summit-bound visitors, cycling starts from Londorosi Gate or Morum Picnic Site, then returns to Morum for a 44 km ride.

Logistics