Arrival in Tanzania and Marangu Route Trek
Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide, who will brief you on your upcoming trek and carry out an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.
Meals: No meals included
Day 2: Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)
After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge in Moshi and taken to Marangu Gate. Once the necessary paperwork has been completed, your trek can begin, and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. Alongside the impressive vegetation, you may catch a glimpse of some primates as you make your way to Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to Maundi Crater, where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Kenyan interior.
Distance covered: 8.3km / 5.2mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 3: Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3700m)
The day begins with an early breakfast. Shortly after leaving Mandara Hut, you will reach the timberline and then enter the heath and moor zone. Approximately 4 - 6 hours later, Horombo Hut will come into sight, standing at an altitude of 3700m. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo, and the wide plain of the Masai steppe.
Distance covered: 12.5km / 7.8mi
Approx. time taken: 9 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 4: Acclimatization trek to Zebra Rocks (4020m), then back to Horombo Hut (3700m)
Today serves as an acclimatization day. This should not be underestimated, as it greatly improves your chance of success in reaching the summit. After a relaxing breakfast, a 4-hour trek follows to Zebra Rocks (4020m). The distinctive black and white stripes give the rock formation its name. On your return to Horombo Hut, a warm lunch will be waiting for you. You can relax in the afternoon and regain your strength for the following day's hike.
Distance covered: 5km / 3.1mi
Approx. time taken: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 5: Horombo Hut (3700m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)
Today's stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the "Last Water Point," followed by the so-called "saddle." This nearly vegetation-less plateau joins the main summit, Kibo, with Mawenzi. Today's destination is Kibo Hut, which is usually reached in about 5 - 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.
Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 6: Kibo Hut (4700m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) and down to Horombo Hut (3700m)
Today is "The Big Day" - the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight, and it will be long and strenuous. Passing Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely continues upward. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman's Point (5681m) - the crater rim of Kilimanjaro - where the sun will slowly begin to warm the land. You will soon have forgotten the cold of the night, and after a further hike of 1 - 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you, followed by a 1 - 2 hour break before continuing back down to Horombo Hut.
Distance covered: 22km / 13.7mi
Approx. time taken: 12 - 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3700m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)
The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to Mandara Hut (2700m), where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass through the tropical rainforest, and after a total of 6 hours of trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can enjoy a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9mi
Approx. time taken: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
