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Marangu is the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations. There are 60 bunk beds each at Mandara and Kibo Huts, and 120 bunk beds at Horombo Hut.
Guests are supplied with mattresses and pillows, but sleeping bags are still required. The huts have communal dining halls and basic washrooms, ranging from flushing toilets and running water at the lower huts to long drop toilets and buckets of water at Kibo Hut. Also available for consumption are soft drinks, bottled water, and beer.
The minimum days required for this route is 5, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time period is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
Rest day at Horombo Hut with optional hike by Mawenzi Peak.
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu.
At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will be waiting for you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha (about 1 hour).
Kilimanjaro Is Climbable All Year Round. The Best Months To Climb Are December-March, And September-October, Which Are The Warmest And Driest Months. The Next Best Are June To August, But They Are Colder. July, August, And September Are The Busiest Months. Summiting On Or Soon After A Full Moon Is Very Beautiful And Helps Illuminate The Landscape Without Using Headlamps. However, It Is Also Very Bright For Sleeping And Stars Are Not As Visible.
Malaria Is A Serious Problem In East Africa So You Must Consult Your Doctor About Getting Effective Malaria Prophylaxis For Your Visit. Many People Are Avoiding Lariam Nowadays And Using Malarone. You Cannot Catch Malaria Above 3000 Metres On Kilimanjaro, But You Must Be Careful Below That Altitude, Particularly If You Visit The Coast Where The Strains Of Malaria Tend To Be Especially Virulent.
Temperatures Range From 25 To 30 Degrees Celsius At The Foot Of The Mountain And -15 To -20 Degrees Celsius On Top Plus Wind Chill. Lower Down, It Can Be Wet And Humid, But Higher Up, There Can Be Snow. Rain And Snow May Be Encountered Any Time Of The Year!
Your Decision Will Depend On Where You Want To Sleep And The Hiking Distance Each Day And Number Of Days Of Each Route. On The Marangu Route, You Sleep In Huts With Simple Beds, While On All The Other Routes, You Sleep In Tents. There Are Two Main Routes On The Mountain: The Marangu And Machame. You May Also Want To Consider The Rongai Route As It Is Far Less Traveled. The Lemosho Route Is A Good Choice If You Want A Longer Route (8+ Days). Kindly Visit Our Kili Routes Page.
Physically, The Marangu And Machame Routes Are Rather Different. The Main Force Of Kibo's Volcanic Activity Occurred Out Towards The West (The Machame Side) And So Machame Is Steeper - Especially In The First Day And A Half - And More Rugged Than Marangu. It Is Often Considered More Scenic Because The Views Of Kibo Are More Impressive Than From The South-East (The Marangu Approach), But Many Consider The Vegetation On Day 2 Of The Marangu Route To Be More Attractive Than Anything Seen On The Western Side. As Always With Mountains, Every Route Has Its Advantages And Drawbacks. The Difficulty Grading Has Marangu As A 1, And Machame A 1+, So There's Not A Great Deal In It.
Always Remember To Maintain A Slow, Steady Pace From Beginning To End. Going Slowly Allows The Body To Acclimatize While Hiking. Those Who Start Out Too Quickly Will Have Troubles Higher Up The Mountain As The Body Will Be Overexerted. This Still Holds True If You Are Spending An Extra Day On The Mountain.
It Will Depend On The Route You Pick And Your Pace. It Can Take From 4-8 Hours To Reach The Summit From The High Camp.
A Weatherproof Jacket, Such As Gore-Tex.
A Woollen Sock That Fits Over The Head With Slits For Only The Eyes And Mouth.
Most Groups Will Start For The Summit On Ascent Day At 11 PM To 12:30AM, Depending On The Perceived Fitness Of The Group, The Weather And The Route. The Pre-Dawn Hours, While Cold, Are Also The Calmest And Clearest. The Best Views From The Summit Are At Dawn. Often Clouds And High Winds Develop Not Long After Sunrise Making The Summit Much Less Attractive And The Descent More Difficult. Guides Who Have Been To The Summit Scores Of Times Report That It Is Very Rare To Find It Cloudy At The Summit At Dawn In Any Season. The Ascent Day Is A Very Long Day Of Hiking. Some People May Require 15 Hours To Reach The Summit And Descend To The Campsite For That Day.
No, But We Can Schedule Transfer From Nairobi By Riverside Shuttles For An Additional Charge.
If A Client Cannot Walk Because They Are Injured Or Sick, At Least Two Support Staff Will Assist This Climber Down. There Is No Extra Charge For Coming Down And Taken Back To The Hotel, But You Will Get No Money Back For That Mountain Days You Missed, And You Will Be Responsible For Medical Assistance And Extra Hotel Nights. We Highly Recommend Travel Insurance To Cover Any Medical Expenses And Further Evacuation
The Typical Tip Is: Porters $10 Per Day Per Porter Cooks $12 To $15 Per Cook Assistant Guides $15 To $20 Per Guide Kilimanjaro Guides $20 Per Day And Up Per Guide *Tip Amounts Listed For Kilimanjaro Are Per Group, Not Per Individual Traveler. For Instance, If Four People Are On Kili, They Should Each Contribute $5/Day If They Want To Tip The Lead Guide $20.
A 30% Deposit Is Required At Time Of Booking To Hold Your Climb/Safari.
