Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha
Welcome to Tanzania. You will be greeted and then transferred to Arusha for Dinner and overnight stay. Once you settle in, your Mt Kilimanjaro guide will conduct a thorough briefing and equipment check to ensure that you have everything you need for the adventure ahead. If anything is missing we can simply organise it for you.. We will also weigh all bags to ensure that the weight does not exceed the KPAP porter maximum weight of 15kg.
Arusha to Mandara
Meet your guide and after the formalities, start hiking from Marangu Gate (1800 m). The hike is 3 to 5 hours through a fascinating rain forest to Mandara Hut (2700 m). Blue and Black and White Colobus monkeys are sometimes seen. Look for a tiny flower called Impatiens kilimanjaris; endemic to Kilimanjaro. Picnic lunch en route, optional hike to Maundi Crater (45 min) or rest upon arrival at Mandara Hut. Afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut
Weather: warm and humid.
Clothing: wear T-shirt, shorts and lighter shoes.
Water: available the whole time from a river along the route.
Mandara to Horombo
After breakfast start hiking to Horombo Hut (3700 m). Leave the last glades of forest and follow the gently ascending path through the open alpine moorland. Today‟s hike takes 5 to 7 hours. Picnic lunch en route, the altitude begins to make itself felt, cautioning you to walk slowly. “Pole pole” (slowly slowly in Swahili) is the order of the day while enjoying the flora and panoramic views of Kibo massif. Giant Senecios stand guard along the path. Kibo and Mawenzi Peak can be seen on a clear day.
Afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut
Weather: warm in the morning but cooler in the afternoon when clouds gather. Clothing: wear shorts, T-shirt and hiking boots. Carry a long sleeved shirt in the day path for the cool winds.
Water: fill water bottles at Mandara Hut. There is a stream half way to Horombo Hut.
Horombo hut
An extra day at Horombo to acclimatize to the higher altitude, a day walk to “Zebra Rock”, rocks striped by weather If energy is there, walk to the foot of one of the three peaks on Kilimanjaro, Mawenzi. Return to Horombo in the afternoon. Pack lunch en route.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.
Horombo hut to Kibo hut
Hike slowly (6 hours) to Kibo Hut, Today leave the moorland and enter the alpine desert, past giant lobelia and walk on the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Pack lunch along the way. Afternoon tea, dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut.
Weather: It is cooler as the altitude has increased.
Clothing: wear trousers and long sleeved shirt. Thin jacket or jumper in the day pack.
Water: fill up bottles at Horombo Hut. 2 hours from Horombo Hut is the last water sign. The porters will bring water for tea and the hike in the early morning.
Kibo Hut to Gillmans Point - Uhuru Peak 5,896m - Horombo hut
Start around 2 a.m., reaching Gillman‟s Point (5686 m) at sunrise. The path from Kibo to Gillman‟s is the most demanding 4 hours on the whole climb. Continue another 2 hours to the roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak (5896 m). Descend to Kibo and Horombo Hut. Meals and overnight at Horombo Hut.
Weather: cold; effects of high altitude is felt.
Clothing: Wear everything you brought.
Water: the porters have carried extra water to Kibo. Ask them and the will fill your bottles.
Horombo to Arusha
After breakfast, descend to Marangu Gate. It is easier to go down than up but today is a sustained descent of 5 hours with packed lunch on way down, transfer to either Moshi, Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport
Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Today you will be transferred to back to Kilimanjaro International Airport. End of tour.
