Register for your international flights to Kilimanjaro international airport, Tanzania based on your flight preferences and your city of origin for travel.
- Flights will be booked individually to meet personal routing needs and preferences. This sample itinerary was designed based on Ethiopian Airlines flights which are the most convenient from Brussels but each one's reality will be taken into consideration. We will rather take care of all flight booking to ensure that we can provide an after-sales service in this challenging time.
- Luggage allowance - when flying with Ethiopian Airlines - is for 2 bags of a maximum of 20 kg each. This is fairly convenient as it allows to take one bag for the mountain equipment and one for what is needed before and after the climb.
- The visa will be done on arrival (50 USD for European and American citizens) - or online as Tanzania seems to have caught up with the 21st century.
- REMARK: we will reconfirm the best equipment list for your journey - we will also plan for 2 pre-departure "e-meetings" to run through the itinerary and reconfirm the advance training preparation.
Arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport followed by border formalities and luggage recovery.
At the exit of the customs area, our local guide and representative will welcome us and transfer us by safari vehicles to the lodge in Arusha (+/-50mins).
Arrival at the hotel, check-in, and settle in the rooms. Lunch at the lodge (included depending on the arrival time - should arrival be late, we will allow for a high tea setup).
After enjoying some free time in the afternoon, a double meeting is scheduled:
- At about 16h00, starting with a briefing from the head guide who will lead us to the summit of the mountain.
- Followed by a meeting at 17h00, by a supervised and assisted mountain bag packing seminar ... to ensure that each and everyone is properly geared for the adventure.
Dinner at the lodge (included).
Overnight in Arusha, close to Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Inspiration Africa will provide you with a full equipment and packing list as well as training tips in order for you to prepare your trip to the Kilimanjaro properly.
- Once in Arusha, the mountain bags will be prepared and packed under supervision of our specialist guides.
- Note that any missing items can still be provided in Arusha prior to the climb
- Our head guide and assistant guides will meet us at the lodge for a final briefing before the actual climb!!!
Buffet breakfast at the lodge (included).
Check-out and early departure from the lodge to Marangu Gate at the entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Drive time about 2 hours. The drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park passes through the Marangu Village, located on the lower slopes of the mountain, to reach the Park Offices.
This is where all hikers must sign in personally and make their final preparations for the climb whilst the service crew also arranges and loads their packs containing the food, water, cooking gear as well as our personal equipment.
Each one of us needs to ensure to have his/her daypack ready to go (containing at least drinking water, a lunch pack that will be provided, and extra clothing).
The hike begins on a cleared ridge trail through the rain forest and continues upward in some steeper sections to Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-framed huts, each consisting of 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar-generated lighting. Water is piped into the camp from springs above and there are flush toilets behind the main hut.
Lunch comes as a picnic pack.
Tea will be served on arrival at Mandara Hut as well as dinner later on that evening at the mountain rest camp.
Overnight at Mandara Hut.
- Suggested back pack content will be provided in advance
- Our climbing route is the classic Marangu One - also nicknamed Coca Cola route - in which we have included one extra night in order to acclimatise to the altitude and boost our chances to reach the "Uhuru" summit!!!
- Day climb from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
Habitat: Montane Forest
Elevation: 1980m to 2700m
Hiking distance/time: 12km for 4 to 5 hours
Breakfast at the rest camp followed by distribution of the picnic packed lunches.
From Mandara Hut the trail tops through the remaining forest, and then traverses at the base of the Maundi Crater entering into the moorland habitat. It is well worth a short detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first really impressive view of the Kibo Crater.
Kilimanjaro's most spectacular vegetation appears past the forest belt: the endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3m in height and the giant groundsel - Senecia Kilimanjari -, which can reach heights of 5m.
The trail leads to Horombo Hut for the overnight stopover, a village of huts perched on a plateau, quite similar to Mandara.
Tea will be served on arrival at Horombo Hut as well as dinner later on that evening at the mountain rest camp.
Overnight at Horombo Hut.
- Day climb from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Habitat: Moorland
Elevation: 2700m to 3720m
Hiking distance/time: 15km for 5 to 6 hours.
Breakfast at the rest camp followed by distribution of the picnic packed lunches.
This will be the acclimatisation day.
This extra day and night at Horombo is for additional acclimatization by way of a short hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way. Remember to drink enough water and move slowly !
Tea will be served on arrival back at Horombo Hut as well as dinner later on that evening at the mountain rest camp.
Overnight at Horombo Hut.
- Day for acclimatising to the altitude
Climb from Horombo Hut to Mawenzi Hut back to Horombo Hut
Habitat: Moorland
Elevation: 3720m – approx. 4200m
Hiking distance/time: 4.5km for 3 hours
Breakfast at the rest camp followed by distribution of the picnic packed lunches.
From Horombo Hut there are two trails to the "Saddle" (open rocky area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo), an upper route (right hand fork) and lower route (left hand fork) to choose from.
The upper route (right hand fork) will be familiar, as you will have climbed most of it the previous acclimatization day towards Mawenzi hut. The recommended lower route (left hand fork) is much easier and nearly an hour shorter passing the last stream of drinkable water at 4130m.
Situated in the barren Alpine desert is Kibo Hut, a stone-built block house that has standard bunks but challenged with water as it is above the last water point. It is however possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. There are platform toilets behind the hut.
The summit Uhuru is now a further 1,195m climb up and you will make your final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment and plan your thermal layers beforehand as you mentally prepare for the big climb!!!
Tea will be served on arrival at Kibu as well as dinner later on that evening at the mountain rest camp.
Overnight at Kibo Hut.
- Day climb from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Habitat: Alpine Dessert
Elevation: 3720m – 4700m
Hiking distance/time: 15km for 5 to 7 hours
Wake up at around 11:30pm, gear up, and after some pre-summit refreshments, embark on the 6 to 8 hour ascent to the roof of Africa. This is where the going gets tough! And ... the tough keep going!!!
The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5,150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman's point (5,681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section has steep stone scree requiring great physical and mental effort to shuffle through, probably the most demanding section of the entire route.
From Gillman’s Point snow is usually encountered all the way up to Uhuru peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa – at this point, after tough physical endurance, mental motivation, and stirring emotions, you have finally made it!!! Congratulations!
Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to stay before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest, you gather all your gear you left behind and head down to Horombo hut for the final overnight. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours. Later in the evening, you enjoy your last dinner on Mount Kilimanjaro and a well-earned sleep.
Tea will be served on arrival back at Horombo Hut as well as dinner later on that evening at the mountain rest camp.
Overnight at Horombo Hut.
- Day climb and back from Kibo Hut to Uhuru back to Kibo Hut and proceed to Horombo Hut
Elevation: 4700m – 5895m – 4700m – 3720m
Hiking distance/time: 6km ascent - 5 to 8 hours, 21km descent - 5 to 8 hours
Breakfast at the rest camp followed by distribution of the picnic packed lunches.
Today you walk back down. Once you've arrived at Marangu gate you fill your details into the register. Here, all successful climbers who reached Gillman's Point (5,685m) and/or Uhuru Peak (5,895m) receive green and gold certificates respectively.
Transfer to the hotel in Arusha where you will receive a warm welcome and then you'll settle into your rooms.
This afternoon, a well-deserved private massage of 1h - yes a full 60 minutes - is planned for each of the hikers.
Farewell dinner at the hotel (included).
Overnight in Arusha.
- Descent from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
Elevation: 3720m – 1980m
Hiking distance/time: 27km, 5 to 8 hours
- At Inspiration Africa we have organised many Kilimanjaro climbs over different routes and pride ourselves in providing proper training advice and excellent climbing crew for achieving over a 90% success rating ... we would love for you to be a part of it!!!
Breakfast at the hotel (included).
Morning at leisure.
Lunch will be provided depending on the departure time of the flights.
Transfer to the international airport of Kilimanjaro for your flights back home.
- It goes without saying that some of the best Safari Areas from Tanzania are located very close-by and that the Indian Ocean beaches are barely 1 hour flight away ... anyone wishing to extend the stay a little, feel free to let us know!!!
- Indian Ocean Extension Module: we have prepared and booked space to offer an Indian Ocean Beach extension of 5 nights on the beautiful island of Mafia ... excellent for simply relaxing ... or snorkeling ... or diving
- Safari Extension Module: different options are possible. February is an excellent time of the year for South Serengeti where it is the calving of the wildebeest! And for those who want something more exclusive, we recommend Southern Tanzania.
Returning back home!!!
