MARANGU ROUTE
Tourist Route or Coca cola Trail
Marangu is the easiest route. It has been said so because it is the only route where you sleep in huts, rather than under canvas. Don’t be misled though, all treks are tough and should be taken seriously.
Day 1: Depart U.S\ Arrive Arusha, Tanzania.
At the airport, our well trained English speaking guide(s) with warm hearts and excited smiles, will welcome and transfer you to the hotel. Before dinner, your guide will sit with you and brief you on the climb ahead. Stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 2: Marangu Gate- Mandara Hut.
After breakfast, leave Impala hotel and head to Kilimanjaro, 128 km ( 80 miles) from Arusha. At Marangu Gate, you will sign the registration book at the park office and make your final preparation for the climb. All your equipment and supplies are carried for you by a team of porters. Also, a cook will prepare all your meals. Porters always ascend ahead of you with all supplies needed. You will not see your backpack from the moment you hand it to the porter in the morning, until lunch time, at least. It is therefore necessary, to pack everything that you may need during the day in your day pack that you carry with you. Some of those items are water purifiers, camera, spare film\ batteries, sunhat, sunglasses, sun cream, toilet paper, a towel, walking sticks and knee supports, a medical kit, chap stick and rainwear. Lunch will be supplied by your crew.
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Hiking time: 3hrs
Habitat: Rain forest
Stay overnight at Mandara hut
Day 3: Mandara hut- Horombo hut.
Distance: 15 km
Hiking time: 6hrs
Habitat: Moorland
Spend the rest of the day at Horombo. The more time spent acclimatizing, the more likely you are to succeed.
Stay overnight at Horombo hut
Day 4: Horombo hut- Kibo hut.
Distance: 15-16 km
Hiking time: 6hrs
Habitat: Alpine desert
Stay overnight at Kibo hut
Day 5: Kibo hut- Uhuru Peak- Horombo hut.
After a few hours of hiking, cheer up, the exciting moment has arrived! What you once dreamed of is now coming true. It’s time to take the best pictures ever from Uhuru Peak, then descend to Kibo hut. Another 3 hours of hiking will take you back to Horombo hut, where you will spend the night. Enjoy your last dinner on the mountain. No doubt you will feel good for the achievements you made.
Day 6: Horombo hut- Marangu Gate.
Leave Horombo hut in the morning for the hike down to Mandara hut. From that point down to the Marangu Gate, takes approximately 6 hours of hiking. For all your hard work, you will receive a summit certificate. If you reached Gillman’s Point you will be presented with a green certificate, and if you made it all the way to Uhuru Peak you will have earned yourself a gold certificate. Our guide will then transfer you to Arusha town.
Stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel or continue on a safari extension if one has been selected.
Day 7: Shopping\ Depart.
Shopping and lunch at Arusha town and an early farewell dinner before your departure late that evening.
Mount Kilimanjaro |
MACHAME ROUTE
Nicknamed the Whiskey Route
The tourist’s favorite route due to its incredible views for hikers with stunning photo opportunities. Those who have chosen the easiest route (Marangu Route), will not have seen these sights. On the Machame Route, you won’t descend on the same path that you took to climb up the mountain. Instead, you will come down via the Mweka Route.
Day 1: Depart U.S\ Arrive Arusha, Tanzania.
At the airport, our well trained English speaking guide(s) with warm hearts and excited smiles, will welcome and transfer you to the hotel. Before dinner, your guide will sit with you and brief you on the climb ahead. Stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 2: Machame Gate- Machame camp.
After breakfast, leave Impala hotel and head to Kilimanjaro, 128 km (80 miles) from Arusha. At Machame Gate, you will sign the registration book at the park office and make your final preparations for the climb. All of your equipment and supplies are carried for you by a team of porters. Also, a cook will prepare all your meals. Porters always ascend ahead of you with all necessary supplies. You will not see your backpack from the moment you hand it to the porter in the morning, until lunch time, at least. It is therefore necessary to pack everything that you may need during the day in your day pack that you will carry with you . Such things as water purifiers, camera, spare film\ batteries, sunhat, sunglasses, sun cream, toilet paper, a towel, walking sticks and knee supports, and a medical kit including chap stick and rainwear. Lunch will be supplied by your crew.
Distance: 16 - 19km’s
Hiking time: 7 - 8 hrs
Habitat: Rain forest
Stay overnight at Machame campsite.
Day 3: Machame camp- Shira camp
Distance: 9 - 10 km’s
Hiking time: 6hrs
Habitat: Rain forest & Moorland
Stay overnight at Shira campsite
Day 4: Shira camp - Lava Tower - Barranco camp.
Optional acclimatization day.
Distance: 14 - 15 km’s
Hiking time: 7hrs
Habitat: Semi desert and rocky terrain
Stay overnight at Barranco campsite
Day 5: Barranco camp - Barafu camp.
Barafu means “ice” in the Swahili language. At Karanga Valley, you will fill your water container as it is the last place to get water on the Machame Route. Your guide will ask you to familiarize yourself with your surroundings before dark, as you will be leaving at midnight to make the final ascent to the summit. You will also need to spend some time preparing your equipment for your summit attempt.
Distance: About 13 km’s
Hiking time: 7 hrs
Habitat: Alpine desert
Stay overnight at Barafu campsite
Day 6: Summit: Stella point- Uhuru Peak - Mweka Campsite.
The walk to Stella point is probably the most mentally and physically challenging part of the hike, for many climbers. But, if you manage to avoid sickness or injury, there is no reason why you shouldn't be granted a golden certificate. Good luck!
Distance: 30 km’s
Hiking time: 3 hrs
Habitat: Snow, Ice and Stoney scree.
Stay overnight at Mweka camp site.
Day 7: Mweka camp - Mweka Gate - Arusha Town.
It is a 3 hour, scenic hike back to the Mweka park gate. Here, you will sign you name and enter your details in a registration book. At Mweka gate, you will have earned a certificate according to your hike, finished on the Mountain.
Distance: About 15 km’s
Hiking time: 3 hrs
Habitat: Forest
Drive back to Arusha, Stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 8: Departure\ Safari extension.
After breakfast, you may do some shopping or begin a safari extension if one has been selected. Lunch and an early dinner will be served before you transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will leave late that evening for your onward flight.
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RONGAI ROUTE
The Rongai Route starts near the Kenyan border and goes up the northern side of the mountain. You will descend on the same route as used on the Marangu route.
Day 1: Depart U.S\ Arrive Arusha, Tanzania.
At the airport, our well trained English speaking guide(s) with warm hearts and excited smiles, will welcome and transfer you to the hotel. Before dinner, your guide will sit with you and brief you on the climb ahead.
Stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 2: Arusha - Rongai cave.
Register at Marangu then transfer by 4 x 4 Land Rover to the start of the Rongai route. The drive will take around 1 & 1/2 hours. By the time you arrive at camp, your porters will already have started preparing everything for your arrival. Your tents will be pitched and water will be boiling. Your cook will prepare dinner for you.
Distance: 8 km's
Hiking time: 4 hrs
Habitat: Rain forest
Stay overnight at Rongai first cave campsite
Day 3: First cave - Kikelwa (second cave).
You will enjoy viewing areas that very few visitors to kilimanjaro will ever get to see, including great views of the plains of Kenya. By the time you arrive at the campsite, tents will be pitched by porters. Your cook will prepare your dinner.
Distance: 10 km’s
Hiking time: 7 hrs
Habitat: Moorland
Stay overnight at Second cave campsite
Day 4: Kikelwa to Mawenzi Tarn.
You will hike until you reach Mawenzi tarn where you will camp overnight. The rest of your afternoon can be spent resting before the ascent to the summit the following day.
Distance: 10 km’s
Hiking time: 4 hrs
Habitat: Moorland & Alpine Desert
Stay overnight at Mawenzi Tarn
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn - School camp.
You will spend some time resting here before the late night ascent to the summit. Make sure your supplies are in order so you do not spend time looking for them during departure.
Distance: 6 km's
Hiking time: 5 hrs
Habitat: Moorland & Alpine desert
Stay overnight at Barafu campsite
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Day 6: Kibo Hut - Uhuru Peak - Horombo Hut.
Your dreams have come true at Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro at (5,895 m).
Distance: 30 km’s
Hiking time: 15 - 16 hrs (ascent and descent)
Habitat: Snow, Ice and Stoney scree, Moorland
Stay overnight at Horombo hut.
Day 7: Horombo hut - Marangu Gate
After breakfast, hike back to Marangu gate, where you will sign your name and enter your details in a registration book. At the gate, you will have earned a certificate for finishing your climb up to Uhuru Peak.
Distance: 27 km’s
Hiking time: 6 hrs
Habitat: Moorland & Rain forest
Drive back to Arusha and stay overnight at The Arusha Hotel.
Day 8: Departure\ Safari extension.
After breakfast, you may do some shopping or begin your safari extension if one has been selected. Lunch and an early dinner will be served before you transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport that late evening for your onward flight.
Mount Kilimnajaro |
