MT. KILIMANJARO
KILIMANJARO CLIMB – MARANGU ROUTE ( 6 days)
This route has a moderate slope, making it less difficult to climb. It is the most popular way up Mountain Kilimanjaro, and is the only route with emergency evacuation service. Also, it is the only route with huts, having dormitory and simple dining rooms.
Please note that we only organize private treks, there will be only you and your travel partner(s) on that tour!
This itinerary starts at Kilimanjaro Airport, JRO, and ends at a hotel in Arusha or Moshi. Please see here for international flights for this tour.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha Kilimanjaro Airport.
We’ll meet for an introductory briefing upon our arrival in Arusha, before transferring to the Lodge for the evening.
Day 2: Kilimanjaro Climb – Arusha to Mandara Hut.
Breakfast, drive from your hotel to Marangu gate, we will spend about two hours for registration, payments of fees and final parking. Start climbing through dense semi-tropical to the first hut- Mandara hut (9,000ft). Dinner and an overnight stay at Mandara hut, B.L.D.
Day 3: Kilimanjaro Climb – Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut.
Breakfast, ascend through the alpine meadow, and grassland and moorland to Horombo hut (12,000ft). Both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks can be viewed easily on the way. Dinner and an overnight stay at Horombo hut, B.L.D.
Day 4: Kilimanjaro Climb – Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut.
Breakfast, further ascending to Kibo hut (15,000ft). The landscape becomes very stony and eroded. Spectacular mountain vegetation like giant cactus, groundswell and lobelia appear on the way. Dinner and an overnight stay at Kibo hut, B.L.D.
Day 5: Kilimanjaro Climb – Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak.
Wake up at midnight, and after a snack, proceed to the summit through Gilman’s point (18,640ft). It is about 5-6hours and 1-2 hours from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and from Gilman’s point to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft) respectively. Thus reaching the peak in the early morning of the fifth day and start descending after picture taking on the top to Horombo hut for diner and an overnight after a short break at Kibo hut, B.L.D.
Day 6: Kilimanjaro Climb – Kibo Hut to Marangu Gate – Arusha
Breakfast, Descend from Horombo hut to Marangu gate. The waiting car will take you to Arusha, for your ongoing travel arrangements.
Alternatively
One may choose 6days/5nights on Kilimanjaro, with an extra day for acclimatization at Horombo hut, which will increase your chance to reach the top.
KILIMANJARO CLIMB – RONGAI ROUTE ( 7 days)
The Rongai Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north not far from the Kenyan border. The area retains a sense of untouched wilderness lost on the crowded Marangu and Machame trails. This route is the easiest of all the routes, it has a relatively gentle gradient and short daily stages as it winds its way from the starting point just south of the Kenya-Tanzania border through attractive farmland and delightful forest to several other climate zones, adding considerably to the interest of the trek.
There are magnificent views over the Amboseli Plains and genuine possibilities for wildlife viewing. An extra day is added to the standard 5-day itinerary to hike to the beautiful Mawenzi Tarn beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi; this also ensures maximum acclimatization for the climb to the summit. The final ascent is arduous and made in darkness starting around midnight but the reward is a spectacular dawn view of the glaciers and ice cliffs of the summit, and across the East African plains far below. Descending through lush forest, there is a final day to relax and recover before the flight home.
It is much drier than the other routes and you might even encounter an elephant on the way. Accommodation in tents.
Please note that we only organize private treks, there will be only you and your travel partner(s) on that tour!
This itinerary starts at Kilimanjaro Airport, JRO, and ends at a hotel in Arusha or Moshi. Please see here for international flights for this tour.
The Umbwe Route provides the shortest route, and toughest, to the Southern Glaciers of Kilimanjaro and Western Breach of Kibo. An ascent of Kibo by Umbwe route is one of the finest non-technical mountaineering expeditions. It is a challenging route, unsuitable for the solitary or the inexperienced, and a route off the beaten track.
Please note that we only organize private treks, there will be only you and your travel partner(s) on that tour!
Day 1: Arrival day in Moshi/Arusha
Upon our arrival in Arusha we’ll meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Lodge, for an introductory briefing. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day 2: Umbwe gate to Umbwe Cave
At 7:30 a.m., we’ll transfer you to the Umbwe Park Gate at 2,100m. The path begins an a narrow ridge crest between the Lonzo River to the West and the Umbwe River to the East. It is easy to follow as it continues up through the dense forest. The path continues to follow the ridge, rising steadily with some steep sections and scramble rocks. The route takes you to the first tented camp Umbwe Cave (at 2,940m) in 5 to 6 hrs.
Day 3: Umbwe Cave to Barranco
We follow the trail through steep and scramble rock across rainforest to moorland. The path proceed steep to the Southern Glacier Branches, at 4000m we reach our campsite, Barranco, were we overnight. (6-7 hrs)
Day 4: Kilimanjaro Climb – Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
The day will begin with a descent into the Gorge, before we climb its eastern wall where we will enjoy views of Kilimanjaro’s ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. We will continue trekking until we reach our camp in Karanga Valley (13,900 feet, 4-5 hours of walking).
Day 5: Kilimanjaro Climb – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
We’ll trek up through the Karanga Valley, the trail turns steadily uphill, following the lava ridge to the Barafu camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a
small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Barafu camp (15,200 feet, 6-7 hours of walking).
Day 6: Kilimanjaro Climb – Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Just after midnight we start of a challenging trek(12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:30 to 1am, passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to the rim at Stella Point. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between 10 deg. F (-12 deg. C) to –10 F. (-23 deg. C) just before dawn at the summit. As dawn nears, we’ll summit at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet. Uhuru will be the culmination of – and the reward for -6-7 hours of strenuous hiking. We’ll then descend back to Barafu Camp, resting for a while before continuing our descent to Mweka Camp (9,840 feet, 3-4 hours of walking on the descent).
Day 7: Kilimanjaro Climb – Mweka Camp to Park Gate, transfer to Arusha
We’ll make our final descent to the park gate, a walk of about 3 or 4 hours. After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we’ll drive to Arusha for your ongoing travel extension.
