Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Tansafari-Tours representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.

Day 2: Rest day

Enjoy a day at your leisure to rest from your travels and prepare for your climb. Your head Kilimanjaro guide will meet you at your hotel today to give you a thorough briefing about your climb and check your gear. If you need to rent any clothing or equipment, today will be the day to do so.

Day 3 (Climb Day 1) Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

Begining of Climbing 06 Day Kilimanjaro Maragu Route. We will leave Arusha this morning at around 8:00 am and drive to Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at the park gate, you will meet your crew and fill out the necessary registration paperwork. Our trek today to Mandara Hut will be mainly through the rainforest and will take approximately 3-4 hours, with a stop half-way for lunch. Upon arrival at Mandara Hut, you can unpack, relax, and enjoy your new surroundings. If you feel up to it, you can take a short walk with your guide to Maundi Crater (about 15 minutes away) for some great views of Kenya and northern Tanzania. 

Bathrooms are available with running water.

• Beginning altitude: 1,970m/6,400ft
• Ending altitude: 2,700m/8,858ft
• Zone: Rainforest
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Distance: 8km/5mi
• Elevation gain: 730m/2,458ft

Day 4 (climb day 2): Mandara hut – Horombo hut

We will have a hearty breakfast this morning and then pack up for the next leg of our trek. We start the day continuing through the forest until the trail opens into high moorland, a rocky landscape with desert-like plants. We will stop half-way for lunch, arriving at Horombo Hut late afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo summit viewpoint; you will notice that the temperature is beginning to drop. Enjoy some relaxation time until dinner. 

Bathrooms are available with running water.

• Beginning  altitude: 2,700m/8,858ft
• Ending altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Zone: Heath/Moorland.
• Hiking time: 6-8 hours
• Distance: 12km/7mi
• Elevation gain: 1,020m/3,347ft

Day 5 (climb day 3): Horombo Hut – Mawenzi Hut – Horombo Hut 

Today is an acclimatization day, but you will still walk for about 4 hours, to Mawenzi Hut and back. The hike will increase your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak and will also reward you with amazing views of Kibo. Dinner and overnight will again be at Horombo Hut.

• Beginning altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Ending altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Zone: Heath/Moorland
• Hiking time: 4 hours
• Distance: 10km/6mi
• Elevation gain: 880 meters/2,890ft
• Elevation loss: 880 meters/2,890ft

Day 6 (climb day 4): Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut

Wake to breakfast as usual (or earlier if you would like some great photos of the sunrise). After packing up our things, we will begin our hike to Kibo Hut. The first half of our trek today crosses the upper heath land, while the second half crosses the vast saddle that connects Mawenzi and Kibo. The saddle is an alpine desert that resembles a lunar landscape. The day’s hike should take 6-8 hours, with a stop half-way for lunch. Kibo Hut sits at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. Once we have arrived, we will rest for the remainder of the day and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for our summit climb tonight. Please note that there is no running water at Kibo Hut. 

• Beginning altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Ending altitude: 4,703m/15,430ft
• Zone: Alpine desert
• Hiking time: 6-8 hours
• Distance: 10km/6mi
• Elevation gain: 983m/3,225ft

Day 7 (climb day 5): Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut

This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of your Kilimanjaro climb; the one you have been anxiously awaiting! Wake up around midnight and have a light breakfast. We will begin our trek at about 1:00am, in the dark, in order to reach the summit in time for sunrise. Don’t forget your head lamp!

The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. The trek to Gillman’s Point (5,685m/18,650ft) on the rim of the crater takes about six hours, with frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point, you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see, coming over Mawenzi Peak. From there, it’s onward and upward around the crater to Uhuru Peak. The climb is gradual, but the altitude makes it long and tiring. Just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other…you can do it! After about two hours, you will finally arrive at the highest point in Africa – Uhuru Peak, at 5,895m/19,340ft!

Give yourself a few minutes to catch your breath, congratulate yourself, and take some photos to capture this incredible moment for eternity! We will then begin our descent back down to Kibo Hut for a well-needed rest, before heading across the saddle to Horombo Hut for the night. On the way down from the summit, you will see all of the magnificent views you could not see on the way up! Enjoy your celebratory dinner and a good night’s sleep!

• Beginning altitude: 4,703m/15,430ft
• Altitude at summit: 5,895m/19,340ft
• Ending altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Zones: Artic/Heath
• Hiking time: 10-13 hours
• Distance: 22km/14mi
• Elevation gain: 1,192m/3,910ft
• Elevation loss: 2,175m/7,135ft
  

Day 8 (climb day 6): Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate – Arusha

Rise and shine! Enjoy breakfast and pack up your belongings. Before we start our hike back down to Marangu Gate, you may wish to take some last photos of your mountain crew and give out your tips. We will stop at Mandara Hut for lunch on the way down. From there, we continue our final trek to the park gate, where you will collect your summit certificate. You will then be transferred back to Arusha or to Kilimanjaro Airport, depending on your travel plans.

• Beginning altitude: 3,720m/12,205ft
• Ending altitude: 1,970m/6,400ft
• Zone: Rainforest
• Hiking time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 20km/12mi
• Elevation loss: 1,750m/5,805ft

End of Trekking Kilimanjaro Marangu Route.