Marangu

The day starts with transfer from town to Marangu gate where the chef and porters will sort the equipment to be carried up the mountain. Much in the same way as the other routes, when arriving at the gate you must report to the office to complete your particulars in the parks register, including your passport details. After all the formalities have been taken care of you trek through the rainforest and begin your ascent to Mandara Hut (2740m).

You will get to stop for a breather and have some lunch Upon arrival at Mandara Hut the chef will prepare your dinner and you can get your head down for a good nights sleep.

Breakfast is served for you before you start todays trek to Horombo Hut. After a short time you will leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands. We hope that you will get to see the giant lobelia and groundsels on your way. The view of Kibo summit and Mwenzi are both stunning and shining on a clear day.

Horombo hut is a good place to spend an extra day for acclimatization giving climbers a better success rate of reaching the summit. We will discuss this with you when planning your trek.

After breakfast you will begin your trek passing the last watering point towards the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mwenzi. The vegetation begins with heathen moorland which disappears into desert.
As on other days, the chef will prepare you well earned evening meal, giving you the perfect opportunity to prepare your equipment for the summit trek, which we will do around midnight tonight. Ensure you change the batteries in your camera and headlamp. Get your head down early for some rest as it won;t be long till your guide wakes you up for the big one!

Your guide will wake you around 11.30pm with a hot drink and snack and at around midnight you will commence your trek to the summit. You are heading towards Gilmans point (5861m) before your final ascent to the summit (5895m). Remember, if you don’t feel right then tell your guide. You will reach the ‘roof of Africa’ with the most amazing sense of achievement and also get to view one of the most breathtaking sunrises (subject to weather conditions). You won’t spend too much time here as it is so cold.

From here you will descend back to Kibo hut (4799m) for some breakfast and then onto Horombo Hut (3700m) wher you will enjoy your last meal and night on the mountain.

After breakfast you will continue your descent to Marangu Gate where you will be met by a car to take you back to Moshi/Arusha for a well earned shower and celbratory Drinks.