Day 1
After an early morning picks up from your hotel in Moshi or Arusha will drive to the Marangu Gate. We will spend 1-2 hours at the Park Headquarters at Marangu Gate for registration, payment of fees and final packing. After as somewhat leisurely walk you will arrive in Mandara, hopefully avoiding the rain showers that sometimes fall in the afternoon. From the gate, you ascend a cleared ridge trail, formerly a vehicle track to Mandara Hut. The cleared trail is the fastest way to Mandara, but opportunities to see wildlife or enjoy the forest are limited due to the heavy foot traffic. An alternative is to ascend along the parallel forest trail and descend on the main trail. The forest trail branches off to the left, a few minutes after the gate, and follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth. About halfway (1 1/2 hrs from the gate) you can choose to cross the stream and rejoin the main trail, or continue on the forest trail. Both trails continue on opposite sides of the stream, merging about one hour before Mandara Hut.

Day 2
From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest and skirts the base of Maundi Crater, crosses a meadow and a wooded stream, then emerges into grassland. It is well worth the short detour to scramble up to the rim of Maundi Crater for a superb view of the mountain and its surroundings. The trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut, which is set in a rocky valley with a fine stand of giant scenarios

Day 3
From Horombo Hut there are two trails to the Saddle. The right fork is very stony and eroded but is the most direct route to the Saddle and Mawenzi. From the Saddle (about 2 hrs from Horombo), there are trails to Mawenzi Hut (1/2hr) or Mawenzi Tarn Hut (2 1/2 hrs) and across the length of the Saddle to Kibo Hut (3 hrs). The left fork from Horombo Hut is an easier trail and emerges on the Saddle much closer to Kibo and about one kilometer from Kibo Hut.

Day 4
The trail to the summit lies directly behind Kibo Hut, to the west. It is normal to start this day’s climb at 2 is or earlier. (There are three reasons to do this: to see the sunrise over Mawenzi from the top of Kibo, the loose stone scree is frozen — making it easier to climb, and you can get back in good time). The first part is an uneven trail that leads to the Hans Meyer Cave, a good rest point. After that, the trail makes more regular switchbacks most of the way to the top, with a last scramble over rocks to Johannes Notch and Gilman’s Point. From there, the trail continues along the rim past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak. As you descend the scree from the rim back to Kibo Hut, it is tempting to run fast, but this can result in clouds of irritating dust and even unpleasant falls. The return to Horombo Hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent.

Day 5
Descend from Horombo Hut. You can easily make Mandara Hut by lunchtime, and continue to the Park gate and Marangu in the afternoon. We will meet you and return you to your hotel…for that long-awaited hot shower.

Distances
Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut 3-4 hrs (The forest trail is slower)
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut 5-7 hrs
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut 5-6 hrs
Kibo Hut to Gillman’s Point 5-6 hrs
Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak: 1-2 hrs

Huts

Mandara Hut – 2700 m: This is a group of comfortable, wooden A-frame huts. The largest cabin has a downstairs dining area and an upstairs dormitory with bunk beds and mattresses; smaller huts sleep 8 each. The total capacity is 60. Water is piped into the site from springs above and flush toilets are behind the main cabin.

Horombo Hut – 3720 m: The buildings are similar to Mandara, but the total capacity is 120. Water is piped from the stream behind the huts. Do not use this stream or its valley as a waste disposal area. There are platform toilets south-east of the main hut, about 80 m down the slope and new flush toilets have been built within the complex of small huts.

Kibo Hut – 4700 m: This stone-built block house with a small dining-room and several dormitory rooms leading off the main corridor have bunk beds and mattresses for 60 people. Water: None, so we bring an adequate supply from the ‘Last Water’ stream above Horombo Hut. Platform toilets are behind the hut (to the southwest).

All huts are fairly basic and heavily used, but they provide more comfort than sleeping in a tent. All other routes up Kilimanjaro use backpacking tents.

Kilimanjaro Machame Route 7 Days 6 Nights

Day 1
After an early morning picks up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi will drive to the Machame village. Here will do final packing, organize porters and, if need be, purchase last foodstuffs for the trek. Depending on the condition of the road with will either drive or hike on a dirt track another 3 km through coffee farms and forest to the Park gate. At the gate, we will spend an hour or so registering and paying park fees. A clear trail continues up through plantation and natural forest to the ridge between the Weru Stream and the Makoa Stream until the main trailhead is reached. From here a narrow forest (sometimes soggy and wet) path continues up to Machame Campsite.

Day 2-3
After hiking through the forest, the trail and vegetation will dry and you will hike up a steep boulder ridge. At 3-4 hours the trail goes west into a gorge and ascends to Shira Hut/Camp on the Shira Plateau. We will spend a second night in this area around 16,000 feet, doing day hikes to higher altitudes to acclimatize. Alternatively, we will travel to Barranco, Moir or Lava Tower Camp to spend the third night.

Day 4
We will travel to a short distance to Arrow Glacier above the Lava Tower camp. At the glacier, you will have impressive views of the Shira plateau behind you and a rock/scree ridge, the Western Breach, in front of you leading up to the crater rim. Alternatively, we take a more moderate Barranco Trail if the Western Breach is to be avoided.

Day 5
Day five will begin shortly after Day four is over. We will break camp early between 1 and 3 a.m. for the last push to Uhuru Peak through the Western Breach. After crossing glacial scree we will head straight up through a steep boulder field (this part of the route is strenuous and not recommended for anyone acrophobia). At the top…Kibo crater. Another 1-2 hours and Uhuru Peak will have been reached. Mount Kilimanjaro, the top of Africa. From the peak, any route down can be taken, but we recommend Marangu or Mweke. Mweke is less traveled and affords beautiful views of the mountain as we descend to Make camp slightly below the tree line.

Day 6
Down through the forest and to the Make trailhead/gate. Our car will pick you up and return you by dinner at your hotel. A hot shower will be awaiting you…

Distances
Machame village to Park gate: 30 min
Park gate to trailhead: 1-2 hrs
The trailhead to Machame Huts: 4-5 hrs
Machame Huts to Shira Hut 5 hrs
Shira to Arrow Glacier Camp 4 hrs Arrow to Uhuru Peak 6-8 hrs Uhuru to Make Camp 3-6 hrs

Huts

Machame Huts – 3000 m: These are 2 unfurnished uniports, which each can sleep 6. Water can be found in a stream about 5 minutes down the valley below the huts and there; platform toilets. Shira and other upper huts.

The uniports are old and have not been maintained well by the Kilimanjaro park service. They are primitive metal structures and are used by the porters/guides for accommodations. They also serve as the cooking area.

Guests sleep in tents which we provide. The only equipment you will need is your sleeping bag. We normally use 2-person tents, but please let us know if other arrangements are needed.

Price for trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro in-group/per person $950 6days Starting from four pax up to 9pax.

Rongai Route

Route Description 01 Transfer from Arusha to Kibo Hotel. Evening briefing and equipment check.

02 Depart for the mountain. Walkthrough maize and potato fields, followed by pine forests. 3-4 hours’ walking.

03 A steady walk with spectacular views of the eastern ice-fields and Kibo. 6-7 hours’ walking.

04 Short steep morning climb. Afternoon to acclimatize with time to explore local surroundings. 3-4 hours walking.

05 Cross the lunar desert. Rest of the day to acclimatize and early to bed. 5-6 hours walking.

06 Depart during the early hours for the final ascent to Gilman’s Point to watch the sunrise, then on to Uhuru Peak. 11-15 hours walking.

07 Steady descent through moorland and forest to the base of the mountain. 5-6 hours’ walking. Transfer to Kibo Hotel.

08 Morning transfer for your onward arrangements.

Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route 6 Days 5 Nights

Day 1
Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport, the final location of a previous building block or other location. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Arusha or Moshi.

Day 2
Umbwe Gate to Umbwe cave, from the 2,100m the path begins. Keep to the narrow ridge crest between the Lonzo River on the West and the Umbwe River on the east. It is very 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 fast camp Umbwe cave. (Bivouac I at 2,940m) in 4-6 hrs.

Day 3
Umbwe cave to Barranco, keep ascent through steep and scramble rock across rain forest to moorland, which may take 4-5hrs to reach Bivouac II at 3,780m. After the 1hr walk, you will reach 3,900m and you will see the end of the tree line. The path proceeds cairn to the southern glacier branches right contouring into Baranco situated at 4,000m, 2hrs from Bivouac II.

Day 4
Barranco acclimatization, this is a good place to rest a day to acclimatize. You may spend your day at camp and snooze in the sun all day. If you are feeling fit you may walk to high altitude and come down to relax in low altitude this will help you to get acclimatized.

Day 5
Barranco to Arrow glacier, the route to the Western Breach from the tree lines and then continues up to Umbwe ridge, which becomes the Western. Lateral Moraine of the peak and the routes goes straight towards the Western Breach and then reach to the Arrow glacier, which is situated at 4,800m

Day 6
To ascent to the summit on this day, you may involve between 10½ or 14½hrs. Usually, you start this day’s walking early in the morning for the idea to see the sunrise and also to avoid the mist, screen and snow on the ascent will still be frozen. So after the 3km walk and 6-8hrs in 110m of ascent, you will reach the top and descent through Barafu in 2,800m for 4-7hrs of walking in 12km, you will reach the Mweka hut.

Day 7
After breakfast descends steeply through the forest on a narrow path in 10km of walking and 3-4hrd to reach the Mweka gate after 1400m of descent. Depart for your next destination, which is optional.

Day 8
After breakfast, depart for your next destination, which is optional.

Kilimanjaro Shira Route 8 Days 7 Nights

Day 1
Transfer to Londrosi gate whereby will commence the hike to Simba camp for about 5hrs followed by dinner and overnight.

Day 2
Have breakfast then hike to Shira hut for about 4hrs followed by dinner and overnight.

Day 3
After breakfast will continue to Moir hut for about 4hrs for dinner and overnight.

Day 4
Early breakfast then hikes to Lava Tower for about 6hrs for dinner and overnight.

Day 5
Breakfast then resume the trek to Arrow Glacier for about 2hrs for dinner and overnight.

Day 6
You wake up at 12:30 am then have hot tea followed hike to the top via the rim crater then to Uhuru peak. After arriving Uhuru will have photos then descend to Mweka hut for dinner and overnight